From where she stood outside her cherry-red vehicle, Alex stared at the Badlands in absolute horror. They were massive. There were so many places, she realized, spinning in a slow circle. So, so many places that Avery could be. It was pitch black out and she didn't even know where to begin searching. Miles and miles of prairie and crevices, and to make matters worse, when Alex had dialed the number Avery had called her on, there'd been no answer. She was likely unconscious.

And there was snow in the air. She could smell it.

Raking her hand through her short hair, Alex debated what to do. She'd called Castiel. The angel had ignored her call for some reason, and she'd cursed his name. He'd been doing that a lot lately, when they needed him. Which left one choice that she wasn't looking forward to.

Or...two.

She smirked at her own thoughts although her smirk vanished as she realized just how risky her second choice would be. She knew nothing about Gabriel's motivations, nothing about just how they were connected although she so wanted to find out after the events with Cupid. But he was most certainly better than Barachiel, could even fend off the other archangel if he showed up.

Clenching her jaw, she made her decision. Alex took a deep breath before getting to work, stepping away from her car. She removed the hex bag from her pocket and tucked it into her car, taking a few steps away. It was a risk, she knew. Gabriel could turn around and hand her over to other angels or something even worse after everything she'd done to him. But she'd take that risk. For Avery's sake, she'd take the risk.

"Gabriel!" she shouted, studying the skies above her head. She shivered at a brisk chilly breeze that kissed her cheeks. She had to find Avery, and fast. "Gabriel!"

"No need to shout," purred the archangel from behind her. She spun on her heel and found him leaning against the door of her car, the hex bag in his hand. He was tossing it up and down, snatching it out of the air before it could get too far. A smirk resided on his mouth, his brown eyes glimmering with amusement. "Hello, Alex."

Alex's shoulders tightened as she eyed him nervously. "Hullo," she responded curtly a moment later. She folded her arms tightly as Gabriel pushed himself off of the car. He sauntered over, a smug look on his face.

"What can I do for you on this fine February day?" he hummed, eyeing the Badlands with thought. "Lovely spot for a meetup. Kind of cold, isn't it? Do the boys know you're doing this? I didn't know you were so into angels."

Ignoring his statements, Alex said quite bluntly, "Help me find Avery Hunt. She's out here, but I need your help to find her. I can't smell her from here and I can't search the entirety of the Badlands before the snow starts to fall. It's already been a few hours since I heard from her. Please. Please, Gabriel. I'll owe you." It wasn't a good idea to promise him anything, she knew. But it was all she could do.

Gabriel hummed a show tune under his breath as he considered it, still tossing that hex bag up and down and up and down and up and-

"All right," he finally decided, tucking the hex bag into his pocket with a gleam in those brown eyes that made her absolutely terrified for some reason. "I'll help you. On the condition that you help me with something after Avery Hunt is safe somewhere."

"Bobby Singer will help her," Alex said confidently, although she worried that Bobby's wouldn't even be a good idea. After everything that had happened with his undead wife, he'd been a bit of a disaster and she wasn't entirely sure he'd be capable of helping anyone right now. But he was her best shot. Alex added hastily upon thinking of it, "Could you tell me if she's possessed or something so that we can save time?"

"Why not?" Gabriel said with a smirk.

"You try anything funny," Alex said warningly, tapping the inside of her arm, "I will end you. Are we clear?"

"You've got a funny way of asking for help, Alex," he replied, his smirk widening into a grin. But he agreed nonetheless and then turned to look out over the Badlands thoughtfully. Alex wasn't sure what he was doing, but something told her that it was him doing what she needed him to do, so she left him to it. Her fingers twitched every now and then, impatience running rampant. She just wanted to save Avery - if it really was Avery, after all.

For all she knew, it wasn't Avery, just someone pretending to be her.

Suddenly, Gabriel perked up. "One valkyrie," he said, "coming up."

"Wait, what?" Alex demanded and then squawked when he suddenly snatched up her arm, the world tilting around them. Gabriel's traveling through nothing, as she liked to think of it, wasn't like Castiel's. Perhaps it was on purpose. Castiel just disappeared and reappeared and if you were with him, it was the same. Other angels had been like that, too, so Alex confirmed to herself that the way the world tilted around and around was done on purpose.

She hit the ground on her knees, sick to her stomach, the world spinning as if she was near blackout drunk.

"Gabriel," she seethed, fighting back a groan, but the archangel had abandoned her to kneel over the unconscious form of one Avery Hunt. Fighting back her sudden feeling of illness, Alex lurched to her feet, desperately worried about her friend. "Is she-"

"No," Gabriel said, eyeing the scars and wounds littering Avery's naked skin. She wore no clothes, and Alex didn't hesitate to remove her leather jacket and toss it over her in an attempt to keep her warm. Alex shivered, but payed herself no attention. "She's not possessed. Hell of a job done on her though."

Alex bit back a whine as she realized she could count ribs. Months, Avery had been thought dead. Months at the hands of what Alex guaranteed were demons. She checked Avery's pulse. It fluttered weakly beneath her fingertips. "She's alive," she breathed in relief.

"Barely." Gabriel was incredibly unhelpful, Alex decided with a growl.

"She's dehydrated and could definitely use some food," Alex murmured, ignoring him. She smoothed Avery's hair back and then began the hard work of hauling Avery into her arms. She staggered a little, scowling. She was stronger than most. She knew it was something that sometimes bothered the Winchesters, much to her amusement. She'd never forget the look on Dean's face when she beat him at an arm-wrestling match. Avery's weight had merely thrown her off; she was far lighter than Alex had planned.

Avery groaned softly against her shoulder and Alex turned on her heel towards Gabriel, who'd hung back quietly, watching intently as Alex did what she needed to do. He was behaving surprisingly well, she thought suspiciously. Just what did he want her help with to return the favor? Gabriel smirked to himself and reached out to touch her shoulder, but Alex stepped back. "Can you get my car?"

He rolled his eyes, mocking, "Demanding, aren't you? I'll get your car. Don't fret your little head, sweet cheeks."

"Call me that again," Alex said sweetly, "and I'll make sure that your little head is rolling on the ground."

Gabriel snickered and then the world tilted around them.


From the second he came into awareness after a night of drinking, Dean knew something was off. There was a tense feeling to the room that hadn't been there the night before, when he'd drunk himself into oblivion. It certainly helped him notice the ragged breathing that was hoarse and unhealthy, clearly not his younger brother. Sam wasn't sick. Not like that.

Dean's hand had been seeking out the gun under his pillow when a voice said icily, "Looking for this?"

Dean slowly turned over, sitting up. Sam was sitting calmly on the edge of the second bed, though there was a nervous look in his dark eyes. A gun was pointed at him. "Mornin'," Dean said, trying for a bit of lighthearted humor.

"Shut up," the man who'd spoken snapped. "Hands where I can see 'em." His face face was hidden with a mask, but Dean could picture the rage beneath it.

Dean put his hands up where he could see them and then frowned, realizing he recognized the masked man. "Wait a minute," he said gruffly, gaze locked on the one with his gun pointed at him. "Is that you, Roy? It is, isn't it." Sam stiffened nearby when Dean turned his attention on the other masked man. "Which makes you Walt. Hiya, Walt."

They exchanged a quick look and then removed their masks. Both men were middle-aged, their cheeks and chins covered in stubble. There were creases etched into their faces. Neither seemed to care that Dean or Sam knew who they were. Dean kept his voice surprisingly pleasant, keeping his mind on the matter at hand after noting that it was a good thing Alex wasn't around. They would have killed her outright. "Well, is it just me," Dean drawled mockingly, "or do you two seem a tad upset?"

"You think," Walt snarled, glaring viciously at Sam, "that you can flip the switch on the apocalypse and just walk away, Sam?" Sam said nothing, working his jaw. Dean felt himself tense when Walt pumped the shotgun in his hand, cocking it. He would kill for his brother - he'd done it before. "We ain't the only hunters after you. See you in the next life."

