Vrskaandrea: Well Michaels reaction settled my internal debate as to whether they should have more children. It might have been relevant later.
ShadowXMoonlight: Thank you. I think it was my favourite because it was so easy to write. No annoying filler bits.
Franki3Winchester: Remember, this isn't canon John. In fact, just keep reading and you'll see.
Malic Malic: Yes, I wonder. where is Sam? Don't worry, he'll catch up with the others.
Shazza19: May I present for your reading pleasure...the Father/Daughter talk!
Chapter 43
John watched the Angel leave the room as he stood, hesitantly, just inside the door way with his hands in the pockets of his jeans.
"Come in dad, you're making the place look untidy." Deana said with a smile.
John gave his daughter a small smile and stepped fully into the room, walking over to the crib to look at his grandchildren.
"They're perfect Deana." He said as he gazed down at the sleeping babes.
"They're so tiny." Deana said, worry creeping into her voice.
"They'll grow." John assured her. "You should have seen how little you were, I could hold you in one hand."
He reached down and stroked the babies cheeks.
"You could have come to me Deana, you should have come to me." He said, turning to his daughter.
"I know and I'm sorry but." She sighed. " I remember hunting Dad. You were out and Sammy was safe. I didn't want to drag that back into our house again. I came here, I thought maybe Bobby knew a spell or could give me a potion and this would all go away." Deana explained.
John shook his head and looked at his feet.
"I don't know how we're gonna fix this."
A choked sob from his child made John look up. He gasped at the devastation on Deanas face, understanding immediately her confusion.
"Oh no baby! Not us! Never us!" He said as he immediately moved to her bed and wrapped his arms around her. "We're okay!"
John rocked Deana as she clung to him tightly. He soothed her, quietly reassuring her that no matter what, he and Sam will always love her. Eventually her crying stopped and she pulled away. John gently wiped the tears from her face.
"I'm sorry sweetheart, I just meant we can't just drive into Lawrence with two full term newborns is all." He said. "I mean, did you even know this guy nine months ago?"
"I'm sorry, I know I made a mess of things." She said as she wiped her eyes.
'It will take some power but this can be taken care of. We will set things right.'
Deana froze as she heard the voice from deep in her mind.
"Deana? Is everything okay." John asked worriedly, placing a hand on his daughter arm.
"Yeah." She replied slowly. "Archangel in my head." She said tapping her temple. "He said, it will take power but they'll fix it."
"Well that's...handy, I guess." John replied.
Deana nodded in agreement. John sighed and reached out to tuck a loose tendril of hair back behind his daughters ear.
"I was so scared when you disappeared, I reported you missing. I was searching everywhere. I even called Singer. He told me he would have his hunters look for you but now I guess he was just trying to keep me from searching too hard." John huffed a rueful laugh. "Man I though I was gonna kill him when I realised he knew where you were this whole time. I was gonna tear him a new one."
"Yeah, I kinda heard you." Deana smirked at her father. "Sounds like it was a good thing Gabriel came along when he did."
John just gave a chuckle and agreed.
"I'm sorry dad. When I contacted Bobby I didn't know he was going to keep me locked up here. I spent weeks walking that damn barrier trying to figure out how to disarm it and when I finally had it figured out, I exploded a tree and..."
"Wait! You exploded a tree?" John asked.
"Yeah, and I figured then it wouldn't be safe for me to be around you or Sam so I kind of gave up completely." Deana finished with a sad shrug. "Not that that worked either."
"But you exploded a tree?" John repeated astonished.
"Oh yeah, so what happened was..."
Deana spent the next thirty minutes telling John about everything from the moment Castiel appeared in her dream up until him arriving via Archangel Air. John just sat quietly listening to her, flinching slightly when she told him about the 'incident' on New Years Eve. When she finished they sat silently for a moment.
"How's Sam?" She asked quietly.
"He's okay, I guess. As good as he can be." John said. "He misses you. We both missed you. I rang and left a message for him to call when he gets home from school. Gabriel said he'd go get him and bring him here." John glanced at his watch. "In fact he should be calling any time soon."
Deana suddenly stiffened, her eyes glowing blue.
"Deana, what happening? Whats going on?"
"Lucifer."
…
Sam walked into the house and dropped his bag at the door.
"Dad? Are you here?" He called into the empty house, not at all surprised there was no answer.
