AUTHOR'S NOTE: So sorry for leaving this story hanging for so long. But here are the last two chapters. I hope you enjoy.
CHAPTER 21: The Final Showdown
It has finally come to this, the final showdown with Lucifer. The Winchesters have lost close friends and loved ones, have shed blood, sweat and tears to get here. They were so close to stopping the Apocalypse.
And yet… one felt far from victorious.
And that person is Dean.
The older Winchester hadn't slept all night. After his chat with Castiel about Sam, how could he. He loved his little brother too much to see anything bad happen to him. Ever since that time Zachariah trapped Dean in the year 2014, and seeing Lucifer possessing Sam, and to this day it still frightens Dean just thinking of it. The hunter didn't want that to come to pass, but with Lucifer drawing ever closer, Dean may have no choice but to allow Sam to go on with his plan.
Standing out on the porch, Dean stared up at the cloudy sky. So much was on his mind at the moment that he felt just as blue as the weather. So many worries of what's to come, so much fear for his brother. Dean felt lost. Only two scenarios came to mind; either they win, and Lucifer is locked in his cage, Dean will have the normal life he's always dreamed of, with Castiel by his side… But poor, dear Sam will not be in the picture. Or… Lucifer wins, and it's farewell to everyone.
Dean quickly leaves his thoughts for a moment, gazing towards the shed, where his brother laid atop the Impala' hood. And by Sam's expression, he too was thinking on the subject as well. Dean saunters over his way. If he's going to tell Sam that he's on board with him saying yes, he might as well do it now before he changes his mind.
"Hey." Sam says. Dean sighed lightly, not knowing how to start. The long awkward silence was making the younger hunter worried. "Dean? What's going on?"
"I'm in." Is all Dean utters.
Sam blinks a few times, puzzled, then shook his head. "In with what?"
"The whole up-with-Satan thing. I'm on board."
Sam slowly slides off the car. "You're going to let me say yes?"
"No, that's the thing… it's not on me to let you do anything… You're a grown man. If this is what you want, I'll back your play."
Sam lets out a deep heavy sigh. "That's the last thing I thought you'd ever say."
"Might be. I'm not going to lie to you, it goes against every fiber I got. I mean, the truth is… you're not a kid anymore Sam, I can't keep treating you like one. Maybe I got to grow up a little too." Dean pauses, doing his best to hold back the pain growing in his chest. "I don't know if we got a snowball's chance, but… I do know that if anybody can do it, it's you."
Sam stared at Dean for a long moment before saying, "Thank you."
"Is this really what you want?" Dean finally looks Sam in the eyes.
Sam shifted a bit, looking to the ground. "I let him out, I got to put him back in."
"Okay… That's it then."
The brothers say nothing else, they just sit together, drinking in silence.
Later…
Bobby and Castiel pull up to a lot near an abandoned factory just a few miles from Bobby's house. They were meeting up with the brothers, who were currently inside with a few captured Demons. But it wasn't information they were after; it was their blood. And gallons of it. Once they had gotten the amount they needed, they loaded it into the Impala' trunk.
Dean may be up for the yes thing, but he was still unsettled with the chugging down Demon blood part. But if Cas says it will sustain Sam's body while Lucifer possesses him, then Dean had to let it slide this once.
Dean strolls up to Bobby.
"So, was I right?" The elder hunter asked.
"Yeah, as always. We got two Demons inside, just like you said," Dean answered.
"Did you get it?"
"Yeah, all the go juice Sammy can drink." Dean replied as he peered over to Sam.
"You okay?"
"Not really… So, what do you got?" He turns his attention to a batch of newspapers Bobby had collected.
"Not much… These look like omens to you. Cyclone in Florida, temperature drop in Detroit, wildfires in L.A."
"What about Detroit?" Dean cuts him off.
"Temperature dropped about twenty degrees, but only in a five-block radius of downtown Motown."
"That's the one." Dean says. He still remembered his future self mentioning about it.
"Really? Are you sure?"
Dean's eyes switch back to Sam. "Yeah, I'm sure."
Afterwards…
That night, they drove through the back roads, making their way to Detroit. Most of the ride was quiet, nothing but the roaring of the engine filling the car. That, and Castiel's light snoring coming from the back seat.
Dean glanced over his shoulder toward the ex-Angel, and he couldn't help but smile. It was good that Cas was getting some sleep, he needed it, because Dean's been noticing that his lover wasn't getting much rest since he came back. Dean's smile slowly fades, returning his eyes on the road. His gut was acting up again, and he sure knew what it meant.
"Sam, I got a bad feeling about this."
Sam chuckled, "You'd be nuts to have a good feeling."
"You know what I mean. Detroit. He said he'd jump your bones in Detroit, and here we are. This is him rolling out the carpet, he knows something we don't."
"Dean, I'm sure he knows a buttload we don't, but you got to hope he doesn't know about the rings." It grows silent for a moment. Sam sighs, there was something very important he needed to tell his brother. He knows Dean won't like it, but he must get it off his shoulders. "Hey, um. There's something I got to say."
"Hm?"
"If this thing goes our way, and I jump into that box… you know I'm not coming back."
"Yeah, I'm aware."
"So, you got to promise me something."
