A/N: I decided to post early and not have you wait for the ending. We are pulling into the station, our journey is ending. I hope you have enjoyed the ride and this trilogy. Endings are hard and I hope you like what I did. Reviews would be great. Until next time…. NC

I will be posting a new story later next week.

Chapter 25

Dean and Sam stumbled as they landed in the middle of a dirt road, their archangel taxis remaining invisible, waiting for the demon to appear. It took a moment for them to get their balance and they quickly looked around seeing a young guy and a hot woman getting ready to kiss.

"No!" Sam yelled as he threw the crossroads demon across the road from the guy before the kiss was completed.

"What are you doing?" Adam cried out as he watched two guys, older than him, jog his way and get between him and the crossroads demon. "Where did you come from?"

"Are you Adam Milligan?" Sam asked as he stopped the demon from moving from where she fell.

"Yes, who are you?"

"Your brothers," Dean told him. "And what you're doing is not what you think. You were tricked into making this deal."

"Brothers? I don't have any brothers." Adam looked at the two strangers in disbelief and fear.

"We're John Winchester's other sons."

"He never told me anything about you. I didn't really know much about John either, I hated him for abandoning us."

"We didn't know about you either until a few days ago."

"You've got to let me make this deal. She can bring my Mom back and I can have ten years with her before I…." Adam begged trying to get around the brothers.

"You're wrong. Who told you about making deals?" Dean questioned.

"Mark, he was doing a…" Adam started and looked toward the car parked in front of the bar. He gasped in shock when another guy suddenly appeared beside the car and jerked the door open to pull Mark out and pressed a hand to his head locking the demon inside and knocking Mark out. "No! Don't hurt him!"

"He's possessed by a demon," Sam told Adam as he took care of the crossroads demon, burning its evil soul from the woman's body, leaving her unconscious.

"Possessed? That's real? No, no, you're crazy, this is all a bad dream..." Adam stammered in disbelief.

"Well, well, if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself," Asmodeus announced from behind them making Sam, Dean, and Adam turn around to look at the new arrival. "I believe you have something that is mine."

"Mwen lib lage," Dean recited quickly giving Sam his powers in hopes to protect him. He jerked the demon killing knife from his belt and stepped in front of Adam and Sam to protect them.

Sam could feel the energy surge through him and glanced sideways at Dean, not sure why he did that. He pulled his gun and took a step forward to be beside Dean.

"What's this? Three Winchesters in one place? Now isn't that interesting? You know, you were supposed to be the one to break the First Seal, but Alastair screwed up and let you escape. And you," he continued looking to Sam. "Lucifer's vessel. It seems he picked a strong one. I may have to take you with me to keep you safe until he is freed and can claim you. And you my dear boy will be the one who gets this show on the road."

"You're not taking anyone anywhere," Dean growled out fiercely.

"Please, your powers won't work on me," Asmodeus sneered when Sam held up a hand and tried to latch onto the demon's soul.

Sam could see and feel the black soul, but it was as if he could not keep a good hold of it. Suddenly, with a wave of his hand, Asmodeus propelled Sam backwards and tossed him into a field across the road. Sam could not stop himself and went down hard, hitting his head on a rock, stunning him.

"Bastard!" Dean yelled as he raised the demon killing knife and launched himself at Asmodeus. He was tossed aside like a bag of potatoes and rolled across the road into a ditch.

"Now, Gabriel, let us go home where you belong," Asmodeus called to him as he grabbed Adam's arm in a firm grip. "I know you're here, I can feel you."

Gabriel watched the brothers trying to defend their brother and could not move to help. All the old memories flooded his mind and he trembled with them. He took a step backwards as Asmodeus moved toward him and caught sight of Michael's form, still invisible but getting ready to intercede.

"No!" Gabriel roared making Asmodeus falter in his step. "No more! I am not your slave and I will not go with you, you piece of shit. I will not be your slave anymore to drain when you please."

"I broke you boy! You're mine to do with as I please!" Asmodeus sneered at the angel. "You're a pathetic, weak, little being who has been scared of his own shadow for far too long." The demon tossed Adam to the side for now so he would be free to take down his prize pet. He did not pay attention as Adam scrambled back away from his captor.

