Hey everybody,

so it's been a long time, but after receiving a lovely message, I felt like it was time to add what I had originally planned, at least as another chapter. It took some time, but here it goes, I hope you will enjoy.

He woke up, staring at the ceiling of his bedroom. Just a second ago he had been on some road, out there in the wilderness, talking to God in the pouring rain of a broken world.

Wondering if all of it had been nothing more than a dream, he regarded the alarm clock next to his bed. It was early in the morning – just past five – and it would be totally justified for him to just turn around and catch another round of good sleep before getting up, but he wasn't tired. He couldn't sleep while not knowing how much had been a dream and how much had really happened. What if everything had been a dream? What if nothing had been a dream? What if just the last hours had been a dream? What if the world was still nothing more than a crumbling piece of burning hell? What if earth itself had killed everybody and he was still the only one left?

Slow and heavy his body responded to his demands and got up, dragging him through the room, through the hallway, in front of that other door.

Taking a deep breath, he wondered what he would do, if it had been nothing more than a dream, if that conversation had been nothing more than a dream but shaking his head he decided to face whatever reality had in store for him. Carefully he opened the door and peeked inside.

Here as well it was peacefully quiet and completely dark, the only light came from the hallway behind him. Dean held his breath as he observed the body lying in bed, until suddenly he noted the slight raising and falling of the chest. Sam was alive! Sam was alive!

It took his all to quietly close the door before he almost crumbled to the ground and took in deep breaths. Sammy was alive!

The pictures of what had happened showed up in front of his inner eye. That moment Sam had thrown him aside, taking the blast meant for Dean, protecting him – the older brother – and sacrificing himself, sheer determination in those eyes and the raging fear within Dean. The pain afterwards, holding his dying brother, cradling him while he took his last agonizing breaths, whispering words of affection and reassurance, long after those breaths had stopped. The numbness while carrying his brother home, putting him down on that bed, bloody, lifeless, almost unrecognizable by the injuries he had suffered.

All of that was gone now, like it had never happened, either because it in fact had never happened, had been nothing more than a freaking nightmare, or because God had turned back time and had resurrected Sammy once more.

For this moment Dean didn't care which option it was, he didn't care about anything in this moment, all that mattered was that Sam was lying behind this wall in his back, breathing and sleeping peacefully.

Slowly Dean got up, went back to his room to get dressed, before heading for the kitchen. He wasn't really hungry with all those emotions still raging within him, but he knew that he would be soon, so he decided to prepare breakfast and to make his little brother the greatest breakfast he would ever eat.

While taking out the milk he noted the expiration date and realized he had no idea what day – or even month – it was, but a quick glance on his phone told him that time had been rewound by more than six months, or maybe those months had never happened. He was still not sure about that part.

Then again, wouldn't God have kind of left him a note if he had done that? Wouldn't he be here right now or at least with the angels? Wouldn't Sam be awake and questioning him what the hell had happened after he had just died?

No, if he was being honest it seemed to have been just a really bad dream, and if he was quite honest it didn't really surprise him. At a time like this such dreams always hunted him down, because for once in a while, things had been running smoothly and during those times Dean usually expected some bad twist turning their lives upside down again.

After they had taken down Michael several months ago, some bushfires had risen but for the last few weeks it had been rather quiet and Cass had just decided to take on that issue with heaven, before it could turn into another crisis. Dean had not heard too much from him since then, but as far as he knew the angel was managing. It was difficult with the decreasing numbers of angels and no archangel being left, but they were managing.

So yeah, in general the last days the everlasting, lingering tension burdening his shoulders had actually started to subside so no wonder some nightmare had shown up to remind him that he had to stay alert at all times, that he was not allowed to relax, because that was the way he had been raised and the events of the past had proven that another apocalypse could be waiting around the corner just after they had barely averted a current one.

At some point he realized that he was done preparing the best breakfast ever made by any big brother and that Sam would probably take another hour or so until he would wake up. If Dean recalled correctly they had just returned from a simple Djinn-hunt the previous night, but his sense of time was still messed up by that freaking nightmare.