Dean looks to Sam questioningly. "Okay, yeah, anything."
"You got to promise me not to try to bring me back."
Dean narrowed his eyes. "What? No, I didn't sign up for that."
"Dean- "
"Your hell will make my tour look like Graceland. You want me to sit by, and do nothing?"
"Once the cage is shut, you can't poke it, Dean… it's too risky- "
"No, no… as if I'm just going to let you rot in there."
"Yeah, you are, you don't have a choice."
"You can't ask me to do this- "
"I'm sorry, Dean, you have to."
"So then what am I supposed to do?"
Sam looked at Castiel, still asleep in the back, then back to Dean. "You marry Cas." Sam answered. Dean shoots a nervous glance his way. The look in his eyes alone asked Sam what he meant by that. Sam chuckled lightly. "Yeah, I found the ring in that box you planned on leaving behind when you were going to say yes to Michael… Did you propose to him yet?" When Dean shook his head no in response, Sam adds, "Then you do that. Get married and be happy with him. Have barbecues and go to football games. You both live your lives."
"…" Dean didn't know how to respond to that. Sam got him good this time.
"Promise me."
"…" Dean remained quiet at this point, staring into Sam's serious gaze, then turned his attention to the road. And from there on, the remainder of the drive was silent.
That Morning…
It was early dawn when they arrived in Detroit. The boys pull into a parking lot of a motel, figuring they'd rest up and get some food in their belly's first. Then wait 'till nightfall to face the Devil.
While Sam exited the car to get a room for them, Dean cuts the engine and sighs. He thinks hard about what Sam had told him earlier. To be honest, Dean was a little bit afraid of what his version of a normal life would be like. Who can blame him? Dean's been in the Family business for as long as he can remember. Of course, there were times in his youth he's thought of what his life would've been like if it wasn't so messed up. Times he imagined his mother was still alive, no yellow-eyed Demon screwing up his brother, never knowing about monsters, or Demons, or the apocalypse.
A low groan suddenly grabs Dean's attention to the back seat, where Castiel was stretched out. The ex-Angel looked so peaceful when he slept, and Dean smiled.
Then again. This crazy life would never have given Dean the chance to meet Castiel. To befriend him, to fall deeply in love, or even wish to ask for his hand in marriage. All of it would never have come to being. With that thought, Dean can't fully say he regrets how his life turned out. He had to admit, there were amazing moments through the years. And well, Dean wants to look forward to what the rest of his life will be when this apocalypse thing blows over.
Dean glanced towards the main lobby, and he sees Sam come out the door. The hunter looks back at Castiel. He reaches out a hand and shakes Cas's shoulder. " Cas... Cas, wake up."
The ex-Angel's eyes tiredly peeked at Dean with a grunt, a hand suddenly shielding the sunlight from his eyes. Castiel sits up, rubbing his still sleepy baby blues with a yawn. " We're here?"
" Yeah. Sam's got our room key, let's get you into a real bed."
" Mm-hm." Cas replied, his eyes slowly shut, and he quickly drifted back to sleep.
Dean gets out the car, circles towards Cas's side, and opens the door. " Let's go sleeping beauty." Dean manages to get him out the car, but Cas's unconscious frame leans into Dean. The hunter gets a firm hold around his lover's waist while his free hand shuts the door.
Sam walks up with two pairs of keys. " Yours and Cas's room is 12, right next to Bobby's and mine." He holds out Dean's key.
" Uh... mind opening my door?" Dean gestures a nod at Castiel just before he sweeps the ex-Angel up into his arms.
" Sure." Sam heads to the room, Dean a few steps behind. Sam observed as Cas wrapped his sleepy arms around Dean's neck for support. " He's been sleeping a lot lately."
" Yeah... lack of shut-eye and thrashing around in his sleep."
Sam stopped in his tracks, instantly becoming worried. " He's been having nightmares?"
" Yeah, I'm guessing him being human now, he's bound to have a few bad dreams now and then." Dean answered.
Sam shrugged as he unlocked the door and enters. Sam pulls down the bed sheets as Dean sets down Castiel, and tucks him in. Dean then pulls Sam back outside; he shuts the door behind him. Dean looked around, nowhere in particular really, just not at his brother. He ran a hand down his face with a sigh. Then cleared his throat.
" Listen, um... since this might be our last fight... let's try enjoying every moment we can."
" Doing what?"
" Hell, I don't know... anything that'll give me one more happy moment to remember."
" Sounds like a good idea, shall we start with breakfast?"
Dean nodded to that. " Great, I'll wake Cas. We'll meet you and Bobby at the cafe." Dean says nothing more, and heads back inside.
Five minutes later...
Dean and Castiel catch up with the others at the diner. Since it is still early in the morning the diner was pretty much empty. A young brunette walks up to them with a smile, she looked to be in her mid to late teens, wearing a light pink waitress uniform.
" Good morning, I'm Amy and I'll be your waitress." she greeted them.
" Table for four please." Dean says.
" Okay, right this way." Amy grabs four menus then leads them to their booth by the window. The brothers sat across from each other, Bobby sat next to Sam, and Cas next to Dean. Amy hands over the menus, " Would you like to start with drinks, or would you like to order now?"
" We'll order now." Bobby answered.