Before Asmodeus could continue his insults, Gabriel drew himself up to his full height and raised his hand as he let his power pour from him in a blast that made the demon stumble back a step.

"You will never hurt anyone again, you sick bastard!" Gabriel swore as he watched the holy fire begin to burn the demon.

Adam watched in horror from his position on the ground as the fire started at the demon's feet and worked its way up his legs and body. Wails from the demon made him cover his ears and curl up in a ball whimpering and wanting to get away from all this. This could not be happening to him, it was almost too much to bear.

Michael appeared by Gabriel and added a little of his own power, watching the demon suffer in the flames until he was finally consumed, and ashes floated lazily to the ground. He laid a hand on Gabriel's shoulder and squeezed it, giving him encouragement and support as he stumbled slightly when it was done.

No one noticed the demon peeking around the side of the car at them watching everything play out. Crowley smiled to himself and was happy that his problem had been taken care of without him really having to do much but pass along some information and rescue an archangel. He stepped back into the shadows and snapped his fingers, heading back to Hell to take the throne again.

Dean struggled to his feet and saw the demon burning and Adam curled up on the ground nearby. He looked around for Sam but did not see him.

"S'mmy!" Dean called wobbling toward the other side of the road, finally spotting Sam's unmoving body lying in the tall weeds. He rushed to him and fell by his side. "Hey man, are you okay?" Dean patted Sam's cheeks and tried to rouse him.

Sam groaned in pain as he turned his head and tried to open his eyes. He had a sharp pain on the side of his head and his vision was blurry when he got his eyes opened. He tried to sit up and the world flipped sideways making him nauseous and dizzy.

"Easy bro, you hit your head," Dean told him looking at the blood running down the side of his face. "Easy now, just lean on me." Dean helped him up and guided him back to where the angels were standing. "A little help here," he barked out.

"My pleasure," Michael nodded. He placed two fingers on Sam's forehead and allowed grace to flow into him to heal his head wound.

"Thanks," Sam told Michael when all his pain and dizziness went away. "Mwen lib lage," Sam recited, giving Dean back his powers. He looked around but did not see the demon and guessed he missed the takedown. "Adam, is he okay?"

"He's in shock but should be alright. Now that the demon has been stopped, we should talk," Michael stated looking from one brother to the other. He saw Dean stiffen with a stern look on his face. "It is not about what you think Dean. I will give you a choice about what to do with your brother. Do you want him to remember you and what happened here or, if you like, I can erase this part of his memory and bring his mother back? It was not her time to die, and it was not Heaven's plan for any of this to happen."

Dean looked at Sam and saw it in his eyes. He knew what Sam wanted and had to agree with him. Without any hesitation Dean answered Michael.

"Wipe his memory. He doesn't need to know any of this crap or that we're his brothers. Our Dad was trying to keep him safe and that's how it should be. He can grow up and have a normal life with his Mom."

"I thought as much but wanted the decision to come from you." Michael squatted down beside Adam and placed a hand on his head and looked for the memories that needed to be erased. He took them out of his mind and put him in a deep sleep for now. "Gabe, why don't you take that woman to the emergency room in town and leave her? Be sure she doesn't remember anything. And then take the boys and car back to the friend's apartment and leave them, say on the couch like they fell asleep there. Oh, and be sure to check for any evidence that may have been left there. Wake them and be sure they're okay before you leave."

"I'd be happy to bro," Gabriel said. He snapped his fingers and the rags he was wearing disappeared and were replaced with clean clothes and he was cleaned up as well. Gabriel went to the young woman and in the blink of an eye they were gone.

Dean looked down at the spot where the tin box was buried and used the toe of his boot to kick the dirt back until he caught sight of it. He reached down and pulled it out of the ground and looked inside. After removing the college id, he dumped the rest out and pocketed the box.

"We'll help get Adam into the car. How about his friend? Is he okay?" Dean asked. He nodded to Sam and they stepped to Adam to get him up and to the car. Dean tucked his id into his jeans pocket before settling him in the back of the car.