Talking of that nightmare, he recalled something he had dreamed of, that had happened before earth itself had risen, and maybe it had just been some stupid dream, but maybe it also had been a hunch, so he decided to grab his plate with eggs, bacon, and pancakes, and headed to the library to check the news. He had dreamed of hell collapsing and demons flooding the earth prior to earth rising, and he wanted to make sure that this had been nothing more than a dream as well.

But as he ate his breakfast and browsed the internet, he couldn't find anything overly suspicious. Still he decided to keep an eye on that task, just to calm his conscience, as he noted a small article about some mutilated cattle, which could be something for them.

Suddenly the slamming of doors echoed through the bunker, followed by rushed steps.

"Dean?" His younger brother yelled loud enough to make him worry. "Dean!"

"What the…" He whispered but the next moment Sam already rushed into the war room, hair all messy, still in his jams, looking as wild and terrified as Dean had felt just about two hours ago.

The moment Sam spotted Dean his eyes grew big, and he took a deep breath.

"Dean", he mumbled as it was all the explanation he needed.

Maybe something had been in the sandwiches they had eaten on their way back yesterday, as apparently both of them had been bothered by nightmares. Usually it was a common thing between them to ignore the other's nightmares, but that was difficult with Sam staring at him like he was seeing a ghost in the flesh.

"Heya Sammy", he greeted him and raised his half-empty plate, "breakfast in the kitchen. You should eat something; you look even worse than usually."

But Sam only came up the stairs and walked towards him.

"What the hell happened, Dean?" He demanded to know, not calming down in the least.

"You had a nightmare, I prepared breakfast – your welcome by the way – nothing to be so…"

"Cut the crap!" Sam pushed Dean's plate and laptop aside. "You're making breakfast and watching porn? What about earth? What about… what did you do, Dean? What did you do this time?!"

So it had not been a dream. Oh.

A little bit calmer than before Sam sat down on the desk and folded his arms.

"How long was I gone and what did you do to bring me back?"

So he remembered. Dean lowered his gaze, remembering the agony his little brother must have been in and apparently he wasn't even given the mercy of forgetting it, wasn't given the mercy to not recall the pain of a broken and burning body.

"Dean! What the hell did you do? Answer me, dammit!"

Slowly he looked up.

"Nothing", he answered honestly. "I… I couldn't do nothing. I just… I brought you back to your room, poured me a drink, and didn't know what to do."

"Then how am I…?"

"God."

"God?"

"Yeah."

Sam huffed in relief.

"He's here? Finally! Oh my God – literally – with him we actually still stand a chance!" He ruffled through his hair, a broken grin on his otherwise grim features, making Dean realized that he was still thinking that everything until his death had actually happened. For Sam those last few months were still reality. "With him on our side there's still a chance for us to stop earth! This is good, this is really…"

"Sam", he interrupted his little brother calmly. It almost tore his heart apart. He hadn't noticed up until now, probably because he had not been in a better place, but now, knowing what he knew, it hurt him to see Sam like this, all the pain, the losses, the grief still written into his face, about all those things that Chuck made sure wouldn't happen. "It's June."

"Wha… what?" Confused Sam looked at him as Dean grabbed his phone, turned his screen on and showed it to the other. "But… but how? No, it was just… it was January."

"Yes, it was", Dean answered, not sure how to tell Sam all that happened, "but God came and turned back time."

"But that means… that means… oh wow." Sam ruffled through his hair again. "Wait, June, that means we have like a month left before earth will rise and that means we have about two weeks until hell will collapse. Okay, okay."

He stood up and paced up and down the library.

"That means, Chuck thinks we can do it, right? That's why he brought me back to life and turned back time, because he thinks we can change things, prevent them from happening, if he gives us another go, right? Right?" Suddenly he stopped and turned for Dean. "What else did he tell you? Will he help us? How are we supposed to do all that? Did he create more angels? We sure could need some, also considering that heaven is currently not at its best."

With a sigh Dean got up and grabbed his half empty plate – he had lost his appetite by now – before nodding towards the kitchen and telling Sam this way to follow him.

"Chuck said he put earth back to rest, and if we…"

"Sam!" Suddenly the main door to the bunker was ripped open and nobody else but Castiel rushed inside, his trench coat flying in the wind. Upstairs, hands clenching the railing, he stared down at Sam and Dean, who were just passing the warroom. "Dean!"

