Chapter 1.
"Castiel." It was the first word in some time that had not come from his own head and "some time" was the most accurate he could be, because, in the Empty, meaningful time did not exist. He may have been there for ten minutes or a million years, listening to the litany of self-loathing and self-accusation and fighting it with the only thing he could hold onto in that pitiless darkness, his belief that his family were still alive and free.
"Castiel." said the voice again and hope for one member of his family died, because the voice was present and the voice was familiar and if Jack were in the Empty, then all their hopes had failed. And if Jack had been defeated and killed, Jules, Sam and Dean might all be dead too. Or maybe Jack had died thousands of years after them, but Jack had died. And maybe they had all died minutes after he had sacrificed himself to unleash the Empty on Billie.
"Castiel, wake up!" said Jack again.
"No." said Castiel.
"No?"
"I can't."
He felt a hand on his shoulder, a shoulder he had thought had ceased to exist. Some power was pulling him back into the flesh of his erstwhile vessel, or recreating it around him, but if he awoke, he would see that Jack was truly here. He preferred to believe it was one of the cruel tricks of the Shadow.
"You're fighting me." said Jack. He sounded sad and surprised.
"How did you die?" asked Castiel, "Are they all dead?"
He heard a soft, "Ah."
"Did we fail?" said Castiel.
"I'm not here because I'm dead." said Jack, !"I came to find you. I entered this place as its conqueror, its destroyer, if it gives me cause. Please, open your eyes."
Cas did so and found himself looking at his son, but the power radiating from him was different and if it was not infinite, he could not tell where it ended. "You won?" he said.
Jack took his hand and raised him to his feet. "We won." he confirmed.
"And the others are safe?"
"All of them. Jules is at the bunker with Sam and Dean. Sarah is at the farm. They are all safe, but they need to see you."
"Dean too?"
"I said Dean."
"But he wants to see me?"
"Why would you question that?" said Jack.
"Things were said, the last time we met, that he may wish hadn't been."
"Isn't that true of every time you ever met?" said Jack. He smiled. "This place is confusing you. It does that."
"No. I need to know if they want me back there."
"What about Jules?"
"I can go to Jules." said Cas.
"Sam and Dean have been praying constantly for your return. I detect no ambivalence."
Cas was silent. Then he said, "You have all of his powers now?"
"His, Amara's something else, from the resonance of the souls around me. I have a lot of power now. I intend to avoid letting it corrupt me. That's why I needed to come and find you first. I need your guidance."
"That could be a mistake." said Cas, "I am far from wise and I have been too easily corrupted by pride and fear and folly. Choose another to guide you."
"I don't know whom I can trust." said Jack, "And you have guided me well all my life. I need you to tell me which angels to bring back and which cannot be trusted. I need you to help me with reforms for Heaven, Earth, Purgatory and Hell."
"Well, don't change Purgatory much. I may need it again."
"I think you'll approve my plans. I'm not my grandfather. I don't need infinite punishment for finite errors. I don't need every knee to bow on threat of damnation. There is a better way." He shone with light.
Cas gripped his shoulder and pulled him into a hug. "I am so proud of you, Jack." he said.
Jack hugged him back. "Whatever is good in me, I owe to you, my mother and the Winchesters." he said, "As we're here, let's start with the archangels." He bowed his head for a moment as he said, "I will destroy Lucifer without awakening him. I believe in second chances, but how many has he had now? And he has never done anything but choose evil every time."
"You could just leave him here." said Cas.
Jack looked at him. "In case I change my mind? No. Sparing him was always a mistake. I will need to prepare for it. It will not be easy. I have the power, but I struggle with ending the one who began me, but the danger is too great. He hates everything that I love."
"That's true." said Cas.
"But now, happier duties. There is one archangel who didn't fall into evil, one who gave his life for something good." He looked around and reached out an arm in front of him. "Gabriel! Awaken and come to me!"
Slowly, Gabriel took form in front of them. He looked at Jack. "You've changed." he said, "You're god now?"
"Technically." said Jack, "I hope not to repeat his mistakes."
"And he's dead?"
"No. He's human."
"Woah! I bet he did not see that coming!" said Gabriel. He looked at Cas. "What happened to you? You don't look good."
"He's suffered here." said Jack, "We need to get him away from here. He's hesitant to go to the bunker, so I think we'll take him to Heaven."
"This place must be so bad for someone already filled with guilt." said Gabriel.
"You've been here longer." said Cas, "Aren't you damaged by it too?"