" Alright." She gets a pen and paper ready. " What would you like?"
" I'll have eggs, scrambled, with a side of sausage and French toast, and a coffee, black." Bobby said, and Amy scribbled it down.
" I'll have the same except with iced tea." Sam added.
" And I'll get the bacon, egg and cheese sandwich, and a coffee." Castiel says.
" Guess I'll have the same too." Dean sighed.
Amy wrote it down, then took the menus, and went off. The group became awkwardly quiet for a moment, at a time like this it seemed hard to talk about something other than the awaiting battle to save the world. For three whole minutes not a word was spoken, and as their waitress came by with their drinks all they uttered was a thank you, and it was back to silence.
" Hey Dean?" Sam is the first to speak.
" Yeah?" Dean eyes shifted from the table to his brother.
" Do you remember when we were kids... That one day while dad was buying food, you and I carved our names under the carpet of the car."
A smile swept across Dean's lips. " Yeah, I do." He chuckled, " And I remember shoving my Legos into the vents."
Sam laughed, " Yeah, and you never heard the end of it from dad."
" I was grounded for a week." Dean chortled. " Those were good times."
Bobby smiled at the boys as they talked, this was what he liked to see, the boys enjoying a good laugh, talk about their past, the positive memories of course. He never gets to see this much between them, being hunters and all, a nice moment like this hardly comes by. Bobby really enjoyed the senseless arguments they would have too. Yeah, Bobby has plenty of great recollections with the knuckleheads.
" Hey Bobby, you got any fond memories you'd like to share?" Sam turned to the elder hunter with a smile that Bobby hadn't seen in a long time.
" 'Course I do, I recall your old man letting me take care of you boys on one of his hunts, the three of us went to the park and we played catch all day."
" I remember that, Sam couldn't catch the ball." Dean added.
" Hey, it wasn't my fault, I told you the glove was too big." Sam lightly taps Dean's shoulder.
Dean glances at Castiel, " You've been very quiet... Come on Cas, what is your most favorite memory with us?"
Castiel softly smiled. " The pranks we did on each other in North Carolina."
The trio laughed.
" I have to admit, Cas, that water and feathers trick was the best." Dean says.
Sam's head fell back with laughter. " That same day, Cas put Dean in a pink shirt." He tells Bobby.
" Hey!" Dean points a finger at Sam. " You swore you'd never bring that up." A hint of red formed on Dean's now embarrassed face.
" I couldn't resist." Cas laughed.
Dean then looked to his lover with a curious gaze, and spoke, " I didn't know you could do things like that."
Cas shrugged. " Actually, Gabriel taught me a few of his tricks." He chuckled.
Sam and Bobby laughed. Dean suddenly wraps an arm around Castiel and tugs him close, and they joined the others in laughter.
Their day went on just talking and laughing together, just to make this day another thing worth fighting for. Not just for humanity, or reaching that normal life goal, it was these moments of happiness. This picture here was not about three hunters and a fallen Angel. No... This was a family.
That Night...
They managed to find the place Lucifer was hanging out, but he wasn't alone. From afar Sam, Dean and Cas waited for Bobby's info on the joint. The elder hunter spies on the perimeter, counting the number of Demons that were guarding the Devil.
Bobby sighs heavily, then strolls back into the alley. " Demons, at least two dozen of them. You were right, something's up." He tells Dean.
" Lucifer is here, I know it." Dean replies before moving towards the Impala's trunk and unlocked it.
Sam sighed, glancing at Bobby. The elder hunter looked to the floor, only for a second then takes a step closer to Sam. " I'll see you around, kid."
Sam nodded, " See you around." He replied. Bobby pulls Sam in a tight hug, giving a few pats on his back. His eyes stung, but Bobby held in the tears.
" If he gets in... you fight him, tooth and nail, do you understand?" Bobby ordered. Sam nods. " Keep swinging... don't give an inch."
" Yes, sir..." Sam says. He turns to Castiel now, he steps up to him with his hand held out, " You take care of these guys, okay?" Cas stared at Sam's outstretched hand, he grips it firmly and shakes it. Sam tugs him into a hug, " You take care too, alright?"
" I will." Castiel sighed.
Sam saunters to the car, and for a long silent moment he stared at the bottles of Demon blood. He reached out to grab one, wanting to get this part over with quick, but Dean stood beside him, watching. Drinking the blood in front of his brother is not something Sam wanted.
" You mind not watching this?" And without a word, Dean walks away. Sam picks one up and begins to drink.
It took him about ten minutes to finish up all four gallons, with each sip Sam took he felt the energy surge through him, his body and mind grew stronger. And soon he was ready and shuts the trunk with a nervous grunt. He takes a few deep breaths, then makes his way to the building to face the Devil.
" Okay, let's go." He says. Dean follows behind, while Cas and Bobby waited by the car. " Alright!" Sam shouted to get the Demons attention from the upper floor window. " We're here, you sons of bitches!... come and get it!" Two demons step out.
" Hey guys... is your father home?" Dean says. The next thing they know, they are being dragged up to the room where Lucifer awaits. In the living room, the devil is seen gazing out the window.