Somewhat surprised Dean met his piercing gaze, as he noted the slight glimmer within the angel's eyes.

"Cass?" Sam exclaimed just as surprised but relieved. "Oh right, it didn't happen yet and you were still in heaven. What are you…?"

"Get away from him, Sam!"

Suddenly there was silence as Dean realized that Cass stared at him with a caution he wasn't used to anymore. Then he noticed the angel's hidden hand, he was obviously holding his angel's sword, rushing down the stairs.

"What the… what are you talking about, Cass?"

He could hear the obvious confusion in Sam's words, but Dean couldn't turn around, wasn't able to interrupt this eye contact, as the angel slowly walked around the huge table to side with his brother.

Dean followed his movements as the other stepped behind Sam, glaring at him with a distrust he usually only showed his enemies.

"Cass? What is…?" Sam looked back and forth between Castiel next to him and Dean "What is going on?"

"Nothing," Dean answered, raising a calming hand, "nothing to be so worked up about. I can…"

"Don't listen to him, Sam, this is not the Dean we know, he's dangerous." Castiel's words felt like a kick in his guts.

"What? Cass, what's going on? What are you talking about? This is Dean! Maybe you're confused because time has been turned back, but…"

"This is not Dean", Castiel interrupted him and stared at Dean, still ready to fight, "at least not all the way. I can sense it, I can see it, something has happened to his soul. He is not… all human anymore."

Suddenly Sam's eyes grew big and he stared at Dean, something like fear in his eyes and Dean wasn't sure whether he feared for him or if he feared him.

"When I came back to my senses, I knew what had happened", Castiel explained. "Chuck implanted the knowledge in all of us angels, that he calmed earth back to sleep and gave us another chance to save humanity. I decided to make sure that information was correct. Before I came here, I was able to see for myself that earth is resting peacefully and the world is just how it used to be, so I came here to… to come up with a plan with you but… but it seems we have to deal with this here first."

"Could you please stop this nonsense and let me explain," Dean grumbled as Sam and Castiel shared a glance. "I'm fine, there is nothing you have to deal with, just listen to me for a sec!"

"It might be he is not even aware of what is happening to him," Castiel murmured towards Sam, inspecting Dean with piercing eyes.

"Okay, but what is happening to him, Cass?" Sam asked. "You said something is wrong with his soul?"

"Yes, I can't really grasp it yet, it's just a tiny glimmer within his soul, but it seems like it's steadily growing and who knows what will happen then. I have never seen something like that happen to a soul, it almost seems like it's reconstructing itself, but that of course is impossible." Cass and Sam shared a glance. "But whatever it is, we need to take care of it as soon as possible, before it devours Dean's soul completely."

Then the angel stared at him.

"Please, Dean, though you might feel normal, I ask you to trust us and cooperate, otherwise you might die."

With a heavy sigh Dean placed his half empty plate on the large table with the map.

"Won't die," he mumbled, not able to look at Cass any second longer, as the slight shimmer surrounding him grew brighter by the second, "and there's nothing for you two to worry about. I'm fine, my soul's fine. It's just…"

"I assumed he might say that. But we must not be fooled by his words, Sam."

Trying to keep his cool Dean scoffed in annoyance, but before he could answer Sam took a step towards him, raising his hand in a calming gesture.

"Dean, please. You know we can trust Cass; if he says something is wrong with your soul, let's just figure out what is happening to you, before you might lose it."

"I'm not gonna lose it, Sam, and there is nothing wrong with it. That's what I've been trying to…"

"Enough, we lack the time! Whatever is happening to his soul, if we don't stop it soon, his soul will be gone by tomorrow morning at this rate."

Castiel stepped next to Sam, now showing his angel blade.

"Would you just shut the hell up and listen for once!" Dean huffed and slammed his hand on the table. "There is nothing for you to stop and nothing for you to fix."

"But Dean…," Sam pleaded weakly, but he just shook his head.

"It was Chuck's doing, okay? I'm a… I'm a…" Headshaking he ruffled through his hair as he tried to say it out loud. "I'm a freaking savior, okay?"