Ever since Deana disappeared their dad had been making an effort to be home more for Sam but he understood that John still had a business to run and besides he was home earlier than usual thanks to a power outage at school. With a sigh he retrieved his bag and emptied his homework onto the table. After making himself a chocolate milk, only slightly wishing Cassie was here to make it for him, and grabbing some cookies he sat back at the table to study, losing himself in his general studies text. After about an hour a noise made Sam look up. There sitting across the table from him was a man. Dressed simply in a t-shirt, covered with an unbuttoned shirt, sleeves rolled to the elbows. He had sandy hair and a rugged face. Sam flinched and pushed his chair back.
"Calm down Sam, I'm not here to hurt you." The man said, his voice deep and gravelly.
"Who...who are you?" Sam asked, looking around. "How did you get in?"
"Hmmm, my name's Nick, and I'm here to help you." The man answered with forced patience.
"What do you mean, help me?"
"They're all lying to you Sam. They all know where Deana is, in fact, your father is there with her right now." He said.
"No. Dad wouldn't do that. If he knew where Deana is he would have taken me too!" Sam replied.
"Oh, Sammy." Nick shook his head. "They don't care about you! In fact when John got the chance to go to your sister, he didn't even give you a second thought."
"No, no." Sam said shaking his head, still trying not to believe the stranger in front of him. "You're lying!"
"I'm not. In fact I'm the only one who will never lie to you Sam." The man leaned forward on the table and stared at him. "Go ahead. Call your dad. I bet he doesn't answer."
Sam hesitantly stood and walked to the telephone on the wall. He dialed the shop and waited as it continued to ring, eventually clicking over to the answering machine.
"I told you." Nick said as Sam hung the receiver back in the cradle.
"Doesn't mean anything. He could just be working on a car." Sam said looking the man defiantly in the eye.
"But you know that's not what's happening." Nick stood and walked over to Sam. Placing a hand on his shoulder he looked down at the boy. "You know, deep down, that your father has abandoned you to be with your sister and left you all alone. But I can take you to them."
"You can? You...you know where my dad is? You know where Dee is?" Sam asked, finally succumbing to the fear that had been growing inside. Not fear of the strange man standing in his home, but fear that he was right.
"I can." Nick said gently as he wiped a tear from Sams cheek. "And all you have to say is 'yes'."
"Yes?" Sam asked in a small voice.
"Yes." Nick said smiling. "Sam, do you want me to take you to your family?"
"Yes." Sam said as more tears escaped.
…
Sam woke with a gasp as his upper body lifted from the table where he had been sleeping. He rubbed his eyes and looked around the empty room. Suddenly his body arched back against the chair. His eyes widened as a bright light engulfed the room then flowed into his open mouth and down his throat. His mouth snapped closed and he slumped back down onto the table top. Slowly he moved his hands beneath him and pushed himself back up to a sitting position. An evil smirk spread across his face as his eyes glowed red. He raised his right hand and with a single click of his fingers, he disappeared.
…
Lucifer appeared beyond the clearing and was immediately surrounded by two dozen angels on alert, the business ends of their silver blades aimed directly at him. He chuckled, dimples forming on his fifteen year old vessels face. Perhaps they underestimate him, but Lucifer in the vessel created especially for him is more powerful, even in this pubescent state, than in any other vessel on Earth. He raised his hands and pressed them palms together, brought them up so the thumbs touched his forehead and closed his eyes, bowing his head slightly. Lucifer allowed his grace to flow down his arms and then he spread his hands and pushed the grace outwards sending the angels back to heaven.
With the immediate threat dispersed, and the remaining Angels keeping a respectful, and safe, distance, Lucifer walked forwards and approached the cabin. He was drawn by the power within. Suddenly the air in front shimmered and a large sigil drawn into the ground glowed blue, a wall of grace activated, keeping Lucifer from his intended target.
"Clever brother." He said as he admired Michaels handiwork.
Lucifer was leaning back against the barrier, his arms crossed over his chest banging the back of his head against the forcefield when his brother stepped from the cabin.
"Hey Michael!" He greeted as he continued with the headbanging. "Welcome to the party."
He stood and turned to face the brother who locked him away for millennia.
…
Castiel appeared at the door before Michael had a chance to leave.
"Castiel, you stay here and protect the Nephilim." He ordered.
"No. If you're going out there, then so am I." The Angel argued. "John, you stay here."
Castiel held out Johns abandoned angel blade. John just looked at it blankly.
"Like hell I am!" He said, locking eyes with Cas. "I don't care who's at the control, this is still my daughter and I'm not letting you just walk her out there to face Lucifer."
"She will be safe John. Lucifer is trapped beyond the warding I set in place but we still need the fledglings protected incase he is acting as a diversion. We can't allow any demons to slip in and take them."
"Well you've got about three hundred other Angels out there, get some of them in here!" John demanded.