Sam rose to his feet slowly, hands up. "Hear me out, I can explain-"

Dean could only stare in horror when Walt pulled the trigger, the shotgun blast slamming into his little brother and sending his massively tall frame crashing to the ground. "Sam!" he shouted, lurching to go after him.

"Stay the hell down!" Roy barked. Walt told him to shoot Dean, but he faltered. "Killin' Sam was right, but Dean…"

Walt scowled. "He made us," he snapped, "and we just snuffed his brother, you idiot. You want to spend the rest of your life knowing Dean Winchester's on your ass? 'Cause I don't. We've got enough to worry about with that damn bitch of a skinwalker not being here. Shoot 'im."

Dean's face darkened with fury as he remained standing, slowly folding his arms as he turned to look at Roy. Roy's face paled a little bit at the look in the elder Winchester's eyes. "Go ahead, Roy," he said in a voice that was soft yet promised violence at a later time. "Do it. But I'm warning you, when I come back I'm going to be pissed. And you know what? Guaranteed Alex will be, too." He'd not thought much of the skinwalker when she'd first first begun tagging along with he and Sam. Well, actually, he guessed he'd made her join them, suspicious that the second she was left to her own devices innocent people would start dying.

But she'd become quite a bit part of their lives. She'd nearly died for he and Sam, and Dean wouldn't hesitate to put his life on the line for her now a days, too.

Roy's face paled in terror, and Dean smirked, throwing his arms out. "C'mon!" he shouted, daring him to shoot him. He'd died and come back before. There was no way in hell that they'd stay dead - not with what the angels wanted them for. "Let's get this show on the-"

He didn't get to finish his sentence.

Walt fired off the shot and Dean hit the ground as his brother had.

Dead.


"You're insane, you know that, Alex?" Bobby said grouchily from where he was waiting beside the side of the couch the next morning, eyes locked onto Avery. After Alex had kicked in the front door and shouted for Bobby - scaring the daylights out of him in the process - they'd tended to her injuries. Gabriel had left them to it after smirking at Bobby upon being introduced, going to wait outside without a care in the world. "Showin' up at my door with someone who's supposed to be dead after everything you guys said is one thing. Wanna hit you for it, but I guess it's okay since she was never dead in the first place. Showin' up in my house with an archangel you guys said wasn't trustworthy is a different thing."

"He hates the apocalypse just as much as we do, to be fair," she mumbled in response, keeping her voice low just in case Gabriel decided to just pop in. "And there's so much that's been hinted at regarding him...I need to speak with him about it, Bobby. I had my reasons for summoning him. Or calling on him, I guess, I didn't have to summon him, actually. But it was either him or Barachiel and I can tell you which of the two is going to be more pleasant to deal with. And he won't hurt Avery like I think Barachiel would. I have this feeling that he wouldn't." She took a deep breath, touching the unconscious woman's cheek. "I don't know what he wants in return for helping me find Avery, but I'll deal with it when it happens."

"Just don't get yourself into trouble, Alex," Bobby said. "I'll keep an eye on Avery. What'd you say he said?"

"He said something about a valkyrie," Alex said slowly, glancing at Avery again. "Is that...I don't know if it means anything about Avery. I've never come across a valkyrie before. And she's always smelt odd compared to other humans...it would explain that."

Bobby let out a large gust of air, shaking his head. "I don't know what to tell you. Just stay on your toes. Don't worry about Avery. I'll keep an eye on her, like I said. I'll do some research about valkyries, too. You worry 'bout yourself, ya hear? I'll let the boys know what's going on, too. And I'll see if I can get Cas around for once."

Alex nodded and then stood swiftly. "Thank you, Bobby," she said, touching his arm briefly. "I'll be back as soon as I can, okay?" She offered a faint smile and then swept her hands up and down her arms as she made her way out of the house. It didn't take her long to track down the archangel, and she was surprised when she saw him just standing in the middle of the yard, his head tilted back to study the morning's blue sky. She and Bobby had worked through the rest of the night, she realized, startled.

"What are you doing?" she said, clearing out her thoughts. She needed to keep her wits about her when it came to Gabriel.

Gabriel didn't look at her, head tilted a little. "Listening," he said. "The angels are in an uproar."

"Why?" She went to stand beside him. Alex studied the side of his face, narrowing her eyes when a dark expression appeared on his face. "Something big happened, am I right?"

Gabriel didn't speak for a long few moments, and then he said, "Sam and Dean Winchester are dead."

"That's not funny," Alex said hoarsely as she stared at him in outright shock. "That's...that's not funny at all, Gabriel."

"I'm not joking," he retorted, glaring at her. His eyes blazed with anger, although it did make her wonder why he was so angry about the matter. Gabriel scowled furiously. "Zachariah's work, I think, although I'm not sure."

Alex released a dangerous snarl from low in her chest, her hands shaking with rage. "I can't wait to rip that twat to pieces," she seethed. At the same time that she felt her immense anger, she felt such a stabbing agony of grief and loss that she wanted to curl into a ball and simply cry.

Death in the hunting profession was a common thing. If you were a hunter, you faced death every day. You looked it in the face and laughed at it before going to find another way to almost get yourself killed. But the Winchesters...they were supposed to be undefeatable. The vessels of Michael and Lucifer. They'd been legends among the hunters - she had heard their names once or twice before she'd even come to the States. They'd both come back from the dead at some point or another, something she couldn't say she'd done herself.

She found herself desperately hoping that it happened again, although she couldn't convince herself to get her hopes too high. It was never a good idea. She ran her hands down her face, her good eye burning.

Gabriel eyed her for a few moments and then asked suddenly, "You gonna cry, sweet cheeks?"

"Call me that again," she spat, "and I'll make you cry when I chop off your-"

"Alex."

She spun around, caught by surprise when Castiel's voice called her name. He had materialized behind her with a concerned look that turned into wariness when he realized that Gabriel was with her. Gabriel smirked at him. "Hello, Gabriel," Castiel said carefully, making sure to remain polite despite his tensed form. He was wary, knew that the other angel was stronger than he was.

"Gabriel said that Sam and Dean are dead," Alex said softly.

Castiel nodded curtly. "He speaks the truth," he replied, looking bothered. "If they are in Heaven, though, I believe I can get into contact with them." Alex's eyes widened in surprise. He could? Castiel paused, and then cautiously asked, "Gabriel, why are you here?"

Gabriel smirked in response, rocking back on his heels. "Alex needed help. We have an agreement. Don't worry, I'm not putting anyone into a car or killing your favorite boy toy a thousand times." He smirked, entirely amused with the memory, and Alex bristled at him. That repeated Tuesday had most certainly been one of the worst experiences in her life. Dealing with both Sam and Dean had been a nightmare for such a long time afterwards.

Alex gave Castiel an exasperated look when he frowned deeply. "Are you serious? You not once checked your voicemail? I called you. Before I even considered anyone else, too."

"Oh." Castiel paused. "I've been busy."

"Busy enough to not show up when someone probably put a bullet through your friend's head?" she snapped grouchily. Castiel grimaced, looking a little hurt by that, but Alex didn't apologize. Instead, she said tersely, "Avery showed up out of nowhere, naked in the middle of the Badlands. She called on a phone that Bobby's checking through. You never told me she was a valkyrie."

"I wasn't aware that you didn't know. There are more important matters now. What did you agree to do for Gabriel?" Castiel was alert now, paying close attention. His blue eyes darted between the pair and Alex felt a little touched when he gave the smirking Gabriel a warning glare. As if he'd try and throw down with the archangel if he'd made her promise to do anything horrible.

"Good question," she mused, eyeing Gabriel. "What did I agree to do?"

"Something that might work out in your favor, little skinwalker," Gabriel purred. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "And Castiel's, too." He winked flirtily at Castiel, who didn't respond in the slightest.

