Sam's face was stone cold at his opponent. The guy who was holding the pool cue swore. After paying Sam, Sam pocketed the money. Over two hundred. Not bad. DJ needed braces.
Its been over a decade, but Sam never forgot about Dean. A nail. A damned nail took his brother away. Sam, he should have accepted Dean's death by now, but after ten years, his wife couldn't take it anymore and told a crying Dean Jr she was leaving Sam.
Sam knew it was his alcohol addiction that drove her away. He was fighting the same addiction John had. The fights, the messy house and beer bottles. His wife knew about his past with addiction, but didn't think Sam would be back fighting his personal demons.
Sam he knew he had to quit drinking. No way was Dean getting raised the same way Sam was. He told the bartender to cancel the beer. He instead ordered a coke. Drinking the sweet liquid, he looked over at his wedding ring.
'No sense keeping this on.' He thought. He loved her, he always will, but she deserved better. He was saddened to see his bare hand.
He sighed in sadness. Quickly pushing it down, he silently drank his pop. When he heard a familiar voice, he chocked on his drink.
"I'll have what he's having."
Castiel smiles warmly at Sam.
"Hello Sam." He didn't even grunt as Sam squeezed him in a tight hug.
Sam looked over at Cas. Cas was older. His once dark hair was greying and had a few more wrinkles, but it was the same Castiel.
"Cas? How?"
"Long sorry. Ahem." Castiel was embarrassed to ask. "I don't have any money."
"Say no more." Sam gestured to the bartender. "He'll have a Shirley Temple." He looks at Castiel. "I don't drink anymore."
"I understand."
An hour later Castiel was filling Sam in on what is going on in Heaven.
"So Chuck, He was lying?"
"Yes. He faked everything. Jack and I we were surprised to see everything was intact." The last thing he seen was the Empty taking him away after confessing his true happiness. "When I woke up, both The Empty and God were looking at me. God made a deal with It. I don't know the details, all I know is Jack and I were reunited in Heaven. I found Jack having dinner with his mom Kelly." Jack cried in Cas' arms. He couldn't get Castiel back, even with God's powers, he was afraid of the Empty. When He saw Cas, he asked Castiel how he got out. "All I remember was Chuck's smile. He looked at peace. He lives quietly somewhere in another country, he is content with being mortal." That smile. Castiel will never forgot it. He even brought back his First Children, the archangels. All four were happily reunited with their Father, none of them aware of their past lives.
"So Chuck was doing all that for a story?"
"I suppose. He had to fool Death. First Death and Billie wanted things to end. Chuck had to act. Luckily Billie was too vain to see everything Chuck showed her was a illusion. It wasn't just me that woke up the Empty. Billie kept It awake. Now She sleeps in eternal torment."
Sam shuddered. No way he wanted to experience that. Whatever Billie was going through, Lucifer'a Cage was a cakewalk. He had to ask.
"And Dean?"
Castiel smiled a sad smile. He remembered his confession. But he was too shy to see Dean again.
"He is driving. He is on his way to see you." He knew it would be only a few minutes, but on Earth would be decades till Sam sees him again.
Sam wiped away a tear. He loved Dean, he will never forget his brother, best friend and father figure, but Sam had responsibilities now.
"Cas, how long do I have?"
"I don't know. New Death, She is keeping a tight lip." Cas met Her, She was really sweet. Unlike the other two Deaths, She cannot be killed easily. Like Jack, She was keeping to Herself.
"And you?"
"As long as I can live on Earth I suppose. Jack allowed me to stay here as a mortal man. Same with a few angels." Jack's new angels, they all help run Heaven. Naomi was training them on how things work. She agreed not to program them. Jack's Power was helping keeping Heaven alive.
Sam smiled. He wasn't alone anymore. He looked at his watch.
"Oh crap. It's Dean's bedtime." The babysitter had a eight am class. Sam never wanted to miss DJ's bedtime again.
"Dean?" Cas was confused.
"My son. Cas, his birthday is coming up. Come over. He is turning eleven next week."
Castiel. He saw DJ's disappointment. All he heard is that his dad knew an angel. This man in a trench coat was no angel.