"Ellen and I'll stay here." Jim said from the doorway. "We'll protect the children."
"Very well." Castiel said in agreement. "But I will call in some of the Angels, just in case."
Castiel gazed off into the distance for a moment. Although John knew he was clearly sending a prayer to his troops, he thought the Angel looked slightly constipated. In mere seconds two angels appeared.
"Sabrathan, Dinial." Castiel greeted them. "Stay here, protect the Nephilim."
The angels nodded and took up their positions while Jim pulled the crib away from the wall and circled it with salt. Michael took a step towards the door before turning back to the cradle. He reached one hand out and gripped the railing which began to glow. When the light receded, protective signals ringed the sleeping infants, etched deeply into the wood. With a nod, Michael turned and walked out of the room and toward his brother.
…
"Why are you here?" Michael asked stopping a few yards from the warding. Gabriel, Castiel, John and Bobby coming to a standstill close behind.
"Lucifer specific." The Devil said pointing to the sigil on the ground. "Nice touch."
Michael ignored him, he could feel his vessels grief at seeing her younger sibling standing in front of her, possessed by the Devil himself and the fear radiating from John was almost overwhelming. Lucifer sighed and rolled his eyes.
"Nephilim, really? Naughty, naughty Michael." Lucifer tsked. "Someone's been breaking Fathers rules."
"I do not want to fight you but I defeated you once brother." Michael said calmly. "And I will defeat you again. I will not let you have those children."
Lucifer rolled his eyes.
"You only won because you fight dirty." He said. "So let's level the playing field, shall we?" With a flick of Lucifer wrist a golden double edged long sword appeared in his hand, almost as tall as the teenage vessel he was wearing, though he had no trouble holding the heavy weapon up.
"Lightbringer." Gabriel whispered.
"Yes." Lucifer almost crooned as he waved the sword before him. "It feels so good to wield her again."
He ran his thumb up the sharpened edge, igniting the blade with blinding golden fire. He drew the flaming blade across the invisible wall before him, leaving a large scorch mark in its wake.
"Listen brother, brothers. There are two Nephilim in there, so, let's enact the Solomon solution and split them down the middle. What do you say? One each? Seems fair."
Behind Michael Castiel bristled, gripping his blade tighter he stepped forward, his face marbled fury. Inside his mind, Michael could hear Deana screaming.
"That will never happen." Cas growled through clenched teeth.
Lucifer just shrugged in a very teenaged 'whatever' action.
"I do not wish fight you again brother, but if you force me, I will, and this time I guarantee you, you will not survive." Michael stood tall, a long spear appearing in his hand.
"I have patience Michael. I have waited Millenia to get my retribution for you betraying me, turning your back on me and throwing me into that Hellish pit!" Lucifer raged, drawing Lightbringer across the shield once more, another black streak joining the other, the sigil flickering slightly. "What was my crime? I refused to bow down to these pathetic featherless bipeds? I put my Father above all?" Lucifer was by now lost in his rage and grief, pressing Lightbringers tip against the warding, aimed directly at Michaels heart. "I will have those abominations! I will tear your wings from your body and I will march through blood and entrails to claim them and then...I will feed them your heart." He finished with a menacing whisper.
Michael called his wings into existence, flaring them out wide, the shining, silver feathers as hard and sharp as steel. The very tip just caught Bobby across the cheek, the hunter flinching as blood flowed down his cheek.
Castiel followed suit and stepped forward, his own black wings spread high and wide in a display of protective dominance.
Gabriel, always the peace keeper, and after a double take at Bobby, gently reached out and healed the man before shrugging and stepped forward, bronze coloured wings spreading wide.
Lucifer just laughed and with a shake of his shoulders called forth magnificent blindly white wings of his own, so large a vessel as small as Sam Winchester should not be able to support them but the teenager did not so much as stagger under their weight.
"Your vessel is weak. I am going to fucking kill you." Lucifer sneered his eyes glowing red.
…
"Let me talk to him." Deana said to the Archangel currently in control of her body.
Michael twitched.
"No. It's not safe." Michael replied quietly.
"That is my brother!" She screamed in his his head. "I won't let you hurt him. I can get through to him, please! Please give me a chance!"
Michael could feel the fear, the love, the concern, bleeding out from his vessel. Human emotions were so overwhelming.
"Very well." He agreed.
Michaels eyes flickered at the 'changing of the guard' and blue was soon replaced by green. They staggered slightly as Deana took control, John hurriedly stepped forward to support her. Michael drew his left wing tightly against their back and pulled the right one protectively across the front of his vessel.