" Hey guys." Lucifer greets them, " It's so nice of you to drop in." He exhales onto the glass; his very breath was so cold that it completely iced up the window. " Sorry if it's a bit chilly... most people think I burn hot... it's actually quite the opposite." He then traces a finger along the glass, drawing a pitchfork.
" Well, I'll alert the media." Dean adds. Lucifer glared at Dean over his shoulder. Dean gulped.
The Devil faced them, clapping his hands together. " Help me understand something guys... I mean, stomping through my front door is a tad suicidal, don't you think?"
" We're not here to fight you." Sam speaks out.
" No?... then why are you-"
" I want to say yes." Sam cuts him off.
" Excuse me?" Lucifer peers at Sam, the young hunter then demonstrates that he wasn't fooling around, using the demon blood's power to vanquish the two demons behind him. The bodies they occupied fell lifeless with a thud. Lucifer raised his brows, impressed with the work. " Somebody's been a busy bee."
" You heard me. Yes!" Sam repeats.
Lucifer narrowed his eyes. " You're serious."
" Look, Judgement Day's a runaway train, we get it now. We just want off."
" Meaning?"
" I want to make a deal. I give you a free ride, but when it's all over. I live, Dean, Cas and Bobby live, you bring our parents back-"
The Devil raises a hand in Sam's face to stop him from speaking, " Let me stop you right there... I know you have the rings, Sam."
' Shit!' Sam thought, but he kept his game face on. " I have no idea what you're talking about."
Lucifer rolled his eyes and scoffed; he may be fallen but he wasn't stupid. He sighs, " The Horsemen's rings?... the magic keys to my cage? come on, Sam. I've never lied to you; you could at least pay me the same respect." Tension began to rise inside Dean as he nervously gazed at Lucifer. " It's okay, I'm not mad... So, a wrestling match inside your noggin. I like the idea... just you and me, one round, no tricks. You win, you jump in the hole. I win. well, then I win. What do you say, Sam?"
Dean peer between the two. ' What now?' He thought.
Sam on the other hand, knew this was their only chance to end it all, so he stuck to the plan. " So, he knows. Doesn't change anything."
" Sam-" Dean protests.
" We don't have any other choice."
" No." From the look on Sam's face, Dean knew he was going to say it.
" Yes."
With that, the Devil shut his eyes with a smirk. Lucifer's current vessel shone brightly, and a high-pitched whine rang out. Dean had to cover his eyes as Lucifer's true visage enveloped the room. The light faded as quickly as it had appeared.
Dean opened his eyes to the sight of Nick's body now laying lifeless on the floor. To Dean's left laid Sam, unconscious. Dean didn't waste any time, taking out the rings and tossed it onto the wall. He recites the spell that Death had given him.
Suddenly, there's a thunderous howl. Bit by bit the wall cracked and crumbled, opening a portal to the cage. The power of the vortex shook the entire room. Dean looks over to Sam who shot up with a start.
" Sammy?" Dean runs to him.
" Dean!" Sam grips at Dean's jacket with a painful groan. " I can feel him!"
Dean pulls him onto his feet. " You got to go, now! come on!" Dean shouts, Sam investigates the portal, " Go now, Sammy." Sam becomes hesitant, " Now!"
Sam steps forward, directly before the abyss to his eternal prison. Suddenly his panicked expression slowly twisted into a smirk, then turned to Dean.
Dean's eyes widened in disbelief.
" I was just messing with you." Lucifer shuts the portal, then takes the rings for safe keeping. When he stared back at the hunter, he saw a mixture of emotions in his eyes. Hurt, anger, regret, guilt. " I told you... This would always happen in Detroit."
Dean's heart raced with anxiety, unsure of what he should do now. When he blinked, he realizes that Lucifer had suddenly vanished. Dean gazed around, desperately searching for his brother, but he is nowhere in sight. Dean couldn't believe it... Sam was gone.
Later...
Dean, Cas and Bobby strolled Detroit in despair. What was supposed to be a victory, ended up being a loss. A loss to the war, and a loss to one of their own. The trio walk up on a crowd gathered by an electronic store. They get a closer look and watched a news report.
" Reports coming in. A 7.6 quake in Portland, 8.1 in Boston, more in Hong Kong, Berlin and Tehran. The USGS has no explanation, but says to expect a six-figure death toll-"
" It's starting." Castiel says, turning away.
" Yeah, you think, genius?!" Dean spat. He didn't really mean to yell at his lover, he was just very stressed out.
" You didn't have to be mean."
" I know. I'm sorry... But what do we do now?" Dean asked. That was the billion-dollar question, how were they supposed to beat the Devil now that he has the rings, their only hope of stopping the end of days. " There has to be something you know, Cas... anything..."
Castiel sighed, " All I know is that Lucifer meets Michael at the chosen field, and the battle of Armageddon begins."
" Yeah, well where's this chosen field?"
" I don't know-"
" There has to be something we can do! Bobby?" Dean peers to the elder hunter for any suggestions, but Bobby looked worse than Dean and Cas did, " Bobby?"
The elder hunter looked at them both. " There was never much hope to begin with. I don't know what else to do."
Dean cussed under his breath. He had a gut feeling, that this surely wasn't the end of the fight. No matter how inevitable it looked, Dean had to be positive on this. ' A chosen field...' Dean wondered, letting his mind drift on possibilities of anything that can help them beat this. And then it hit him, as if fate had smacked him in the face and revealed a solution.