Gabriel shrugged. "I'm not saying it was fun, being trapped inside my own head, but I probably needed to work through a few things. Archangels lack a little self-awareness." He looked at Jack, "So, I'm leaving here an archangel?"
"The only one, for now." said Jack.
"I've been away from Heaven for a long time."
"Yes. Do you have a problem with coming back?" said Jack, "If you prefer to live among humans, you can, but there will be certain conditions."
"You're not the god Dad was." said Gabriel.
"Maybe not. I have a lot to learn."
"It wasn't a criticism. You're different because you can learn. This is an administration I can work with. I'm in." He looked a little worried and said, "I'm guessing the trickster stuff has to stop."
"Is it possible to separate the trickster from the archangel now? But there will be limits to your tricks. You can still put the arrogant and selfish and cruel in their places, but you'll cause less disruption and you will never again kill or attempt to kill anyone the Winchesters consider family."
"Not even a little bit?" said Gabriel.
"I'm giving you a lot of scope here."
"Very well. But can I sometimes non-fatally mess with their heads a bit?"
"We'll discuss an acceptable level of prank." said Jack.
"Very fair. Very fair." said Gabriel, "So, what happens to my brothers?"
"For Lucifer, oblivion." said Jack, "For Raphael, who allowed power to corrupt him, loss of all powers and being consigned to Hell."
"Wow." said Gabriel.
"Otherwise, he'll just keep trying to restart the Apocalypse." said Jack "From Hell, he can work his way back up to something better. May make it to Heaven. Under my new plans, there will be much more celestial mobility. Hell will no longer be eternal damnation, but an opportunity at redemption. Purgatory too. Being a monster doesn't necessarily mean you are a bad person. Let those who are good work their way to Heaven. Similarly, those who break the rules of Heaven can find themselves in Hell or in Purgatory. It should all be a lot more fair anf equitable."
"Michael?" said Gabriel.
"Purer motives, but much to atone for. I have yet to decide, but his fate may be the same."
"And the other Michael?" said Cas.
"His trial must take place later. What he did to Dean ... It's hard for me to be objective. I'm working on it." said Jack.
"So we really are down to one archangel." said Gabriel.
"The matter is in hand." said Jack.
Cas thought of all the angels in the Empty, so many of them sent there by him. He felt an urge to fall to his knees and beg forgiveness. Jack suddenly grabbed his elbow and steadied him. "You need to be away from here." he said.
"First," said Cas, "There are some angels I would like to bring out of here. Their names are Balthazar and Hannah and I would like to awaken Balthazar myself."
Jack put his hand on Cas's shoulder and Gabriel's arm and suddenly they were standing over the sleeping form of Balthazar. Cas reached out to touch his shoulder and said, "Balthazar, awaken."
Slowly and groggily, Balthazar moved and opened his eyes. "Castiel." he said.
"Forgive me." said Castiel.
Balthazar shook his head. "I betrayed you, you betrayed me. If you're taking me out of here, I'd say we're even. Just don't expect me to turn my back on you again soon."
"I was surprised you did that time." said Cas.
"It was a calculated risk. Apparently, my calculations went somewhat askew." Balthazar looked at Jack. "That is a lot of power."
"I'll fill you in later." said Gabriel, "But basically, the kid's the new god and so far, he's doing okay."
"Ah," said Balthazar, "We live in interesting times. I take it the Winchesters played a part in this little coup?"
"They did." said Castiel proudly.
"I always knew they were going to mess things up on an epic scale, but at least they changed it in the right direction." said Balthazar.
"They didn't mess anything up." said Cas, "They saved the universe." He looked at Jack and said, "Do you need me in Heaven permanently?"
"I have plans for you, but they can be executed as well on Earth as in Heaven. Castiel, you've sacrificed so much, so I give you my word, whatever I ask you to do, I will not ask you to leave Jules or the Winchesters."
"Who's Jules?" said Gabriel.
"Jules is my betrothed." said Cas, "And if either of you ever does her harm, you will die." He was aware that he had little chance of killing Gabriel, but he was confident Jack and the Winchesters would help him if he had to.
"You fell in love with a human?" said Balthazar.
"Some of us fall in love with all of them." said Gabriel. He turned to Cas, "Congratulations on your betrothal. You may consider your lady friend under my protection."
"Stay away from her." said Cas, "She's from Apocalypse World. She doesn't trust angels."
"Does she know you're one?" said Balthazar.
"I'm an exception." said Cas.
"Yes, Castiel, you always were." said Gabriel.