"He was lucky. The demon didn't hurt his body and I have destroyed the demon possessing him. I have already wiped his memory of these events also," Michael replied.

"We're doing the right thing for Adam," Sam assured Dean, giving him one more look before closing the back door of the car.

"When you are done Gabe, come back to the salvage yard. I will be waiting for you there," Michael told Gabriel as he appeared beside the car ready to finish the task.

"You got it Mikey. I'll see you later guys." Gabriel snapped his fingers and disappeared with the car and unconscious humans.

"Shall we go?" Michael asked the brothers before grasping their shoulders and flying them back to the salvage yard.

spn

The kitchen of Bobby's house was quiet as the hunter and angel waited for the others to return. Bobby talked a little to the angel but quit when he saw his mind was elsewhere and so was his. He was worried about his boys but thought the angels would protect them.

Castiel was on his feet at the first signs of a disturbance in the air and waited as Michael, Dean, and Sam, appeared in front of him.

"Is everyone okay?" he asked quickly giving each a brief scan, lingering longer on Dean. He was starting to care for this human and wasn't sure how to react.

"Boys, is the problem taken care of?" Bobby asked as he looked them over.

"Yeah, the demon is dead, and the world is saved once again," Dean replied.

"Where's Gabriel? Did something happen?" Castiel interrupted in a panicked voice when his brother did not appear with them.

"Calm down Castiel, Gabe is fine. He's taking care of a couple errands for me and will return here when he is done," Michael assured him. "Come, let us talk in private," Michael told him guiding Castiel out the backdoor and onto the deck.

"Wonder what that is about?" Dean commented as he watched them leave wondering if they might be talking about him.

"Angel stuff maybe?" Sam said.

"I say it's time for a beer, Sammy? We should celebrate."

"Yeah, that sounds good."

"So, you boys wanna fill me in on the details?" Bobby asked taking a seat at the table again. "Sam is that blood on your jacket and face?" he asked when Sam turned around to wash his hands.

"Yeah, but Michael healed him. Seems he found the only rock in a field when the demon threw him," Dean teased.

"It wasn't by choice dude, but I'm okay Bobby. You know how head wounds bleed."

"Man, Bobby if we had gotten there five seconds later the deal would have been made. Sammy used his powers to get the demon away from Adam just before they kissed."

"And you were right, Adam's friend was possessed and told him about making a demon deal," Sam added.

"And what did you do with the boy?"

"We had Michael erase his memory. Dad didn't want him exposed to our world and…It just seemed like the right thing to do for the kid."

"I agreed with Dean," Sam added. "And Michael is going to bring his Mom back too. So, we're hoping he has a long, fulfilling life without any supernatural in it."

"That was a good thing you boys did for the kid. I'm proud of both of you," Bobby praised them knowing their decision was the right thing.

spn

Michael stepped to the railing and looked out across the salvage yard gathering his thoughts as Castiel stood beside him fidgeting. After a few moments he turned to the young angel and spoke.

"Castiel, you are a loyal, obedient soldier and have served Heaven well. You brought our brother back to us. Your sacrifice allowed Gabriel to have his revenge and to stop the Prince of Hell from carrying out his plan to raise Lucifer. For that I am truly grateful, and I think our Father would be proud of you like I am."

Castiel was not used to praise from his brother and was not sure how to react. He felt something building in his chest and was not sure what it was. Being almost human was allowing him to experience so many emotions that he had never felt before.

"I am glad I was able to help. What would you have me do now?"

"Do you like it here on earth Castiel? And watching over Dean Winchester?" Michael questioned as he noticed Castiel glancing toward the door. He could see mixed emotions playing around inside of him and smiled. The young angel was learning more than he could ever teach him and from two humans who were fearless and ready to save the world when needed. "If it is agreeable with the brothers, would you like to remain here on earth until your grace is restored and then continue to watch over them?"

"I think I would like that very much," Castiel agreed eagerly looking up into his brother's face and smiling.

"Well then, shall we see what they say to the idea?" Michael stepped back toward the door and opened it to allow Castiel to enter first and followed. He saw the three humans were sitting around the table having a beer and looked their way as they entered.