"A what?" Sam asked, obviously confused.

"No?" Castiel whispered, even paler than before. "That's impossible. Not you, not you, Dean."

He shrugged his shoulders.

"Guess so, Cass. Chuck gave me the whole talk and…"

"That can't be! Saviors aren't like prophets, growing up without knowing, they are chosen before even being born. It's imprinted into their very DNA, their whole being, their soul…" For a moment they just looked at each other before the light surrounding the angel became too bright for Dean. "Your soul is the soul of a human, marked by the deeds of your life, certainly, but it can't become something you're not. If you are born human, you can't become something divine, you can't become a savior."

Dean sighed and slightly opened his arms. He had expected a different kind of conversation - actually he had expected Chuck to be here and do the talking, but how very convenient for God himself to let Dean deal with this stuff - and was tired of being distrusted and questioned.

"Then tell me, Cass, what do you see? What is happening to my soul?"

The angel gulped heavily, shaking his head.

"I don't know, I have never seen anything like this before."

"Okay, okay," somewhat unnerved Sam stepped between them and looked back and forth between Castiel and Dean, glancing at him a little bit longer and clearly worried, "could someone please explain to me, what's going on! Time has been reversed so that we have a second chance and now you're babbling something about souls and saviors. What the hell is a savior?"

"Someone chosen by God," Castiel answered with a hollow voice, "chosen to do a specific task, only that one person can do."

Now Sam looked back at Dean.

"Like this 'righteous man' stuff? When you had to go to hell to break one of the seals?"

"No," the angel disagreed, "that was something completely different. Everybody, who would have fit the criteria, could have done that, but… but saviors are unique, irreplaceable, even we angels don't know how many God has chosen and we certainly don't know why. Of course we all have our orders, which sometimes involve certain saviors, but they are a part of God's plan, we have no further information about."

With pinched eyes Castiel made a step towards Dean.

"There has never been a savior born with a normal human soul."

Dean couldn't bear either Castiel's blinding shimmer nor Sam's worried expression, so he regarded the stairs to the library just behind Sam's shoulder.

"So, they aren't human?" Sam asked, his voice raspy.

"They are, but not completely. A part of them is of divine nature, a gift granted by God to be able to succeed at the task they were born for."

"But… but… does that mean, Dean is… you are…?"

"I'm still me," he finally answered what he had wanted to say from the very beginning. "I'm still the same. It's just that… He came yesterday – well, before time was turned back – after our last battle, after we had lost everything, and he…"

"Is this the price for this second chance?" Castiel demanded to know.

"No!" He explained. "No, it's not. It's just…"

"Then why did you…"

"Would you just shut up for a second and let me explain? I'm trying to tell you guys what happened!"

By now Castiel radiated a bright shimmer as if he were a freaking lightbulb, but it didn't blind Dean as much as it had just seconds ago.

"Chuck came and offered to turn back time, okay? Without any conditions, without any fine print, simply because this is not how he had intended things to go and because he wanted to give humanity a second chance, because he wanted to give us a second chance." He took a deep breath. "And that's what he did, that's exactly what he did, okay?!"

Just now he noted how loud he had gotten. It was frustrating trying to explain what had happened while being interrupted the whole time and without really knowing what to say either. It was frustrating that God had shown up to give him the whole talk and the whole divine moment only to be gone now and leaving the difficult task of explaining solely to Dean.

"Okay," Sam mumbled, raising a calming hand, though Dean wasn't sure if that gesture was meant for him or for the angel. "But what about this savior thing? What happened?"

Dean nodded and folded his arm, trying to calm down.

"Well, before he turned back time he told me that even if he would do that and even if he would tell the angels what would happen, things would still end up the same one way or another, sooner or later. He said that free will has its unpredictabilities and that over time humanity has become its own threat and with all this evil in this world it's only a matter of time until things will end up the same way again." He sighed softly as he recalled that moment in the rain. "And then he told me that I could be the tiny wheel in the machine that could offer humanity enough time to change for the better. He didn't force me or anything, he just told me that this would be a certain way for me to save everybody."