" I think I got it." Dean says.
Meanwhile...
Miles away, sitting cozily in his house, in the study writing his new book. The prophet, Chuck. He looked more different than when the Winchesters met him. He was cleaner, more cheerful, and very sober. Chuck is currently working on his latest addition to the Supernatural novels, finishing some last-minute touches.
In his story, he talked about the history of the Impala, and how important it was in the Winchesters lives. As the words came to his mind, his fingers flowed on the keyboard, typing away with grace.
Chuck paused and smiled. " That's a good line." Chuck is pulled away from the computer when his phone rang. He clears his throat before picking up, " Mistress Magda."
" Um, No, Chuck." Dean's voice replied on the other line.
" Oh, uh, Dean." Chuck stuttered, " wow, I didn't know that you'd call."
" Who's Mistress Magda?"
" Uh, nothing... she's a, uh- just a, uh- you know, close friend."
" Yeah, I'll bet. What happened to Becky?"
" It didn't work out. I had too much respect for her... Okay, this can't be why you called."
" Sam said yes."
" I know. I saw it. I'm just working on the pages."
" Did you see where the title fight goes down?"
Chuck sighed. " The Angels are keeping it top secret."
" Crap."
" But I saw it anyway, perks of being a prophet. It's tomorrow, high noon. Place called Stull Cemetery."
" Stull cemetery? Wait, I know that that's an old boneyard outside of Lawrence. Why Lawrence?"
" Don't know, it has to end where it all began, I guess."
" All right, Chuck, any way to short circuit this?"
" Besides the rings? No, I'm sorry."
" Fine, any idea what's going to happen next?"
" I wish that I did, but I honestly don't know yet."
" All right then, thanks, Chuck." Dean hangs up. Though he was disappointed about not being able to know what to look forward to, at least he got the location. Dean gets out the car just as Cas and Bobby walk up.
" You going someplace?" Bobby asked, he can tell when Dean was up to something, " You're going to do something stupid; you got that look."
" I'm going to go talk to Sam."
Bobby shook his head, " You just don't give up-"
" It's Sam!" Dean gets back into the car and starts the engine. Castiel and Bobby look to one another, nothing they were going to say was stopping Dean from doing what he's about to do, so they might as well tag along.
Stull Cemetery, Lawrence...
Noon at the old graveyard was eerily silent. A fog stretched out in the distance, the air was cold and damp. No signs of life, besides one. Lucifer. The Archangel stood in silence, awaiting Michael's arrival. He didn't have to wait long for his brother to appear. Lucifer looks over to the Archangel who was occupying his current vessel, Adam. Lucifer turns to face him.
Both Archangels stare each other down for a long while.
" It's good to see you, Michael." Lucifer finally speaks up.
" You too. It's been too long."
" Can you believe it's finally here?"
Michael sighed, stepping forward. " No, not really. Are you ready?" He says, wanting to get straight to the point.
" As I'll ever be. A part of me wishes we didn't have to do this."
" Yeah, me too." Michael admits.
" Then why are we?"
" Oh, you know why. I have no choice after what you did."
" What I did? What if it's not my fault?"
Michael scoffed. " What is that supposed to mean?"
" Think about it. Dad made everything, which means he made me who I am. God wanted the devil."
" So?"
" So why? And why make us fight? I just can't figure out the point."
Michael narrowed his eyes. " What's your point?"
" We're going to kill each other. And for what? one of Dad's tests? We don't even know the answer. We're brothers, let's just walk off the chest board."
Michael looks away, taking a deep breath. " I can't do that. I'm a good son, and I have orders."
" But you don't have to follow them." Lucifer tries his best to convince his brother that they just walk away from their destiny. He didn't want to fight him.
" What, you think I'm going to rebel? Now? I'm not like you."
" Please, Michael-"
" No, you haven't changed a bit. Always blaming everyone but yourself. We were together, we were happy. But you betrayed me, all of us, and you made our father leave-"
" No one makes Dad do anything, he is doing this to us." It grows quiet between them once more.
" You're a monster, Lucifer. I have to kill you."
Lucifer's eyes drifted to the floor, knowing now he'd never change Michael's mind. " If that's the way it's got to be, then I'd like to see you try."
The Angels step forward, circling one another. The atmosphere around them changed indelibly. Both Archangels held up their guard, because if either one decided to make the first move, they'd be ready to counter.
Suddenly, a loud roar of a car's engine broke their gaze. Their eyes now fixed on the intruder. Next, they hear Def Leppard's 'Rock of Ages' playing at full blast, Michael and Lucifer knew exactly who it was.
Dean Winchester has arrived.
The hunter parks the car, cuts the engine and climbs out. " Sorry, am I interrupting something?" Lucifer glared with annoyance as Dean approached them, " Hey, we need to talk."
The devil shook his head and chuckled, " Dean, even for you, this is a whole new mountain of stupid."
" I'm not talking to you, I'm talking to Sam."
" You're no longer the vessel, Dean. You got no right to be here." Michael cuts in. Dean peers to him.
" Adam, if you're in there somewhere, I am so sorry-"
" Adam isn't home right now."
