Sam, Dean and Anael all wake up with a gasp. Mary goes over to Dean while Cas went to Sam.
"Dean?" Mary says.
"It's me." Dean answered.
Mary sighs with relief. Lucifer sits next to his sister.
"Hey. Welcome back."
Anael turns to him.
"Lucifer. Your brother is a dick."
"Not my brother well he is my brother but at the same he is not argh these alternative universes are complicated." She nods and agrees with him. "Anyway...What did you find out? Is my evil brother plotting a well evil plan?"
Anael glances at the brothers.
"Best if I let them do the talking."
As soon as Anael finished her sentence Dean stands up with a pissed off expression.
"We gotta stop him." He says.
"Who?" Mary frowned.
"Jack." Dean nods. "It's him he is one that's controlling the monsters."
"Dean." Sam says. "We don't know for sure."
"It's him Sam. Did you not hear Michael?"
"We don't know for sure." Sam repeats. "Michael has only just come back he doesn't really know what's going on."
"I agree with Sam." Cas says. "Jack...He would never do this."
"And who asked for your opinion?" Dean glared.
"Dean. I know Jack." Cas replied. "Yes he has made mistakes but he would never do this. Jack loves this world he wants to save it not destroy it."
"Cas." Dean sighs. "The Jack we know is gone he's dead this...this thing it's not Jack it's a monster that needs to be stopped."
"You wanna kill him?" Lucifer goes up to the older Winchester and glares at him. "You gotta get through me first."
The Devil suddenly gulps remembering the last time they had a confrontation. He lost his life to the hunter. Suddenly feeling less confident Lucifer steps back. A punch to the arm caused the Devil to wince. He didn't need to look to know who did it.
"I didn't touch him." Lucifer argued.
Mary gave him a stern look. Anael chuckles but her face quickly turned serious when Lucifer looked her way.
"We're not killing anyone." Sam spoke up. "We're doing the ritual. Cas." He looks at the angel. "If Jack gets his own grace back will he be better will he be Jack again?"
Everyone looks at the angel for an answer.
"It would definitely break the connection between him and the monsters." Cas nodded.
"With Michael's grace gone Jack will become his own person again." Lucifer added.
"He doesn't have a soul." Dean says.
"When Michael's influence is gone Jack will need a new mentor." Cas replied.
"That will be us." Sam says. "We'll take care of him."
"We will guide him." Mary agreed.
"In other words you are gonna forgive him and welcome him back in open arms." Dean says.
"Dean." Sam looks at the others. "Can you give us a moment please?"
Sam gets his brother to stand up and they both leave the main room. They go down the hallway and turn into the bedroom. Sam closes the door and runs a hand down his face.
"Sam."
"No." Sam shakes his head. "This has to stop."
"I'm being realistic here Sam."
"I said stop! I don't wanna hear it anymore! Have you heard yourself have you seriously heard yourself?"
"Jack is dangerous. Many lives could die if we don't act now!"
"But we are doing something."
"The ritual?" Dean scoffs. "I still don't trust that."
"Trust it or not it's our best shot in saving the world and saving Jack."
"Saving the world? You do remember Michael right? We just spoke to him in my damm head!"
"I told you we will deal with it when the time comes! Dean I know Jack messed up but that's how life is! I messed up you messed up Cas messed up Dad messed up even Mom has messed up everyone has messed up at one point in their lives. We always forgive we always give people second chances Jack deserves a second chance. If you kill him Dean you will regret it." Dean grits his teeth. "I know you." Sam places his hand on his brother's shoulder. "I know you won't kill him because you love him."
"Sam please." Dean begged. "Don't do this."
"The Dean I know would never give up." Sam said softly. "He would do everything he can to save his family." Dean turns away and squeezes his eyes shut. "You have gotta let your anger go." Sam continued. "If you go on like this Jack will not be the only one you lose." Sam frowns. "You will lose everyone you care about."
Dean opens his eyes. Sam sighs when his brother didn't respond to him.
"Think about it." Sam turns away. "I'll be with the others."
Sam walks out and leaves his brother alone. Dean sits on his bed and stares at the ground. All Dean wanted to do now is get up and destroy this room he wanted to unleash his anger but what good would that do? That's not going to achieve anything that's not going to bring Jack back.
Dean takes a shaky breath as the nephilim crosses his mind. He wanted to hate the kid he really did but Sam is right despite all what's happened deep down part of Dean still cared about the kid. Part of him still loved the kid.
That just made all this a Hell of a lot more complicated.
Dean buries his head into his hands and sighs heavily.
"You had the talk as well."
Dean looks up and sees his reflection staring back at him.
"Look who decides to make an appearance." Dean says.
Michael raises an eyebrow. He crosses his leg over the other and places his hands on his lap.
"Isn't this the part where you call for your dear brother?"
Dean glances at the door. He then looks back at the former archangel.
What do you want? He asked mentally not wanting the others to hear.
Michael shifts in his seat he looked awkward.