Silence greeted him. Cass kept shaking his head like a broken bobblehead, his grim features illuminated from bluish light, but by now it didn't hurt Dean's eyes anymore. Sam on the other hand just stared at him as he seemed to process what Dean had just told him.

"And how?" He finally asked after several seconds, his voice hoarse and faking rationality. Dean knew this voice, this voice of reason, when his little brother kept his own emotions at bay. He had always been much better at that than Dean. "What would you have to do? Cass said something about your soul changing? What does God want you to do? What does all of this mean?"

Now Dean shrugged his shoulders.

"It means that he gave me whatever I needed to fight the unearthly evil - whatever that exactly means, it's not like he'd given me a manual or something – and that it's my job to continue this fight until there's no evil left, no demons, no monsters, and then it's up to humanity to…"

"And you agreed?!" Suddenly Sam took another step forward, his eyes big, his voice raspy. "Have you even listened to what he told you, Dean? This is crazy. You can't just…"

"Sam," he tried to interrupt the other, who's unexpected outburst of emotion was even worse than Castiel's distrust, "please, could you…?"

"No! How could you?!" Sam spun around and started pacing up and down next to the huge table, running his hands through his messy hair. "How could you, Dean? How could you do this again? It's always the same with you. Sacrificing yourself for the greater good, giving up your humanity to save humanity, and as always you're deciding all of that on your own, not even caring about how I would feel hearing this!"

"Sam, I…"

"No!" The other interrupted him with a raised finger. "No, Dean! Not again! We've been through this so many times. I thought we agreed on doing this together, no more solos, no more sacrificing ourselves for the other and now you let yourself be turned into some kind of weapon for God to kill demons? Are you kidding me?! Why the hell would you do something this stupid?! You know how it turned out every single time we did something like that, we might have won the fight, but it always came back for us in the end, we always had to pay. This is why we decided to do our own thing. You said that! You said that yourself, us against the world, doing our own thing, finding our own ways, and now… now you're just giving up? Giving yourself up? Giving your humanity up to become some freaking savior for God?"

Headshaking like Cass had just done Sam lowered his gaze, his lips trembling.

"How am I supposed to save you this time, Dean? If this was God's doing, if he's changing your soul into something inhuman, how am I supposed to stop that? You really want me to fight God?"

This conversation was really not what Dean had expected. Sam's broken voice hurt him even more than Castiel's freezing glare.

"No, Sam," he replied calmly. "I don't want you to fight God, I don't want you to stop any of this. I don't need to be saved, not this time."

"And that's what you always say!" The other interrupted, rubbing his face. "Go on and live your life, Sammy! Forget about me and live your life, Sammy! You've known I would always go down guns blazing, Sammy! I'm not okay with you playing some freaking martyr again, just because you think this is the only way to…"

"It's enough, Sam!" He stepped forward and grabbed the other's arm. "You are not listening to me!"

Finally, Sam met his eyes.

"I'm not doing this to be some freaking martyr, I'm not taking the bitter pill for the greater good, and I am not giving myself up, rather the opposite."

"What are you talking about?" Sam whispered, obviously confused.

"I'm talking about how Chuck made it very clear to me that I didn't have to do it, and at first of course I didn't want to." Now he loosened his grip and placed his other hand on Sam's shoulder. "It's just like you said. After all this crap we've been through, we decided to follow our own guts, to do things our way, to not be pawns in somebody else's game, and even now I'm confident that we would have found a way, like we always have."

"Then why did you do this?"

"For two very simple reasons. For one, it's like you say, we have always won the fight in the end, sometimes even the battle, but what did it cost us, our friends, the world? Sometimes we only made it worse and sometimes even if not, the price was high, way too high. How many times have we died? How many times have we lost somebody? Just yesterday I brought your body home, because you sacrificed yourself for me, again, and I know, I would have done the same, just like Mom, just Dad, like Cass, like… everybody we know. When was the last time we won, without a single loss? You're right, we make our choices, doing our own thing, but still we pay, and I'm… I'm just not willing to do that anymore." He shook his head. "I want to do what's right, I want to help, but this once I want to take a path with no trapdoors, with no backlashes, with no more suffering. This is a way I can take to not only end some fight or even some battle. I can finally end this whole freaking war."