Alex made a frustrated sound, rolling her eyes to the skies above. "Then stop procrastinating on what it is and just tell us. I have some hunting to do." Her face turned cold, a murderous expression entering her gaze as she folded her arms tightly across her chest. "I doubt Zachariah did the dirty work himself."

Gabriel's grin widened. "I like your attitude, Alex," he purred before cocking his head. "It only requires a little bit of bargaining on my behalf."

"One, that's not what I told you to do. I told you to start explaining. Two, hell no." Alex was firm in her decision. "I don't go to Heaven. I don't know where I go, but it's not Heaven. Or Hell. So I'm avoiding death as long as I can."

"Even if it involves permanently dealing with your Barachiel problem?"

Castiel perked up a little and Alex focused entirely on him. Perhaps Gabriel could give some explanation on what Barachiel wanted with Castiel's coat and why he was so threatening about not having his way. She narrowed her eyes at him and leaned in. "I'm listening…"


Dean grinned up at the dark sky, watching as color exploded between the stars with a loud crack. He flinched at the sound, remembering something, but it didn't stick. He pushed it out of his mind and laughed. "That one was great, Sammy," he said excitedly, perfectly content to remain as he was for as long as possible. He turned to demand that he be handed another firework - and found that there was no one with him.

"Sam?" he called, going to check the Impala with a frown. He wanted to continue firing off fireworks, enjoying his time with a brother who'd looked up to him - who'd loved him without any of the problems that the last few years had brought. A brother who'd been around before college, before their father's death, before demons and God knows what else tore them apart.

He huffed when he couldn't find him. The crate of fireworks that had been on the ground by the Impala was gone, too. "Jerk," he grumbled under his breath, leaning against the Impala with care. Even now thoughts were trying to creep in, but he pushed them back.

Or at least he was trying as the radio suddenly crackled to life in his car. He frowned at the open driver-side window and then jumped when a voice he knew well filled his ears. "Dean!"

"Cas?" he sputtered, caught by surprise. He slid into the car as Castiel confirmed that he was the one speaking to him. "You gotta stop poking around in my dreams, Cas, I need some me time."

"This isn't a dream," Castiel said grimly. His voice was darkened with a hint of anger. Dean said nothing and Castiel, as if knowing his thoughts, said warningly, "Deep down, you already know what this is, Dean."

Images flashed through Dean's head. He could practically hear the crack of the gunshot as Sam hit the ground dead, feel the brief sensation of agonizing pain that had ripped through him before he'd turned around and found himself staring at a small version of Sam, smiling brightly at Dean with his arms laden with fireworks. "I'm dead," he muttered, disgusted. Which meant Sam was, too. "Where's Alex?" He paused, and then added, "Where am I?"

"Heaven," Castiel said, entirely bypassing the question about Alex. Dean noticed that. A frown appeared on his face, and he eyed the radio. Where was the second-to newest member of their weird little family? "Please listen, this spell...this connection...it's difficult to maintain."

"Where's Alex?" he repeated. "And if I'm in Heaven, then where's my brother?" He refused to accept that this was Heaven when Sam wasn't standing there alongside him. Sammy had been there for a few moments, but something told him it hadn't been his Sam.

"What do you see? Some people see a tunnel, or a river. What do you see, Dean?" Castiel's voice was odd, as if it would soon cut out. Dean had no doubt with their luck, it would.

"Nothing," Dean said irritably. "My dash, because I'm in my car. I'm on a road. Damn it, Cas, where's the mutt? Is she okay? Did someone go after her, too?"

Castiel was almost inaudible as he ordered Dean, "Alright, a road. For you, it's a road. Follow that road, Dean, and you'll find Sam." The radio began crackling violently. "Alex is-" Nothing but silence; the radio had gone out. Dean smacked a hand on the steering wheel with a scowl, but then started the Impala.

He was pissed, he realized as he coaxed the Impala forward. He kept his window rolled down to let in fresh air as he drove, eyeing the massive moon that was abnormally large in the starless deep purple sky that seemed to go on forever above his head. It would have been beautiful if he'd not been so worried about Sam and frustrated with the fact that they just couldn't catch a goddamn break.

It seemed like he'd been driving for some time when he saw a shadow appear in the darkness. There were some lights shining brightly from within it and Dean ducked his head a little as he squinted at it. Deciding he might as well try the house, he pulled his car over in front of it. His lips pressed together as he climbed out, eyeing it warily. The house wasn't one he knew at all. That didn't bode well.

Dean strode up to the front door and found it unlocked when he tried the knob. He didn't really care at this point that he was technically breaking and entering; he wanted to find his brother and get the hell out of dodge, figure out if Alex and Bobby were okay. Something wasn't sitting right with him regarding the skinwalker; he got the feeling that there was something going on with her that he didn't know about. He didn't like it. And that just confused the hell out of him.

He took a moment to listen after prying open the door and heard voices from the next room over. Dean quietly closed the door shut behind him and followed the sound.

The sight before him both angered and upset him greatly. "Wow," he said, arching a brow as he looked at his brother seated among a bunch of people he didn't know, clearly enjoying a delightful Thanksgiving dinner. "Just...wow."

Sam, who'd looked over at the sound of Dean, stared at him in surprise and confusion. "Dean? What are you doing in my dream?"

Dean scowled in response and ducked into the nearby living room. Sam glanced at the family he sat with, who'd not responded at all to Dean's sudden appearance. Slowly, he stood, and they continued their conversation as if he was still there. Sam frowned and finally just hurried for the living room, eager to know what was going on. "Dean, seriously, what the hell are you doing in my dream? This is weird. Weirder than normal."

"Rise and shine, sunshine," Dean said, a bit of a bite to his voice as he folded his arms, peeking out through a window. "This isn't a dream. It's Heaven."

"...Heaven," Sam said blankly, staring at Dean with a hint of disbelief on his face. Sam frowned when Dean nodded curtly. "Okay, how are we," he gestured between the pair of them, "in Heaven?"

"All that clean living, I guess," was Dean's cranky response. He was annoyed, angry with Sam for a reason he couldn't put his finger on at the moment. More than likely the fact that Sam hadn't been looking for him, and had been content to have dinner with a random group of people.

"No, no," Sam said with a somewhat bitter laugh. "Okay. You, I get. Sure. But me? Maybe you haven't noticed, but I've done a few things?" Sam had done more than a few things last he'd checked. He'd killed a good few people in his lifetime. When Dean pointed out that Sam had thought he was doing the right thing, Sam replied curtly, "Last I checked, it wasn't the road to Heaven that was paved with good intentions, Dean." He glanced over his shoulder, studying the family with a suddenly thoughtful look. "You know, when you bite the dust? They say your life flashes before your eyes." Dean waited with a glare. "This house, it's one of my memories. This was my first real Thanksgiving. Maybe that's what Heaven is: a place where you relieve your greatest hits."

Dean expressed his unhappiness with this being Sam's version of Heaven almost immediately. "What are you talking about?" he said irritably. "We had Thanksgiving every year." He loved those holidays with his brother. Maybe they'd not been what others had had, but they were still enjoyable for him.

Before Sam could respond the house began to shake around them. Both stilled, exchanging worried looks when the lights suddenly shut off. "Hide," Dean said immediately, getting a gut feeling that it was what they needed to do.

The pair bolted for different hiding places. Sam hung awkwardly off to the side by a window while Dean crouched behind the couch. Dean winced when the glass around them broke from the loud sound that suddenly filled the air alongside a bright light that suddenly streamed through the windows. Dean pressed himself into the floor, worried. Whatever that was, it couldn't be good. He noted a radio on the mantelpiece, remembering how Castiel had gotten into contact with him, and decided to go and see what could be done to get back into contact with him when given the chance.