"I thought angels had wings." He said in a rude tone.
"Dean..." Sam warned.
"Sorry." Growing up, he heard all the stories. How Castiel raised his late uncle from the depths of Hell. How Castiel helped stop the Apocalypse several times. That he died saving his best friend from Death.
"I no longer have my wings. When I did, my true form will be too much for humans. My wings were too faint to see with human eyes." He told a befuddled DJ.
"Okay. Castiel, come play with me. Dad just bought the new PlayStation." Dean's parents felt so guilty about the divorce, they spoiled DJ rotten. "Dad, is Uncle Adam coming?" Adam, he and Sam reconciled, his kids, Kate and Jordan were close to Dean.
"Tomorrow."
"Cool! Castiel, let me tell you about my cousins."
"Which ones?" Castiel wondered about Alternate Sam and Dean. Both were still on Earth. Bela who's Deal was canceled years ago was now married to Dean's alternate self. They were happily married with three kids. Alternate Sam was married as well, he was nervous about his unborn daughter who was about to be born any day. He had two boys, Dean promised Sam girls weren't any different from boys. Just more expensive to raise.
"They live across the world, both twins are cool, they are joining us online along with Landon and Tristan." DJ knew they were technically siblings, along with Alternate Sam's unborn baby, but he preferred them as cousins. His uncle Adam was aware of his twin in the world, but unlike DJ, they didn't talk. All Adam knew he and his wife had a son.
"Does your father mind?" He knew Sam and Adam felt uncomfortable knowing their alternative selves were living somewhere on the planet. Especially with all three Winchesters having kids.
"Dad doesn't care, just as long as we don't play violent videogames. Here, you can play player two. Dad is always working or too busy to play with me."
In the kitchen, Sam's heart broke. DJ did deserve better. He already dumped out his alcohol, he was heading to AA for his first meeting. He swore to be there for his son. No way was he losing another love one.
Castiel was laughing at the dinner table. Adam, he was clearly content with his life, he was telling a story about some college prank gone wrong. Their dinner was done, the kids were playing games on the television. He hoped Sam was alright, he was smiling, but the pain in heart was still there.
Once everyone went home or went to bed, both Sam and Castiel were talking on the couch.
"Jack, He is around?"
"Always. He likes it, although He is overwhelmed by everything. He comes to be for advice."
"Good." Sam wanted to ask, but he was afraid. Cas must have noticed, he placed his hand on Sam's shoulder.
"You'll see Dean again. Same with everyone you ever lost."
Sam teared up. John, Mary. Bobby, his friends. They were all in Heaven. He took Cas' hand and placed it over his. He was embarrassed to admit, Castiel's hand felt nice.
Castiel blushed when he felt Sam' warmth. He always loved Sam, but as a brother. But sitting next to Sam, he wondered.
"Goodnight Sam." He had his old truck, Sam was nice enough to store it.
"Night Cas." Sam, he wanted to ask Castiel to stay the night, but he was too shy to ask. He didn't look up when Castiel walked out. He knew Castiel's feelings for Dean, Castiel drunkenly confessed to Sam one night, he loved Dean. But he was now gone. Sam always considered himself straight, but Castiel was an angel. Just his vessel was a man. Sam had a lot to think about.
He looked at his hand. Hmm. Maybe ask Cas for a drink, non alcohol of course, or even a game. He knew Cas liked sports, he claimed he watched the ancient games of Greece back in the day. Sam knew it way too early, but maybe Cas and him could try giving it a shot. He went and ordered some tickets. DJ wouldn't mind, he liked Cas, and always asked Sam if he can come over more often.
'Dean, I hope you don't mind. Cas, he deserves to be happy.'
He smiled when he saw a commercial for The Superbowl.
"This is a weather station." This channel doesn't advertise sports. "Okay Dean. Thank you."
Looks like Sam might have a date. Seeing Cas walking in, Sam shyly asked if he would like to go with him and DJ for a local game. When Cas smiled, Sam smiled back. Even if it doesn't work out, at least Sam won't be alone.