Isn't this the part where you gloat? You brag about your brilliant plan. Dean says. Michael rolls his eyes. Dean leans forward and frowns. What do you mean had the talk as well?
"Sam he sounded like Jo." Michael huffs a small laugh. "Think about it." He mocked his alternative sister's voice. The former archangel then sighs. "This whole thing about family. Yeah I got that to."
Jo wants to play happy families with you?
"Not exactly." Michael clears his throat. "Anyway let's talk about you." A smirk forms on the former archangel's lips. "You and Castiel still not on talking terms. Aww how sad I thought you two had something special."
Just spit it out Michael. I'm not the mood for your games.
Michael raises his cuffs hands
"Okay okay...Maddox he is dead right?"
That's right.
"What happened to you?" The former archangel cringed at his slip up. " I mean what happened afterwards? What did I miss?"
Cas killed him.
"That is good." Michael nods. "What else happened? Did anybody get hurt? Is Lucifer behaving himself?"
No. Dean frowns. Why the Hell do you care anyway?
"It's just a question Dean." Michael replied with frustration.
Sorry but I can't believe that. There's always something when it comes to you.
"You're wrong." Michael grits his teeth.
Oh I'm right. Dean nods. So I'm gonna say it again what do you want?
Michael opens his mouth but closes it. He then let's out a sigh.
"Do the ritual."
So you can get your powers back? No not happening.
"I'm not doing it because of me." Michael looks at the hunter. "I'm doing it for Jack."
" I thought he was your most prized weapon. Your key to destroying the world.
Dean can see Michael looked conflicted. Usually the former archangel had an answer to everything but this time he said nothing. Honestly Dean didn't know how to react to that. After a couple of minutes Michael finally answered the question.
"The boy should get back what is his." Michael nods. "Also." He paused. "You don't want Lucifer powered up right? He might be helping you now but...that can all change Lucifer could no he will betray you that is who he is...that is how he was created to be."
Michael said the last part under his breath. Dean shakes his head.
It doesn't make sense. You must want something out of this. If Lucifer is reduced to an archangel again and you have your grace back...you can kill him. Dean narrows his eyes. That's your plan you want Lucifer off the board so you can continue your plans Jack having no soul you can brainwash the kid and still make him your ultimate weapon. The hunter stands up. You son of a bitch.
"No and no." Michael rose from the bed. "You got it all wrong...again." Michael sighs. "Considering you are my Sword your level of intelligence is rather disappointing I expected better from you."
Dean walks up to the mirror.
Okay. So what's your plan?
"For starters when I get my grace back, I will not be able to do anything because as you can see." He looks down at his cuffed hands. "You have me locked up nice and tight so grace or no grace I'm useless. The nephilim...Dean if you kill him you will regret it."
Now you are siding with Sam.
"I'm stating the facts." Michael sighs. "Dean Jack is family to you I saw your memories I saw the love you have for that boy. If you kill him his death will forever haunt you and one of these days you will be alone. Trust me I know because I been there. You don't want to end up in my position you don't want to end up being like me. Don't repeat my mistakes."
Dean stared at him with shock. Where the Hell did all that come from? Michael's behavior has been confusing recently but this has topped it all.
"Why?" Dean asks out loud. "Why are you telling me all this?"
Dean didn't receive an answer because Michael...
...Michael was gone.
Dean shakes his head his face is puzzled. Michael's words replay over and over in his head. The more Dean thought about it the more he had to agree. Sam and Michael are right Dean would regret it Dean already grieved Jack's death once he didn't want to go through it again.
Dean looks at the door then his cuffs then back at the door again. Finally making his decision Dean steps out of his bedroom and walks down the hallway towards the War room. He clears his throat to gain everyone's attention.
Sam is the first to turn around.
"Dean?" He said his voice uncertain.
Dean steps forward and looks at everyone.
"You still wanna do the ritual?"
"Yes." Sam replied. "We do."
"Okay." Dean nods. "We'll do it."
Sam's eyes widen with surprise.
"Really?"
"On one condition." Dean says. "We gotta take precautions. Jack is not exactly in a good place right now there is a risk he could attack us. To prevent that from happening we need to keep him contained until the ritual is done."
"Dean Jack is a nephilim." Sam frowns. "Holy oil would be useless against him."
"Don't worry I got something that will trap a nephilim."
Dean then smiles.
"It's time to bring out the box."
I'm sorry if this chapter is a bit blah the weather has been so hot I literally couldn't do anything the weather was killing me! Seriously it was so hot I couldn't even think straight so this chapter was a struggle to write so again I apologize. I don't know what is going to happen next week because Tuesday I am getting my Covid Jab so I don't know how I'm gonna feel after that but I am getting a whole week of rain next week and I can't wait! Lol.
Michael's comment about Cas and Dean having something special if people are wondering no this fic will not contain Destiel I don't ship Destiel Michael was just being an asshole he wanted to piss Dean off lol.
I posted a one shot called An Officer and a Brit it is part of my Change in a Man universe but it can also be read as a standalone. You are very welcome to check that series out.