It was sometime before the light vanished. When it finally had, the lights flickered back on in the house. Sam and Dean emerged reluctantly, wary, and Dean made a beeline for the radio that he had seen. "What the hell was that?" Sam demanded

"I don't know," Dean muttered, "but we're getting back downstairs." He slammed a fist on the radio. "Cas!" Sam lifted his brows in amusement when Dean hit the radio again. "Castiel!"

"I can hear you," crackled Castiel's voice from the static-filled TV behind them. Both spun around and stared for a moment. Castiel's image rolled across the screen, then vanished.

"Cas," Dean said, relieved. "I found Sam. Something just happened. Weird beam of light. What do you know?"

"Don't go into the light."

"Okay," he replied sarcastically. "Thanks, Carol Ann. What was it?"

"Not what. Whom. Zachariah is searching for you."

"And if he finds us?" Sam asked nervously, not liking the idea whatsoever.

Castiel's image didn't change as it rolled across the screen again. "You can't say yes to Michael and Lucifer if you're dead, so he wants to return to your bodies." When the pair grew excited, confident that it was what they needed and definitely wanted, Castiel interrupted. "No, you don't understand. You're behind the Wall. This is a rare opportunity. You need to find an angel named Joshua."

Dean scowled. "You find him."

"I can't. I can't return to Heaven. You have to find Joshua. The rumor is that he talks to God."

"So?" Dean's challenge was met by an incredulous scoff.

"You think maybe, just maybe, we should find out what the hell God has been saying?" Castiel snapped at him, furious with Dean for not agreeing that it was a necessity. Dean grumbled, but said nothing more against the matter before Castiel said, "I just need you to follow the road." When Sam questioned the road, the angel explained, "It's called the Axis Mundi. It's a path that runs through Heaven. Different people see it as different things. For one it's two-lane asphalt. The road will lead you to the Garden, where you'll find Joshua. Joshua can take us to God."

They muttered their agreement. Eager to know and knowing that Castiel was going to cut out soon simply because their luck never gifted them otherwise, Dean demanded, "Where's Alex?"

The picture started to break up on the screen a little, confirming Dean's suspicions. "I'm watching her." That wasn't reassuring, Dean thought, hearing the wariness in his voice. "Avery is with Bobby. Alex is-" The call finally cut out.

"Damn it," Dean seethed, looking as if he was going to kick the damn TV. He turned to Sam, who was watching him with lifted brows, amused by the clear annoyance Dean felt over the lack of information on their skinwalker companion. "Okay, let's hit the yellow bricks and find this Joshua guy."

"Really?" Sam said, surprised that Dean was willing to do it. He'd been so against it. Dean glared, suspicious that he didn't want to find this guy, and Sam said hastily, "I'm surprised you want to find him. I mean, last time I checked, you wanted to break God's nose. Now you think He can help?"

Dean shrugged. "He's the only one who can. I mean, come on, Sam. We're screwed anyway. So prayer? Last hope of a desperate man." He sent the TV a dirty look. "Second time he's failed to get info on Alex out though. The hell is she doing? Avery's with Bobby, so where's she?"

"Someone's worried," Sam teased and then folded his arms as he peered out the window. "Hey," he said suddenly. "Wasn't there a street out there?" Dean peeked out and scowled; there certainly had been.

Now they had to find it again.


"This is a bad idea, Alex," Castiel warned her as she stood between he and Gabriel, who seemed to be ignoring them both for the moment. The odd-looking trio earned a few curious looks; Alex ignored them all, used to them. "You should wait until the Winchesters come back to do this."

"I'm not going anywhere near those freaks," Gabriel said cheerfully. "And don't think I've missed those odd conversations you've been having every few hours, Cassie boy!"

Alex flashed her friend a curious look. Castiel grimaced and explained hastily to her, "I was able to get into contact with them using a small spell, but it's difficult to maintain. Dean's found Sam and they're following a path to Joshua, who might be able to tell us more about what God's been saying."

"You didn't tell me that!" she huffed, furious. "Where are they?"

"Heaven," he admitted.

"Cas," she seethed, glaring at him. He'd mentioned it was possible, but hadn't told her he'd actually done it. "Why didn't you tell me?" At least they were safe, though, she supposed.

Gabriel clucked his tongue before Castiel could respond, suddenly serious. "Barachiel's looking for you."

They both looked to him, waiting for further explanation. He didn't grant it to them, merely narrowing his eyes a little. Castiel stiffened, as if sensing something that Alex didn't have a clue about, and then furrowed his brow. "He knows that you're here as well, Gabriel."

"Yeah, but he doesn't know Ally's here," Gabriel replied.

Alex snapped her jaws, a violent growl ripping from her throat. "Don't call me that, you arrogant-"

"Language, Alex," Gabriel chided before she could finish and then grew serious again. "I want to catch him. He's a tricky one, used to be one of Dad's favorites. He's slippery. I need to corner him. He doesn't break bargains, so we'll need to make a good one with him. Alex, you're aware of what you need to do?"

"I'm not a bloody idiot," she said from between her gritted teeth. "I know precisely what I'm doing, Gabriel."

The plan was a simple one. The second she was alone, Alex would summon Barachiel. All of the symbols had been etched in chalk on the concrete of the parking lot they'd chosen, the stone bowl she'd found in the trunk of her car planted right among them and filled with the supplies. Everything was ready for that part. And when he appeared, Alex would make a bargain with him. He was going to meet with someone of Alex's choice in exchange for an upfront meeting with Castiel.

Alex had to admit that it wasn't a bad plan. Granted, Barachiel would have to do what they expected him to do. That would be the only troublesome part. She suddenly frowned at Gabriel. "What exactly is it that you want to talk to him about, Gabriel?"

Gabriel gave her a tight smile, surprisingly serious about the matter. "None of your concern, Alex."

"I kind of think it is," she quipped back. Her lips pressed into a tight line. "I'm talking to him for you. I wasn't going to deal with him for some time. So you can tell me that much. Actually, I have a lot of questions for you." Alex folded her arms. "Since you're an archangel and all."

Gabriel rolled his eyes and sighed heavily. "I'll answer some," he stressed the word pointedly, "after we're done." A pause as he smirked and put a hand over his heart. "Cross my heart."

Alex studied him for a few moments, debating whether or not she should trust him regarding the matter. Finally, she decided to trust him about it. "Fine," she said, jaw clenched, "but if you don't answer my questions, I'm siccing the Winchesters on you again."

He flicked his tongue. "Not recommended, Ally." She snapped her teeth at him. "Remember what happened last time?" Before she could answer, the archangel had vanished with a simple fluttering of feathers. Alex grumbled, glaring at the space he'd been in before focusing on Castiel. He looked serious - reluctant, even.

"I don't like this," he admitted, looking grim. "Barachiel isn't the only angel who'd like to use you, Alex. The Winchesters are avoiding Zachariah, and he wouldn't hesitate to-"

"They're my friends, but they wouldn't do what Zachariah wants for me," Alex said dismissively despite remembering what Sam had told her before she'd left. She'd heard his words, had considered them, but she didn't believe them. And maybe Sam would help her out, but not Dean. She knew she'd do a lot for the pair of them. She had done a lot for them in the past. Especially Dean. She'd taken care of a horrible-tempered Sam and picked up the pieces of Dean's body for him. She couldn't say she was sure he'd do the same, no matter what the future Zachariah had dropped them into had been like.

Castiel didn't look as if he agreed, but said nothing about the matter. "I'll try and figure out where they are. They're searching for Joshua. He should be able to give us information on where God is."

She wrinkled her nose and shook her head. "I know that you're trying your best to find Him, Cas, but I don't think that road is the one you should be on. There are other roads where your help would be more beneficial." She shooed him with her hands. "Now go catch up with the Winchesters so I can deal with Barachiel."

Castiel didn't need to hear any more; the angel vanished as Gabriel had.

Alone, Alex took a deep breath.