"I won't let them fight you Sam. Sammy? I know you're in there." She began, taking a hesitant step closer to the barrier. "Please, I know I let you down. I know you're angry with me and I'm so sorry. I'm sorry I lied to you. I'm sorry I left you. I'm sorry I hurt you, but please, don't do this. I wont fight you. Cast him out Sammy. Tell Lucifer to leave and we can be together again. Please Sammy, please?"
Lucifers head twitched and his eyes flickered.
"Deana?" Sam asked, scared hazel eyes looking at his sister before the devil regained control.
"Don't listen to her." Lucifer sneered, setting red eyes on Deana.
"Yes it's me Sammy. You can do this. You're my brother and I raised you and I will die before I let them hurt you, so please, please come back to us, come back to me." Deana begged. "You're my baby brother and I won't let them raise a hand to you, so please cast him out."
"She's lying to you Sammy." Lucifer sneered. He could feel Sammy wavering and had to get his vessel back under control. "Her promises are worth nothing. She's made promises to you before and broken every one."
"I did, I did and I'm so sorry. I will always be sorry for leaving you, for hurting you and dad, but Sam, you gotta tell Lucifer to go. You're here now. We're back together, you don't need him."
Again Lucifer twitched as Sam began to resist.
"Michael is inhabiting her, Sammy, why should you throw me out but Michael gets to stay? She left you Sammy, I will never do that to you."
"Yes, I abandoned you and I will never forgive myself for that but I'm not lying to you! If Michael leaves me I'll die, Sam, but as soon as I'm healed he'll leave. I swear! Please Sam? I need you. You have to help me. You have a niece and a nephew, and they want to meet their uncle Sammy." Deana said, bringing out the big guns. "They're right inside and they need their Uncle Sam. They need you to teach them to read and to tie their shoes and play soccer and to be goofy and funny and loving." Deana begged, tears streaming down her face. "Please Sam? Please forgive me? Please come back to me? We need you, all of us."
She gripped her father arm tightly to keep from crumpling to the ground, feeling exhausted and defeated in her emotional turmoil.
"Don't do it Sammy, don't you do it." Lucifer warned.
Sam warred with the Devil inside. The flame on Lightbringer flickered and stuttered into non existence.
"That's it Sam. Fight." John encouraged his son.
Next Lucifer wings vanished and with a growl Sams eyes flickered from red to hazel.
"Get. Out!" Sam demanded through gritted teeth.
"You're making a mistake." Lucifer warned weakly in Sams mind.
"Out!" Sam screamed and suddenly his head was forced back as Lucifer was expelled from his small body.
The white grace streamed into the sky and dissipated in a flash of light. Lightbringer fell to ground and disappeared.
…
Sam staggered back. Managing to keep himself upright he shook his head before looking up at his sister.
"Sam?" She asked.
"Deana!" He rushed forward and embraced his sister tightly, the warding proving no resistance now.
Sobbing with relief she held him just as tightly. After a moment John stepped forward and wrapped his arms around his children, Michaels wings circled the small group.
"I've missed you so much." Deana said. "I'm sorry I left you like that."
"It's okay." Sam replied, stepping back and wiping his eyes. "Dads cooking wasn't that bad."
Deana let out a shocked laugh.
"You look like crap, and the wings are new." Sam said frowning.
"Well I did almost die giving birth and these, well, I'm just borrowing these but I guess we don't need them any more so you can put them away now."
There was a rustling sound as Michael, Castiel and Gabriel hid their wings.
"So there's some people I want you to meet." Deana said wrapping an arm around Sams shoulders. "Hey, you've grown." She remarked.
"It tends to happen."
Deana laughed.
"I guess it does. Anyway, this is Castiel. Cas, this is my baby brother, Sam."
"Hello Sam." Castiel said stepping forward.
"You're the one that took Deana away." The teenager replied, eyeing the Angel with distrust.
"Yes, I guess I am." Cas agreed.
"Well, hi." Sam said with a small wave. "I hate you, by the way."
"Sam!" Deana scolded him.
"No Deana, he's right. It's because of me you left. I'll just have to try my hardest to change your mind." Castiel said to Sam.
"Hmph, never gonna happen." Sam mumbled.
Deana rolled her eyes and turned Sam towards the cabin.
"Anyway, inside here are my children. Sammy, you have a niece, Isolde, and a nephew, Tristan, and I'm going to need your help with them. You're going to be someone they look up to. They're going to love you as much as I do."
"Sounds great." Sam said with a smile as he walked with his sister to meet his niece and nephew and their future.
…
a/n so we are nearly at the end. Two epilogues and a one shot will be posted together and then its time to say fare thee well to this fable.