" Then you're next on my list, buttercup, but I need five minutes with him."
" You little maggot, you are no longer a part of this story!" Michael spat, sauntering towards Dean.
" Hey! Ass-butt!" Michael, Lucifer and Dean turn to the voice. There stood Castiel, with a cocktail of holy fire. Cas swiftly throws the Molotov at Michael; at impact the Archangel is engulfed in flames. Michael heaves out a wail of agony before vanishing before everyone's eyes.
Dean looks over to Castiel with a raised brow, " Ass-butt?"
" He'll be back, and upset, but you got your five minutes." Castiel advises.
Lucifer's jaw clenched, " Castiel." He was now furious of what Cas had done. " Did you just Molotov my brother... with holy fire?"
Castiel could almost feel the rage radiate off Lucifer, and he began to back away. " Uh, no- I um." He stammered.
Lucifer raises his hand, ready to click his finger. He paused for a moment, his fierce gaze shifting towards Dean, and a smirk appears across his lips. Lucifer swiftly changes his mind as he flicks his wrist, sending Castiel sailing through the air.
Cas winds up landing against one of the gravestones behind him. Castiel hits the carved concrete slab hard on his side. An auditable crack is heard as Castiel's ribs snap on impact. The former Angel gasps sharply as shockwaves of pain rakes throughout his whole body. He's wheezing desperately for air, gripping at his side with his trembling hands.
Dean panics and rushes forward. " Cas?!" He calls out.
Before Dean could reach him, Lucifer grabs Dean by his shoulder and forces the man to face him. " You know, I tried to be nice... for Sammy's sake... But you." He then grips at the flaps of Dean's hand-me-down jacket and squeezes, " Are such a pain... in my ass." With a light shove, Dean flies onto the hood of the Impala, his back collides harshly into the windshield, shattering the glass.
Lucifer draws closer to Dean, his eyes glaring with rage. But as he got closer, there's a sudden gunshot from behind, the bullet digging into Lucifer's shoulder, yet he was unfazed by it. Though, it surely made Lucifer more pissed, changing his target to Bobby who lets off another round into Lucifer's chest.
Bobby looks at Dean, because he knew exactly what was going to happen next. Bobby gave a light shrug before Lucifer twists his wrist, and Bobby's head swings to the side with a loud pop.
" NO!" Dean shouts as the elder hunter's body slumps to the ground with a thud.
Lucifer then turns his attention to Castiel, who was struggling to get up. Stepping toward the former Angel, Lucifer kneels, gripping tightly at the back of Cas's hair and yanks him up to his feet.
While still holding Castiel, Lucifer peers back to Dean with a sadistic grin. " Let me ask you something, Dean." He starts as he slips his free hand into Castiel's blazer, retrieving his Angel blade. " Do you know what happens when you sever a connection between an Angel and their mate?"
At this point, Dean was attempting to climb off the hood, but he couldn't move. He was being held in place; the son of a bitch was using his otherworldly power to keep him there. Dean fought and fought, but however hard Dean struggled to break free the more force that was being pushed down on him. The Archangel smirked, seeing the terror beginning to form on Dean's face, he found it so amusing. Lucifer amplifies that terror as he waved the blade playfully in his hand. The Archangel then turns his focus onto Castiel.
" You care to tell Dean what happens, little brother?" Lucifer asked, distaste clearly present in his voice. But Castiel did not answer, he only attempted to get out of Lucifer's hold. " No?... Hmm." He leers at Dean again. His grin fades away as he says, " Well then... guess I'll just have to show you myself."
" NO!" Dean screamed.
But it was too late as Lucifer thrusts the blade into Castiel's abdomen. Castiel gasped, gripping at Lucifer's jacket, blood erupting from his mouth, sending scarlet droplets onto the Archangel's features. Lucifer stared as Castiel burbled helplessly.
All the while, Dean was screaming his lungs out. The pain was beyond anything he had ever endured. The very moment that blade penetrated Castiel's flesh, this overwhelming pain ignited inside of Dean. It stabbed through his mind like a hot poker, preventing all coherent thought. It felt as if his insides were being ripped apart, put back together, then torn apart again in an endless loop until Dean's body suddenly goes limp.
Barely conscious and shaking from the unending pain that continues to fire away throughout his being, his vision blurred and his heart pounding loudly in his ears, Dean's half-lidded eyes fall upon the other two. His vision was nearly blacked out, as if he were seeing the world through a straw. Dean's attention remained on Lucifer and Castiel, their figures were barely visible, but Dean can tell that Lucifer was looking at him. And when the devil spoke, his voice was too garbled and distorted that Dean was unable to make out what was being said.
" Painful, isn't it?" Lucifer says, ripping the blade from Castiel, then released him. Castiel crashed into the dirt in front of the Archangel, blood still bubbling from his mouth.
" C-cas..." Dean chokes out, reaching a shaking hand out to his lover.
Lucifer now turns his focus towards Dean. " Now that that's taken care of..." He saunters up to the hunter, yanking him off the hood by his foot and quickly snatches Dean by his shirt. " It's just you and me."