"Here we go," she muttered, and began to mutter the words to the spell that would bring Barachiel to where she stood.


Dean was admittedly ticked as he stepped outside of the room that Sam had known so well. His brow furrowed in interest. He didn't recognize where they were exactly. "What memory is this?" he muttered aloud, realizing that they now stood in the middle of the street that crossed beside an old house with a porch that wrapped around it.

"No idea," Sam said, and just the tone of his voice told Dean that he was lying. "Alright, come on. Dean...road. God. Remember?"

"Wait a minute." It struck Dean as he stared around at where they were and his hands trembled a little in anger as he realized for a third time that they were in another of Sam's memories - a third that he thought of fondly but Dean found to be one of the worst moments of his life. "This is the night you ditched us for Stanford. This is your idea of Heaven?" He gave a pained laugh, furious with his brother and upset beyond belief. "This was one of the worst nights of my life." Sam winced, and Dean sent him a half-glare. He was more disappointed than anything. "This is a happy memory for you?"

"I don't know." Sam clearly felt guilty about it. "I mean, I was on my own. I finally got away from Dad."

Dean's jaw worked furiously as he considered that. He'd not gotten to get away from their dad like that. Not that he'd wanted to, he guessed. He could have ditched John Winchester and gone off like Sam had, but still. "I know," Dean said bitterly, "You just didn't think of it like I did, right?" Sam protested, but Dean cut him off. "Your version of Heaven is somebody else's Thanksgiving. It's bailing on your family."

Sam scowled, bothered that Dean was getting so angry with him about things he wasn't entirely in control of. He briefly considered that the angels were doing this on purpose, to rile them up. "I just don't look at family the way you do."

Something about that wounded Dean deeply. He'd gone to Hell to bring his little brother back from the dead. He merely shook his head, admittedly miserable about the matter. Family was everything to him. Sam was the one he cared for most, no matter how little it was said aloud. Bobby was a close second, and even Alex and Castiel were squirming their way further in.

That wriggling worry over the skinwalker wormed its way back into his attention and Dean scowled. He hoped that Castiel started spitting out words first and foremost about where she was when he somehow got into contact with them again.

Sam looked ready to start speaking again before suddenly freezing when a mass of light suddenly landed on them. Both froze for a moment, and then took off sprinting for the tree line at the edge of the road. "Go!" Dean shouted, running as hard as he could. "Go!"

They pushed themselves as hard as they could and when Dean felt they'd gone far enough, they ducked behind a fallen log, heaving for air. They exchanged alarmed looks when footsteps filled their ears.

Shit, Dean wanted to snarl when Zachariah's voice filled the air. "Wow," he called sarcastically, voice ringing out through the otherwise silent forest. "Running from angels. On foot. In Heaven. With out-of-the-box thinking like that, I'm surprised you two haven't stopped the Apocalypse already!"

A soft snap of fingers echoed out and then the night sky turned bright and blue. The sun shone down through the pine trees that towered above them as the angel continued.

"Guys, what's the problem?" he tried. "I just want to send you back to Earth, that's all!" Sam pressed his mouth into a hard line and peered back. He shot back down a moment later. Close, he mouthed to his brother. Dean nodded curtly, pushing his annoyance with Sam to the back of his mind. He could be angry with him later. "I mean, that is, after I tear you a cosmos of new ones! You're on my turf now, boys. And by the time I'm through with you, you're going to be begging to say yes."

Go, Sam mouthed and they tore off. It did them no good. They'd barely gotten a few feet before Zachariah appeared in front of them. He smiled maliciously as they skittered to a stop, his eyes glittering in a way that made Dean nervous. "Guys, c'mon," he purred. "You can run...but you won't get anywhere."

Dean, furious, flipped him off and then turned and bolted back in the direction they had come, Sam hot on his heels. Zachariah laughed, as if enjoying the chase that was going on. Sam was heaving desperately for air when a figure suddenly darted out in front of them. He grunted in surprise when he nearly ran right into the masked person. Dean stopped, ready to throw down with whatever had gone after Sam, but blinked when the figure shushed them and gestured for them to follow, hissing, "Hurry! This way."

They exchanged a quick look and then gave in, jogging after the strange person. He led them swiftly to a shack that stood nearly hidden in the forest around them and Dean eyed it suspiciously as the person ducked in. The doors were rusted iron, symbols that were vaguely familiar etched into the walls.

When they were waved inside, both ducked through the entrance, and blinked in surprise upon entering the incredibly dark area. The person snickered as he removed the mask from his face and tucked them under his arm. "Buenos dias, bitches," he said proudly.

Dean recognized the man on sight despite barely being able to see him. "Ash?" He remembered him well. The man who'd occupied Ellen's restaurant, who'd been a genius who drank himself into a stupor on a regular basis. Sam looked just as stunned when he glanced at him.

Ash smirked, clapping his hands. Lights sprang on, and he grinned widely at them as Sam looked around in awe recognizing where they were. It was the very place Ash had occupied - where they'd been welcomed warmly by Ellen herself. No longer was Ellen's Roadhouse a charred disaster.

"Good God," Dean breathed as a jukebox kicked on in the corner. "It even smells the same."

"Bud, blood, and beer nuts," Ash said happily as he ducked behind the bar, snapping his fingers at them. "How 'bout a cold one? Up here? No hangover."

Slowly, Sam and Dean approached the bar, each taking a seat. Sam cleared his throat, looking as if he was going to start speaking, but Ash cut him off, looking perfectly at home in the Roadhouse as he leaned against the bar. "Welcome to my own personal Heaven." He proceeded to shotgun an entire beer as they stared at him in confusion.

"And when the angels jumped us?" Sam finally said slowly. "We were-"

"In your Heaven," he finished.

"There's two Heavens?"

"No," Ash corrected, "more like a hundred billion. No worries, it'll take those angel boys a minute to catch up." Dean slapped his hands to the bar, honestly confused by what he was talking about, so Ash explained, "See, you gotta stop thinking of Heaven as one place, man. It's more like a bunch of places all crammed together. Like Disneyland." He held up a hand, ticking off his fingers. "See, you got Winchesterland, Ashland, a whole mess of everybody else's lands...put them all together and what do you get? Heaven. And you know what's right at the center of it all? The Magic Kingdom. The Garden."

What Castiel wanted them to find, Dean remembered. He leaned forward. "So everybody gets a little slice of paradise."

"Pretty much. A few people share though. Special cases and what not." When they peered curiously at Ash, he shrugged. "Soulmates. Anyway, most people can't leave their own private Idahos."

"But you left," Sam pointed out with a frown, tapping his fingers on the bar.

Ash grinned. "I got skills. Hell, I've been all over. Johnny Cash. Andre the Giant. Einstein. Hell, I found the author of the Kama Sutra the other day."

"All this from a guy who used to sleep on a pool table," Dean murmured, unable to believe what he was hearing. He shook his head, although he couldn't say he wasn't displeased. At least he was happy. "So how'd you find us?"

"I rigged up my very own holy-rolling police scanner," Ash declared and dropped to shuffle around beneath the bar. He came up with a laptop a moment later, starting it up after prying it open. It was a few moments before it emitted a very loud and familiar piercing sound that Dean knew well. It was the sound that had nearly burst his eardrums. And Alex's, too. "That's angels. Blabbing Enochian, right? I'm fluent." He put the laptop away when Dean gave him a glare. "I heard that you were up, so I had to come find you."

Sam suddenly spoke, entirely serious and quiet. His face was hopeful. "Have you found anyone else? Ellen and Jo?"

"Ellen and Jo are dead?" Ash said, jerking a little in shock. Dean's face filled with grief as he looked down. Sam looked back at him sorrowfully.

"Yeah, a few months now. Sorry."

Ash cleared his throat, looking just as sad about it as they did. "Um, they went down fighting?" he finally said quietly. Sam nodded without another word.