Sam's lower lip trembled as he moved his head in something between a nod and a headshaking.

"And what was the other reason?" He asked weakly.

"I really wanted to."

Suddenly Cass and Sam both looked up at him.

"What?"

Shrugging his shoulders Dean grinned slightly.

"Like I said, when he gave me the offer, I was not convinced. I saw no reason why I should take it, why I should become some freaking savior, because it's just like you said, we do things our own way." Now he was the one to look away. "But then he told me what I would have to do, what my job would be - saving people, hunting monsters, until there's nothing left to hunt, until the hunter's job is finally done – and I realized… I realized how much I want to do this."

Slowly he looked up again.

"He didn't give me a fancy long talk about how amazing it would be or anything, he just… he just said it and… and I just knew that this is it. I don't really care about this savior stuff to be honest, but… but doing this job, no, finishing this job, ending this ancient war, that has cost so many lives over the generations. Getting the job done our ancestors, our family, our friends, and so many more have given their lives and so much more for, this is what I really want, and if it helps humanity by the way, then great, awesome, but that's not my main reason for doing it. I just… I just really want to be there and finish this job for once and for all."

Sam stared at him.

"But, Dean, don't you realize what this means? It's…"

"I do, Sammy." He laughed quietly. "Believe me, I'm well aware, but you and I are different. I dragged you back into the hunter's life and I know that you always struggled with it, but I… I never really struggled with being a hunter, even when I had the chances to get out, I didn't. I only struggled with the losses, with the failures, with this desperation that no matter what I – what we – would do, it would all be in vain, that in the end we wouldn't make a difference."

"Dean," Cass whispered.

"But this is my chance. It's like Chuck said, being a hunter is engraved into my whole being. It's in our blood, it's how Dad brought me up, it's… it's all I am and all I want to be and now I'm giving the chance to be just that, but without having to sacrifice anything, without having to lose anybody, with the certainty that I will win in the end, that all our efforts, all fights we fought, all our sacrifices, the deeds of all the others, that none of that had been in vain, because all of this brought us here and because all of this will finally lead to the job being done, and the family business can finally close down."

He couldn't stop a few tears streaming down his face as he smiled at his younger brother.

"This is why I did it, Sammy, not for the world, not because of some low self-esteem or because I couldn't lose you. I did this just for myself, maybe this is the first time I really did something just for myself." He sniffed and rubbed his tears away. "So yeah, I don't really know what's going on with my soul and how this whole savior stuff really works, and maybe all of this is unfair to you, that might be – I'm sorry – but I had to do it and I hope that you can at least try to understand. The moment Chuck offered me this chance I was… I was happy."

Now Sam just stared at him, not saying a single word as his glassy eyes barely kept the tears at bay. But Cass wasn't as silent.

"But Dean, are you even aware of what you have done? What it will cost you?" He grumbled, walking next to Sam and looking at him, still shaking his head. "You might be able to end this war, but what you're sacrificing…"

"But that's just the thing, Cass," he interrupted and shrugged his shoulders again, "I'm not sacrificing anything. I'm not giving up anything, I'm just gaining some things – and like I said, I have no idea what or how exactly this all will work out, because it ain't like Chuck gave me some kind of introduction, night vision would be cool, but I somehow doubt that's part of the package – and I know I won't lose, I can feel it."

"You're giving up your humanity."

"No, I'm not," he disagreed, "that's what I'm trying to tell you. I'm still me. My soul may be changing or whatever or I don't know, but I'm not turning into something I'm not. I'm a hunter and this is what I will stay until I die."

"But you won't die!" He could see the exasperation, the desperation, the grief, all things an angel shouldn't feel, in Castiel's face. "You won't be able to die! Fighting the unearthly until there's nothing left? That will take…"

"Forever, I know." Dean nodded but then regarded his younger brother, who seemed to realize as well what this would mean. "It will take me probably forever, and I won't die until then, I can't, I know. But at some point I will be done and when the job's done I will finally rest, with this place being a better place than it's now."

Now Sam rubbed his face, erasing uncried tears.

"And I know there will be tough times, moments I will hate it, moments I will probably wish to die, because I'm human. It won't be easy, but it's not like the road so far has been easier, and it's the way I wanna take. I want this with all its shitty moments."