"Did you miss me?" Gabriel asked as he appeared in the kitchen giving them all a big grin. He was eating a candy bar and licked the chocolate off his fingers. "The boys are safe and sound in the apartment and were waking up when I left. I removed some unwanted materials so they wouldn't be questioning why it was there. I also retrieved Adam's mother from Heaven and erased the memories of being attacked. She will wake good as new."

"Good work Gabe, now I need to talk to the brothers," Michael told him. "Gentleman, as you know Castiel gave up most of his grace to Gabriel so he could stop Asmodeus. Over time it will replenish, but during this period, would you be willing to watch out for him and help him to learn and understand your ways?"

Dean arched his eyebrows at the request, with his beer bottle midway to his mouth. He looked over at Sam to see his reaction and saw a small smile twitch the corner of his mouth.

"So, you're not going to be hounding me about purifying my soul anymore?" Dean questioned.

Sam threw him a bitch face and whispered in his mind. 'Don't antagonize the archangel'. Dean gave him frown and continued.

"You're not afraid we might corrupt him?"

"I think you will be good for him. I have seen your bravery and how you take care of family and know this world needs you and your brother in it. This won't be the last evil this world will face and I'm betting the two of you will figure out a way to keep humanity safe. I can see how the dark and light work together in your soul and I see the strong bond the two of you have. I think Castiel will learn much from both of you if you will allow him to stay."

Dean looked to Castiel's face and saw the look of hopefulness and wanting on it. It was nearly as bad as Sam's puppy dog face that he would still use on him as a last resort. Damn, who could say no to that.

"Alright, if it's okay with Sammy and Bobby, he can stay," Dean huffed out.

"Fine by me," Sam nodded smiling at Castiel.

"Don't guess it would hurt to have an angel on our side," Bobby grumbled. "Just know if he breaks anything, you've bought it."

Sam and Dean could not help laughing at the statement with Michael and Gabriel chuckled along with them, leaving Castiel wondering what was so funny. He had a lot to learn about humans and was happy it was going to be with the Winchesters.

"Don't worry little brother, you'll catch on soon enough," Gabriel told him, throwing his arm around his shoulders for a moment.

"First things first, you need to have a beer with us," Dean said getting up and slapping Castiel on the back hard, making him stumble slightly and catch himself on the table. Dean went to the fridge and got out more beers, passing them around to the angels. Michael and Castiel looked at their bottles while Gabriel gulped down half his bottle without taking a breath. Cautiously, the two angels took a small sip of their beers trying to be polite.

"Now you're talking, this calls for a party!" Gabriel said snapping his fingers and making an array of foods appear on the counter along with a wide assortment of desserts on another counter. "Anyone care of something a little stronger?"

"Don't get carried away Gabe, Castiel is more human now and can get drunk," Michael cautioned him.

"Hell yeah!" Gabriel crowed. "Cassie wasted; I'd pay money to see that. Whadda ya say bro? Wanna try some mixed drinks?"

"I'm not sure I should…" Castiel started to be interrupted by Dean.

"Please! If you're going to christen him don't give him some girlie drink, let him have the good stuff," Dean scoffed.

"Now Gabe, don't be teasing Castiel when he can't get you back," Michael chuckled.

"Don't worry bro, I'll come back, and we'll paint the town red," Gabriel whispered to Castiel.

"Why would I want to paint the town red? Is the color wrong or something?"

Dean and Sam started laughing by Castiel's questions and Bobby half smiled with his innocence.

"Don't worry Wings, I'll give you a crash course on Humans 101," Dean sighed starting to finally relax and enjoy himself. He did not see Sam look at him with a look of happiness and contentment on his face at seeing Dean this way. It had been a long time since they felt like they really won the battle with no losses along the way, and he hoped it lasted.

Their lives had taken a different path than intended, but they were better for it and now had new allies to help fight the monsters of this world. They were making their own destiny and living life the way they wanted.

Carry on my wayward sons

There will be peace when you are done

Lay your weary head to rest

Don't you cry no more…

The End