"And a lot of good it did," Dean said bitterly. He would never forget the final moments in which he'd seen the pair of strong women. He'd helped put them in their non-existent grave - and that wasn't something he'd forget either. "How 'bout our folks?"

Ash shook his head. "I've been looking all over for John Winchester, Mary, too. But so far, nada. I'm sorry." He shrugged and then suddenly lit up. "But hey! There's somebody that wants to jaw with you. Hold up!"

He darted from around the bar and disappeared into a backroom at the back of the Roadhouse. Dean and Sam watched him go and then exchanged curious looks. "Who do you think it is?" Dean asked.

Sam shrugged. "Hopefully someone helpful," was his response. As helpful as Ash had been...they needed a bit more than he could offer. It was a few minutes before Ash returned with the person he'd mentioned, and when he did, Dean found himself grinning broadly.

Pamela smiled back at them, dark eyes twinkling as if they'd never been burned out. "Nice to see you again, boys."


Barachiel appeared, looking as agitated as he usually did, before her and Alex set her jaw and bit the urge to try and strike him down back. There was just something about the way he looked at her in such a condescending way… His green eyes narrowed at her as he gave her a once over and said, "You, Alex Montgomery, are more trouble than you're with."

For a guardian angel, he seemed to dislike his charge more and more with each meeting they had. Alex ran her fingers along the blade that rippled into existence before vanishing again. "I try," she said with a smirk. "I want to make a deal with you."

Amusement crossed his features. "I'm not a demon, Alexandriana," he murmured, although he rocked forward. "But I'm fond of bargains, so I'll listen. I make no promises. Tell me what Gabriel intends to give me in exchange for a meeting." Alex stiffened and a wicked smile crossed Barachiel's mouth. "I'm not stupid. You wouldn't have summoned for something so silly...although I'm rather insulted that you haven't even considered sending me to retrieve the Winchesters."

"They're busy," Alex said, her stomach twisting at the fact that he'd bring something like that up. She was willing to bet for a good deal he'd bring them back, too. Not that they'd be very happy about it. "If you know that Gabriel wants to meet, do you not know what we're offering?"

"I don't play games, I create them. Gabriel may be a trickster, but I am a commander of many." Barachiel snorted, as if insulted, but she didn't care if he was insulted or not. "I dropped Avery Hunt in the middle of nowhere, knowing it'd drag you away from the Winchesters while others hunted them. I don't find myself fond of you, but you're still the Soldier. You're still needed, and I have my orders. I know Gabriel wants to talk. So I initiated the circumstances that would allow it. Do not take me for a fool, Alex, I know everything that is happening and I know what I want to happen, and it will happen."

Alex stared at him. Her heart twisted with pain as she said, "You…you do this on purpose. You keep me alive, but you make sure that everyone around me gets hurt." If he was the one who'd ditched her friend in the middle of nowhere, half-dead, then that meant -

"You," she breathed, "if you can organize a situation that another archangel fell into, then you made everything that happened possible. You told the demons about Matt's family, or you let it slip at least. You made it so that we were tortured for hours. You're the reason my brother's dead." Her breath hitched, tears burning in the back of her eyes. "You did it on purpose just because you could."

He didn't bat an eye. "Of course. You have to break someone in order to be able to use them. Why do you think Zachariah torments the three of you as he does? We have our jobs. Mine is to make sure that the Soldier is alive and nothing more."

She could have asked Gabriel, she supposed, but Alex clenched her jaw and said to Barachiel, "What exactly is the Soldier?"

"You don't know?" he mocked, and she glared at him. He knew fully well that she didn't know what the Soldier was. A laugh escaped him. "The Soldier is a tool meant for balance. The middle child meant to decide who wins, who loses, who sacrifices, who lives. Meant to shoulder the responsibility that Michael and Lucifer can't deal with, because they're too busy fighting with one another to notice everything else as the world falls apart around them. The one intended to be Gabriel's vessel, to pick up the pieces of what remains and continue on. That part became impossible the second you became infected with disease, though."

She stared at him in stunned silence, unable to fully comprehend what he'd said entirely. Gabriel's vessel. That explained a lot regarding Gabriel and why he didn't care much for her, explained everything he'd said to she and the Winchesters after everything that had happened. It explained so much.

Yet…

It wasn't what she'd wanted to hear.

She had no doubt that if, in some odd way, her path had been laid out long ago, then "picking up the pieces…"

Cleaning up after the hellhounds had torn into Dean had been practice for when Lucifer and Michael used their vessels to tear each other apart.

Alex lifted her chin and rather than giving him some kind of mournful response like she knew he likely wanted, she said, "Are you going to speak with Gabriel on your own then? Since you're so smart and set everything up?"

"No. I won't speak with Gabriel unless I'm given what I want." His gaze flickered with greed. "I want my young brother's favorite coat, Alexandriana."

"Then speak with Gabriel," Alex told him. She made no promises of Castiel, determined to see if he'd force her to promise it aloud. If she didn't promise it aloud, then when he'd spoken with Gabriel, she'd not need to follow through. "He certainly wants to speak with you. God knows why."

Barachiel's lips quirked at her comment. "Fine."

Alex didn't even need to shout for the other archangel, he appeared a few feet away with a smug look on his face. There was a hard glint in his eyes, however, razor sharp. He was anything but happy with Barachiel, she realized, and her hand rested lightly on the hilt of her blade just in case something went down. She wished the Winchesters were there, even with Castiel ready to step in for her. Facing angels was one thing; she had two archangels before her, both of which held strong dislike for her. One had tormented her; the other had tortured her. She wasn't too excited to be standing there alone.

"Hello, Barachiel," Gabriel sang, earning a scowl from him. "Long time, no see. Glad to see you've stopped running." Gabriel's smile widened at his annoyance. "You know what I want. If you don't cut it out, I'll make sure that Ally here gets the chance to end you permanently."

"Some kind of brother you are," Barachiel muttered, baring his teeth at him.

Alex was too interested to bother making a comment on the nickname. Gabriel hadn't made a single threat towards the other angels. He had expressed his immense unhappiness with Lucifer and Michael, but she couldn't recall him ever threatening to kill any of them. He'd even taken himself out of the equation to avoid the matter.

So what was Barachiel doing to piss him off that much?

Barachiel snorted and folded his arms, shifting his weight and looking very comfortable despite the tense situation. "You believe that I will stop doing my job to satisfy your desires, Gabriel?"

Gabriel's eyes flashed. "Your job does not involve stealing pieces of other angels to try and erase their existence, to see if you can shove their strength into yourself." Alex' face flashed with alarm. "And I can promise you that our all powerful Father wouldn't like it, whether he's around or not." His face twisted briefly with irritation, as if he was annoyed that God wasn't there. "And while we're at it, you can call it quits on the Soldier."

Alex kept silent as Barachiel practically snarled at Gabriel, her stomach churning. What was that supposed to mean? she wondered warily, glancing at him. Was she about to be murdered or something similar?

"You're not God," Barachiel said icily, "and you can't tell me to do anything."

The skinwalker nearly choked out a laugh at that; he sounded like a child. Despite her gut telling her to shut and sit back, Alex rumbled out a low growl, catching his attention. "You know, there's this rumor going around that an angel named Joshua speaks to God." It was Barachiel's turn to look worried. "The boys are currently making their way through Heaven to speak with him. I wonder if just one little push from Cas would have them telling him all about what you're doing." she wasn't sure about the extent of what the archangel had been up to regarding the stealing of angel pieces, what he intended to do with that power and how he was doing it. But she knew he didn't want anyone knowing. "And if Joshua knew, then God would possibly know. I wonder what your Father up above would think."

"Stay out of this," Barachiel snapped at her, eyes flashing dangerously. "You're not a part of this. You may hold the title of Soldier, but you're nothing more than a diseased mutt who should have been put down the second you were infected."