"And what about me?" Sam finally asked and looked at him, not trying anymore to hide his tears. "You don't want me to stop you – don't even know if I could – so what do you expect me to do? I can't just let you take this road on your own. I can't give you up to an eternity of fighting monsters with no…"

"I'm not going to hell, Sam – well, maybe I will, but it would be to hunt demons – not purgatory, not the Empty. It's not like I'm going to disappear, I will be here, on this earth, with you." He laughed softly. "I mean, we can talk, even I know how to facechat by now, I can come by visit. We can go on hunts together if you want to, but… but you don't have to."

With a smile he placed his hand on his brother's shoulder again.

"If you want to stay a hunter and come with me, that's good, that's how it's always used to be. But Sam, I want you to be truly happy and - I know you're a freaking great hunter – you don't have to anymore. You don't have to give everything up like we've always done, just for this life, just to do what's right."

"I will die," Sam whispered. "At some point I will die, like all humans, like everybody who knows you, and you will be all alone, and you want me to live a happy life until I die, go to heaven or whatever, while you stay down here, fighting all the evil of this world on your own? And you want me to be happy about it?"

Slowly Dean nodded and gave the other half a grin.

"Yes, because even though it will be lonely from time to time, I think I will enjoy hunting, knowing that I'm the one in charge and knowing that we will win this war in the long run."

Suddenly Castiel turned around and headed for the stairs.

"Cass!"

"I have to go!" He insisted. "I've already been too long gone from the heavens and I… I have to go."

Ignoring their calls, he just left the bunker, leaving both of them behind. For a moment they just stared at the door, before sighing simultaneously.

"Honestly, I get him," Sam mumbled. "I still don't really understand."

Dean nodded and ruffled through his hair.

"Believe me, I still don't get half of it either and it's just so typical Chuck to just drop the bomb and then disappear, not like he could have stayed and explained, right?" Then he sighed again. "Come on, Sam. You haven't had breakfast yet. Let's talk in the kitchen."

So that was what they did. Now with Cass gone the conversation was calmer as he tried to convince Sam that this was – for once – something good, something to be happy about! But it wasn't easy and it didn't get easier as he tried to explain to Sam that it wasn't just hunting but also being hunted.

They talked for hours, the best breakfast ever made by a big brother long forgotten, and with the passing time Dean got more and more certain of what he had to do and what he wanted to do, but he also became aware of what God had told him and what God had not told him. Now he understood why God had not explained a thing, simply because it was not necessary.

"So you're telling me, you're leaving by tomorrow?" Sam leaned against the fridge with folded arms. "That this savior stuff is awakening in you and that you…?"

"Cass said that whatever exactly is going on with my soul it will be done by tomorrow morning, so I guess by tomorrow morning they will start chasing me."

They shared a glance.

"But why…?"

"You know why," Dean answered. "and it will just be for the beginning, okay? Until I figure out how all this works and if warding is effective at all, okay?"

Sam still didn't seem convinced as he sighed and rubbed his neck.

"I don't know what to think," he admitted and shook his head. "Yesterday… just yesterday we were fighting earth with everybody we ever cared for being dead and now… now you got some freaking superpowers made by God that will kind of make you the ultimate hunter and I'm just… I'm just supposed to accept that? Tomorrow morning you will leave for who knows how long, until you figure all this stuff out and I'm… I'm what? You want me to go back to studying? To stop being a hunter and putting my life at risk and become a lawyer?"

He shrugged his shoulders and looked at Dean, now not as emotional as during the morning, but more exhausted, more sober.

Dean by now had started to clean up the leftovers of his breakfast.

"I don't know," he replied, putting tinfoil over the scrambled egg. "I can imagine how it must feel for you, been there, done that, but this here is different, Sam."

He paused and looked up.

"I wanted to take this on, you know? So I really don't want you to struggle with my decision, because I, for once, am actually very happy about how things turn out."

Sam scoffed silently.

"At least for me, Sam. Believe me, when I tell you that this is exactly what I want, what I wanted my whole life."