And at full force, the devil delivers a right hook to the hunter's cheek. Dean falls against the car with a grunt. Blood poured from his mouth. The hunter thinks he might've lost a tooth from that punch. There was nothing Dean could do at this point, he's barely able to lift a finger to defend himself, the initial shock from Lucifer severing his bond to Castiel had done a great number on his body alone, he couldn't fight back even if he wanted to.
" Sammy?... Are you in there?" Dean garbled out with a gasp. He figured if he can't throw a punch, he could at least try getting through to Sam. He's in there, Dean knew in his gut that Sammy was in there somewhere. Dean just needed to be the voice, to guide his brother out from wherever Lucifer has him in his mind.
" Oh, he's in here, all right." Lucifer replies, delivering a left hook, Dean slams against the hood. Dean's wounds were already beginning to swell. " And he's going to feel the snap of your bones." He tugs Dean up, then strikes him again. Dean falls to the floor. " Every single one." Lucifer snatches him on his knees, slamming him into the side of the car. " We're going to take our time." He then assaults Dean's face with a series of bone shattering punches.
The hunter's head swung side to side violently. Dean was very surprised he was still conscious through this whole thing. This was due to his determination; he wasn't going to give up on Sam.
" Sammy... it's okay, it's okay, I'm here." Dean gasps, he peers at Lucifer. Dean's features appeared as if he had gone a few rounds with a professional boxer. His left eye was completely swollen shut, his nose was broken, his cheeks we're inflamed, and blood was trailing down his face and chin. " I'm here... I'm not going to leave you..." He wheezed. Lucifer hits him two more times. " I'm not going to leave you!" He repeats.
Lucifer was growing tired of him speaking, he then raises his fist for the final blow.
But then, something suddenly catches his eye. Lucifer looks inside the Impala and there, crammed in the ashtray, was a plastic soldier toy. Lucifer sloped his head, and his hand began to tremble. He could not believe it, but he can feel Sam fighting from inside.
Flashbacks began to pass before his eyes.
They were memories of Sam and Dean as children. Memories of their long journey together. The laughter, the pranks and them singing along to Bon Jovi's 'wanted'. Flashes of Dean and Castiel in North Carolina. Mixture of emotions began to flood his mind: happiness, guilt, anger, and sorrow. And a brotherly embrace. It was these memories that gave Sam the jolt he needed to regain control of his body.
Sam gasps, stumbling backward. He never thought he had the strength to do it, but he did. Sam glances at his battered brother, who stared back in surprise. " It's okay, Dean... it's going to be okay." He groaned. " I've got him."
Sam knew it wouldn't be long until Lucifer starts crawling his way out again. So, he had to act quickly. Dean watched in silence as Sam took out the rings. He then drops them to the ground and begins reciting the spell. The ground suddenly begins to rumble, and a thunderous roar echoed as the portal opened. Sam huffed with nervousness as he stared down into the seemingly endless abyss.
" Sam!" The young hunter spun around, seeing that Michael had returned. " It's not going to end this way. Step away." Michael ordered.
" You're going to have to make me!"
" I have to fight my brother, Sam. Here and now... it's my destiny."
Sam scoffed at that. He then squeezed his eyes shut, leaning backward with his arms stretched outward, ready to fall in. But Michael grips at Sam's shirt. Startled, the young hunter grabs Michael's arm, pulling him along. And they both began to descend into the deep blackness as the vortex closes shut behind them with a bang.
Disoriented, aching, and speechless, Dean looked away. A strong knot formed in his chest, and tears started to well up in his vision. His lower lip trembled. Sam is gone. Bobby is gone. And... Dean's eyes widened as realization struck him. Castiel.
A gurgling wheeze catches his attention. Dean looks over to the former Angel, who was struggling helplessly to breathe. Dean tries to get to his feet, but his head was throbbing so hard, and his legs felt like jelly, causing him to topple over. Dean results to crawling his way towards Castiel. And as he drew closer, he gets a view of Castiel clenching at his wound, coughing up blood with every gasp.
" Cas..." Dean scoops himself onto his knees beside his lover. " It's okay, Cas... I need to see how bad it is." Dean moves Cas's hand to see the extent of his injury. Blood began to gush out the moment he moved Castiel's hand away, to which Dean immediately applied pressure to it. Castiel's entire shirt was coated with blood. Dean didn't want to think it, but he knew there was no way to save him, not with the amount of blood Castiel was losing. It was no short of a miracle that Castiel held out this long.
" I-it hurts..." Cas gasped. His eyes stung hot as the tears flowed from the pain he was feeling. His eyes lock with Dean's. " I'm sorry... I'm so sorry."
" Hey, hey... it's okay." Dean leans close. " Cas, look at me... just keep your eyes on me, okay?" Dean takes a gander at his surroundings, hoping, just hoping that someone might come. But no one was going to come, Dean knew that.
Castiel's breaths were now becoming shallow gasps. Dean returns his eyes to Castiel. He didn't know what to do, even if he managed to get Castiel into the car, Dean wasn't sure they'd make it to the hospital in time.
" Strange..." Castiel whispered, reaching up and weakly caressing at Dean's hand. He was trying to say something else, but he barely has the strength. " It... It doesn't hurt anymore..." Castiel's eyes were beginning to drift off.