Alex arched a marred brow and said, "Tell me something I don't know, and then I'll consider taking your comments to heart, Barachiel." She spared a glance at Gabriel and found him snickering under his breath. She rolled her eyes. Such a child. She turned her back on Barachiel, feeling a little lighter than she had initially.

Barachiel wouldn't be bothering them much from the point on. She could feel it as Gabriel gave Barachiel a final warning before the archangel spat at him and vanished.

"Feeling sentimental about your should-be vessel?" Alex mused without much agitation towards the matter. He appeared to have one, and it wasn't like he was trying to make her give her body up for that. He seemed perfectly pleased with the vessel he'd been using.

Gabriel merely snorted and muttered, glaring at where Barachiel had stood, "Our brothers are killing each other as is. We don't need one thinking himself above the rest simply because he's the one in charge of guardian angels."

Alex hummed in response and then looked over at him when he spoke again. "Thank you."

She blinked at him in response and then offered a hesitant smile. "And thank you for helping me find Avery. It means a lot. Although...why do you care? I mean, he said that I was your original vessel, although I suppose that's clearly changed." She waved to herself. "So why care now?"

Gabriel snickered before growing serious. "There's a difference between screwing with someone and tormenting them. I screwed with you all to try and get this mess over with. Barachiel's needlessly tormenting you just because he can. Just because I'm an archangel doesn't mean I have to be a dick, too."

And then he was gone, and Alex stood alone in a parking lot, her gaze thoughtfully remaining on the space he'd occupied. He'd been a dick to them previously, she supposed, narrowing her eyes. But he wasn't on Barachiel's level. She shook her head to clear it and turned away.


Dean winced at the sting of pain that accompanied a swat to the back of his head. "That's for getting me killed," Pamela told him, though she didn't look too bothered by the matter. Dean rubbed the back of his head as she dropped her hand to the table they were sitting at. Sam chatted with Ash about something or another nearby, working together on something.

"That's...probably less than I deserve," Dean muttered. "Makes you feel any better, we got Ash killed, too."

"I'm cool with it!" shouted Ash from where he was, snapping his fingers at Dean. Dean rolled his eyes and focused back on Pamela when she gave a throaty chuckle.

"I'm good," Pamela told him. "Really. Remember my death scene? Gut shot, coughing blood...you told me I was going some place better." Dean's gaze flickered at the memory; he knew precisely what she was talking about. He'd been lying, thinking only of Hell at the time. "You were right," she declared, much to his surprise. "My Heaven? It's one long show at the Meadowlands. It's amazing." Her eyes shone at the thought of it, and Dean nodded slowly, not entirely agreeing with her. She noticed. "You don't believe me," she murmured.

"I do," he insisted. "It's just...spending eternity trapped in your own little universe while the angels run the show...it's lonely. That's not Nirvana, that's the Matrix."

Her lips quirked. "I don't know, but the attic's still better than the basement."

"Yeah, but…" Dean shook his head, unable to explain how he felt.

"Look," she replied, smiling warmly at him, "I'm happy. I'm at peace."

Dean narrowed his gaze at her suspiciously. "Are you trying to sell me a timeshare? I mean, what's with the pitch?"

"I know that Michael wants to take you out for a test drive," was her answer, and he stiffened, frowning. She held a hand up to stop him from speaking. "Just saying," said Pamela. "What happens if you play ball with them? Worst case."

"A lot of people die."

"And then they come up here," Pamela replied. "Is that really so bad? Look, maybe you don't have to fight it so hard, that's all I'm trying to say, Dean."

Dean shook his head in disagreement. "Alex wouldn't," he pointed out. She winced, as if she'd been caught on a matter she'd been trying to avoid. "Skinwalkers...vampires...all of those things. Where do they go?"

"Who knows?" Pamela said with a shrug. "But it's like one big adventure, right? No one ever knows."

Dean couldn't say he liked that. He got the feeling Alex would be one of the first to go if the angels - particularly archangels and Zachariah - were given the chance, and he had no idea on where she'd end up. A thought suddenly occurred to him, and he turned in his seat. "Hey, Ash." Ash glanced over. "Alex's folks...Matt. They up here?"

Ash shrugged. "I don't know. Can't know everyone that's up here, my friend." He grinned and gave them a thumbs up. "We found a shortcut to the Garden, by the way." Pamela chuckled as Dean glared at his brother for not saying anything sooner.

After a quick series of goodbyes that involved Pamela being just as handsy as Dean remembered and Ash promising to keep some beer on ice for them, Sam and Dean stepped through the front door, both looking a little disappointed about the matter of leaving behind Ellen's Roadhouse.

Those thoughts soon vanished, however, when they found themselves inside a darkened room. Distantly, the whistle of a train filled their ears. Dean spun in a slow circle, mouth pressed into a hard line. "Home," he muttered. Lawrence, Kansas. He'd always remember this house. Would always remember the smoke billowing from the windows, his father ordering him to take Sam outside. "C'mon, let's-"

"Dean," Sam breathed, staring at something over his shoulder.

Dean looked and the breath was sucked right out of him. "Honey, why are you up?" asked Mary from where she was frowning at him, looking just as he remembered her looking on the night she'd died.

Shaken, Dean said, "Look, I'm sorry. I love you, but you're not real, and we don't have time-" She tried to speak again, but Dean said firmly, "I gotta go."

"Then how about I tell you about my nightmare, Dean?" she suddenly purred as Dean took a step back. Sam's face went white as blood suddenly began pooling in the white material resting on her stomach. "The night I burned."

"Sammy," Dean breathed, grabbing Sam's shoulder and pushing him back. Sam stumbled a little, his face full of horror as he stared at her. "We need to get out of here."

"Don't you walk away from me," snarled Mary, her face cold with rage. Her eyes became yellow between blinks, and Dean's stomach churned. Azazel. The name was one he'd admittedly not thought of in a while. Not since Lucifer had come to town. Not even since before Hell.

"The worst was the smell." He was going to be sick. "The pain? Well...what can you say about your skin bubbling off? But the smell was so...you know, for a second, I thought I'd left a pot roast burning in the oven. But it was me, burning." Dean felt behind him, trying to find the door that they'd come through. There was nothing but brick beneath his fingertips. "And then, finally, I was dead. The one silver lining was that at least I was away from you." Dean stilled, heart aching at the words. "Everybody leaves you, Dean. You noticed? Mommy. Daddy. Even Sam."

Sam's jaw worked furiously, guilty, because he had left, wanting a life that wasn't with his family, wasn't with hunting. Not that it had worked out that way. And he wasn't the only one. It did seem that way, he thought. The only one who hadn't ditched him like that was Alex, who'd done everything she could after he'd gone to Hell, and suddenly, Dean's concern about the skinwalker made so much more sense to him.

"You ever ask yourself why?" Mary mused. "Maybe it's not them. Maybe it's you."

"Easy now," chuckled Zachariah, appearing with the sound of fluttering feathers. Mary gave her children wicked grins, but Zachariah didn't say anything against it as Sam furiously glared at him.

"You did this," Sam accused, hands shaking. "You son of a bitch."

"And I'm just getting started," Zachariah hummed in response. "I mean, guys. Did you really think you could just sneak past me into Mission Control?" He snapped his fingers and Dean swore when he suddenly found himself pinned into place by a pair of angels that wore stony expressions on their faces. Sam grumbled when he was forced to deal with the same problem.

"You can gloat all you want," Dean told him snarkily, "you're still bald, you dick."

Zachariah snorted. "In Heaven, I have six wings and four faces, one of whom is a lion. You see this because you're limited." Another snap of his fingers had Mary vanishing, and he stepped forward, grinning. "Let's brass tack this, shall we?" Dean opened his mouth to spit out another aggressive comment, but merely doubled over with a grunt, breath driven out of him by a well-aimed fist on Zachariah's part. "I'm going to do a lot more, boys! I've cleared my schedule. Get him up."

Sam tried to free himself when one of the angels holding his brother in place dragged him upright by the hair. Dean didn't make a sound when another blow landed, this time connecting with his jaw.

"Let me tell you something," Zachariah snarled. "I was on the fast track once. Employee of the month, every month, forever. I would walk these halls and people would avert their eyes! I had respect. And then...they assigned me to you. Now look at me." He barked out a bitter laugh, glaring viciously at them. "I can't close the deal on a couple of flannel-wearing maggots! One of which is lower than a bunch of humans. Everybody's laughing at me, and they're right to do it. So!

"Say yes, don't say yes, I'm still going to take it out of your asses." Zachariah spread his hands out with a smirk. "It's personal now, boys. I was the last person in the history of your creation that you wanted as your enemy. Lucifer may be strong, but I'm petty. I'm going to be the angel on your shoulder for the rest of eternity."

Zachariah didn't take notice of it, but Dean and Sam certainly did. They stared in surprise at the man that suddenly appeared behind Zachariah. A small, older man with dark skin and ancient eyes studied him before speaking. "Excuse me, sir?"

Zachariah spun on his heel and scowled. "I'm in a meeting," he said icily.

"I'm sorry," he replied, and Sam and Dean exchanged wary looks. "I need to speak with them." He gestured to the Winchesters. Zachariah sputtered, shocked by the demand. "It's a bad time, I know, but I'm afraid I have to insist." He stared Zachariah down. Dean grinned briefly when he shifted uncomfortably. "His orders."

"You're lying," Zachariah said uncertainly, narrowing his eyes.

The man let a smile appear on his face, eyes sharper than a blade. "I wouldn't lie about His will. Look, fire me if you want. Sooner or later, He's going to come back home and you know how He is with that whole wrath thing."

Zachariah considered this and then vanished. Dean and Sam grimaced, suddenly freed. Between one blink and the next, the house in Lawrence disappeared, replaced by a beautiful vibrant green garden, surrounded by trees. From where he stood, the angel mused, "You see what you want to here. For some...it's God's throne room. For others, it's Eden. You two, I believe it's the Cleveland Botanical Gardens. You came here on a field trip."

The man lifted his chin proudly. "I'm the one you've been seeking. I am Joshua."


Alex had just finished loading the things she'd used to summon Barachiel into her car when Castiel appeared quite suddenly beside her. She jumped, squawking furiously, "Cas!"

"Sorry," the angel responded, although he didn't look it. He edged back a few steps before informing her, "Dean called me." She glanced back questioningly. His blue eyes searched hers for a moment before he added, "They're alive. Joshua returned them to their bodies. He and Sam wish to tell me what he said in person, and Dean said I had to bring you with." He furrowed his brow. "I told him you were alright, but he didn't believe me."

Alex snorted loudly at that. "How touching of Winchester number one," she murmured. "Alright," she said, locking the trunk to her car and holding out her arms. "Whisk me away. Let's see what they found out." Her heart was racing, she realized as Castiel pressed two fingers to her forehead.

They appeared beside the Impala, and Alex fondly touched the sleep black paint. She knew they were alive; Castiel wouldn't lie about something like that. But she wanted proof. She wanted proof that she'd not lost two other people she cared for. Castiel led the way to the door, immediately knowing which motel room they were in, and knocked sharply. "You could have just put us in there," Alex pointed out.

"Dean isn't very happy with me," Castiel admitted, "I wanted to lessen that."

Alex chuckled at his concern for Dean's opinion of him and then focused when the door to the motel room opened and Dean eyed them critically before stepping aside to let them in. Alex didn't hesitate, unable to help the absolute relief that flooded her at the fact that they were actually alive and breathing. Alex threw her arms around his broad chest for a hug, squeezing enough that he grunted but could still breathe.

"Hey, Alex," he muttered, rolling his eyes and surprised her by hugging her back rather tightly. His fingers dug in where they touched, and she furrowed her brow, worried. Something had changed although she couldn't put her finger on what.

She gave it a moment, ensuring she heard a heartbeat, and then released him, stepping back. A growl tugged from her chest. "I can't leave you bloody morons alone for more than a second."

Dean shrugged, kicking the door shut behind them. Alex did a quick scan for Sam, but nodded to herself when she heard the water running in the bathroom. He'd be out eventually. "The hell were you up to while we were dealing with angels? Cas wouldn't tell me." He threw a glare at the quietly watching angel, who huffed softly.

"Playing with archangels," Alex mused. Dean turned to give her an exasperated glare. "Got to deal with Gabriel and Barachiel."

"The hell, Alex?" he snapped. "What'd I say about screwing around with them?"

"Cas wasn't picking up the phone," she said, waving him off, "and it's February, and I was in South Dakota. I needed help finding Avery. Gabriel showed up and was actually fairly decent about everything. I'll tell you more in the car." She wasn't leaving them alone, not again. They were two of the only people she had left in this world, and she wasn't going to risk losing them like that again. "What happened?"

"Got caught by surprise by some hunters," Dean muttered. "Managed to get in and shot us."

Alex growled, baring her teeth. She'd figure out who they were later and hunt them down. She'd leave for that and that alone.

"Alex!" Sam said in surprise as he ducked out of the bathroom, hair wet. He grinned when she immediately strode over and gave him a hug, too, happily returning it. After a moment, he let go, frowning when Castiel demanded to know what Joshua had said.

Dean didn't hold back. "Back off."

"Excuse me?" Alex said, confused, and he waved her off.

"Joshua said that God knows what's going on," Dean continued angrily, scowling at them all. "He knows everything, and apparently it's not His problem. We're not going to find Him, and according to Joshua, God wants us to back off."

"Cas," Alex murmured when something in his expression shattered as he said, "Maybe...maybe Joshua was lying,"

"I don't think he was, Cas," Sam said sympathetically. "I'm sorry."

Castiel stared at them for a few moments before looking up, as if seeking any sign of the person he'd been hunting for the last few months. Finally, he just shook his head, digging in his pocket. He tossed something to Dean, muttering, "I don't need this anymore, it's worthless." He turned away, ignoring Sam's protests as he vanished.

Dean studied the amulet that Castiel had borrowed so long ago, touching it gingerly before shaking his head and grabbing his bag. "Let's go," he muttered, striding for the door. Sam and Alex watched him as he opened the door, and then paused, studying the amulet. Without hesitation, he dropped it into the trash and then ducked outside without looking back.

Sam let out a saddened sound, and Alex slowly picked her way over to the trashcan, not hesitating to reach past the beer cans that had been shoved into it. She gently withdrew the amulet that she knew better than any other, the amulet she'd pulled from Dean's neck for Sam after he'd been ripped apart by hellhounds.

She knew what Dean had intended by the action. There was no faith left to be had in the eternal force that they'd been hoping would help them, but that didn't mean there could be no faith in other matters. Looking back at Sam, she wrapped that necklace around her wrist and tied it there.

Alex had faith that they'd pull through, just as they always did, even if Dean didn't think so. She glanced over to Sam, and found him watching her closely. "What?"

"I'm sorry," he said, shaking his head. "For everything that happened back before Dean came back. For ditching you for Ruby. All of it. I'm sorry, Alex."

She blinked at him, caught by surprise. "What brought this on, Sam?"

He only shook his head and grabbed his bag, shouldering it. "Just...stuff with Joshua." He smiled faintly, waving for her to go out the door first. Alex eyed Sam suspiciously, but ducked out. Sam watched her go and let out a gust of air.

They just couldn't catch a break, he thought, and followed suit.


Holy hell I've finally updated. This chapter took some time to write for some reason. But look! More evolving moments between Alex and Dean. We got hugs two chapters in a row.

Anyhow, onwards! Nearing the end of season five, and I can't wait for things to happen. ;)

Thanks to reviewers (emily2696 (chapter 1), Savage Kill, and fairyninjaM4!) as well as those who favorited and followed!