Dean begins to panic. " No, no, no. Cas, look at me. Stay with me." Dean chokes out, but his lover could no longer hear him. Dean could feel whatever was left of their bond slipping away. Everything that connected them, the sensations, the warmth... All of it... was threading away. " Cas? Look at me. Come on, stay awake." Dean tries desperately to keep his lover with him, but to no avail. " Say something... please" He pleaded. " You can't leave me... not like this."
Castiel's squeezes at Dean's hand with whatever strength he had left. " Dean?" Dean froze. Castiel had opened his eyes, but they had already lost their light. There's no telling whether he was still conscious or not. He was trying to get the words out, but he's lost all his strength. His bloody hand slid to the floor.
Dean's breath caught in his throat as he felt a sudden wave of emptiness course through him. A deep, cold emptiness. It was like he was trapped under a lake of ice, sinking down to the endless abyss, unable to breathe, no strength to fight as the light fades from existence... And then… pain. This kind of pain, however, wasn't physical in any way. No… It emitted from his very soul.
Dean felt incomplete, like a vital piece within him was stripped away, and was left with this gaping wound in his soul. This is what Lucifer meant, this feeling of a severed bond. And Dean hated it. It hurts. It hurt so much, and it just wouldn't stop.
Tears begin to well in Dean's eyes as he leans over, his bloodied, trembling hands reaching up and cupping the side of Castiel's face. " Cas?... Cas?!" He called out with a glimmer of hope, but it was no use. Castiel had already passed.
Dean breaks down into sobs, scooping Castiel's frame tightly into his arms. Dean was alone. It hurts... The loss is too much for Dean, and he wanted to scream. Broken whimpers escape him as he clutches desperately at Castiel's chest. They're gone… everyone he loves is gone. He's all alone now and Dean couldn't handle the pain that came with it. Dean's eyes stung, tears cascading down his cheeks, mixing with the blood from his wounds as he buries his face in the crook of his lover's neck.
…
After roughly ten minutes of fallen tears, trembling sobs and cursing to the Heavens, everything falls still. Dean sits, motionless and silent, with his lover's limp frame still in his tight grasp. His mind filled with guilt, sorrow, anger. He blamed himself for Sam, Bobby... for Castiel.
It wasn't supposed to end like this, for Dean to end up all alone, leaving him feeling hopeless and lost. Dean felt completely empty, everyone he's ever cared for and loved were now gone. His eyes burn as more tears began flowing down his swollen cheeks. Dean didn't want to be alone... not like this.
Suddenly, a shadow casts over Dean. The hunter looks up to two figures hovering over him. Dean's vision was too blurred from blood and tears to recognize them. But the familiar voice is what answers his question.
" Hey, Dean."
Dean's brows furrowed, he recognized that voice. " Gabriel?" He asked, his voice hoarse from screaming.
" Yeah." Gabriel replied, then places his fingers on Dean's forehead, and all his wounds were mended instantly.
With Dean's restored vision, he peered to the other man. It was Zuriel, the Angel was resurrecting Bobby. The elder hunter sat up with a start, and a bit shocked to realize he had been brought back.
" How are you alive?" Dean asks.
Gabriel falls silent for a long moment, then sighed as he answered, " Back at that motel, Lucifer didn't actually kill me... he killed a copy of me. I went into hiding because, deep down, I was too scared to show my face." Gabriel then kneels to Dean's level. The Archangel's eyes were filled with guilt. " I'm not going to ask for your forgiveness for my stupid decision."
Without another word, Gabriel lays his hand over Castiel's chest and the former Angel gasps to life. Castiel's eyes shot open wide, baby blues gander around, a combination of confusion and surprise in his expression. Then he met the hunter's gaze.
" Dean?"
Relief washed over the hunter like rays of sunshine. Dean's throat tightened as the emotions began to overflow. Not a word is spoken as Dean pulled Castiel into his embrace.
Later...
That night it was a long, quiet drive back to Bobby's place. Castiel was in the passenger seat, while Zuriel and Gabriel rode in the back. And Bobby followed behind in his van.
" So, what are you going to do now, Gabriel?" Dean asked.
Gabriel sighs, " I have things I need to do... but I'll join the ride until you get to Bobby's."
" What about you, Zuriel?"
" Return to heaven, I suppose... and await Gabriel's orders." He replied.
" Gabriel's orders?" Dean questioned with raised brows.
" Yeah, I've been doing a lot of thinking and... since Michael took a nose-dive into the cage with Sam and Lucifer, Heaven is going to be looking for guidance... so I've decided to take the job, thought I'd fix up a few things up there." Gabriel didn't sound too proud about the self-promotion.
" So basically, you're the new sheriff in town?"
Gabriel chuckled, " Something like that..."
" Wow, a shiny new set of wings, huh? Does that make you God's bitch now?"
" Harsh, but no... I'm not returning to heaven just yet... I figured since you and Sam went through so much trouble to stop this whole Apocalypse mumbo jumbo... and my selfishness. I'm going to do my best to get your brother back."
Taken aback by those words, Dean shoots a glance towards Gabriel. " You're what?" He asked, not exactly sure if he had heard that correctly.
" That's right, Dean, I'm going to bust into Hell and get your brother out of that cage." Gabriel replied with a half-smile before shifting his gaze out the window.
To Be Continued...