"Yeah, maybe that's you talking or maybe that's the savior stuff, making you think that this is what you want, living an almost eternal life in solitude and loneliness, hunting and killing monsters, while everybody you've ever known and who's ever loved you is long gone."

Dean sighed and started doing the dishes.

"I'm not going to fight you, Sam, not today, not after I just lost you yesterday. So believe me or not, but if you take some time, if you think about my life and all, I think you will agree with me, that this is really what I want to do." He threw the dishtowel at Sam, who came over to dry the dishes. "So no, this is actually not about me, Sam. Because for once I really know what I want to do with my life, I really know how the road ahead will look like, now that earth is not coming after us for at least some time. The question is, what do you wanna do?"

He looked at his younger brother.

"For me you don't have to do anything. I just want you to be happy and whether you be that while hunting or while becoming a lawyer – which honestly isn't a much safer job, seriously, people are crazy – or whatever, that's all good for me, Sam. I just want you to be able to choose, to choose what kind of life you wanna be living, because you know, I chose this, I chose to accept this freaking savior role." Then he couldn't help grinning. "And I really like that title: The ultimate Hunter. Sounds freaking awesome!"

For the first time since this morning Sam actually showed a subtle smile as he looked away.

"You're unbelievable," he mumbled. "Is this really okay? Is this really what you want?"

"Yeah."

The other nodded and regarded the pan in his hand silently, giving it way more care than it needed.

"Okay," he said after a moment and nodded again, before looking up. "I can't tell you what I want, Dean. Right now, I'm just overwhelmed by all of this, but… but if this is how you want it to be, if this is the life you want to choose, then… then okay. If you want to be that savior hunter" – "ultimate hunter" – "Whatever. If that's what you want to be and if that makes you happy then… then I'm in."

Then Sam scoffed slightly, but it sounded less irritated than before.

"Not that I really could do anything about it. After all, you didn't really give me a choice but decided this just on your own."

"Well, it wasn't like you were there and I could've asked you, you know." Dean rolled his eyes and folded his arms. "And it's not like you're actually that surprised, right?"

Sam sighed.

"No, I'm actually not," he agreed.

"Great, one convinced, one to go. Can't remember the last time I made Cass that angry, huh?"

"Well, can't blame him," Sam mumbled. "It's really a bad habit of yours to do those things on your own, even if it's this once something good, hopefully."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. I'm going to take a shower now, and then I will make sure Baby is fit for some longer journey."

"Isn't it smarter the other way around?"

He was glad when he finally left the kitchen. At least Sam was kind of coming around now. Still, it was difficult. Not as much the conversation as such. Dean had been honest the whole time, he wasn't happy about making Sam worry and Cass upset, but he was sure that this once he had chosen the right thing, for him just as well as for humanity.

The difficult part however was that he by now started to note the change that was happening with him or rather, he saw it. Just like the blueish light engulfing the angel and had blinded him it was now difficult for him to look at Sam as the radiating light of his soul seemed to shine brighter than the sun. Dean just hoped that this new thing would settle down quickly. And there was this one thing he had to agree on with Sam. Although he was really looking forward to this new yet familiar task, Sam was right, Dean as well worried that it would become a lonely road. Being on his own for a few weeks to figure things out didn't bother him too much, but in the long run… he shook his head and decided to focus on the next few hours; brooding about the future wouldn't do him any good.

As the hours passed Sam joined him in the garage, barely actually helping him, but they talked, differently than in the kitchen and with every passing minute it was easier for Dean to glance at his younger brother as he got used to his changing vision. If he was honest, he enjoyed that moment, it was like one of those calm moments they didn't have for months after earth had gone wild.

Sam told him that he had checked on the other hunters and that they were all doing well, they talked about this and that, and Sam made sure to set up some rules about them staying in contact and Dean didn't mind. The moment he had realized that he would not only be the hunter but also the hunted he had realized that at least for some time it would be better for him to separate from his little brother, and to his surprise, Sam didn't really seem to object to that decision any longer.

They also talked about Sam's future plans, building castles in the air and tearing them down laughing like they hadn't done in forever.

Night came but they didn't went to bed, Dean didn't even feel tired as they kept talking, sitting in the garage, drinking beer, and he was glad when his vision finally turned normal, but there was still this light glimmer, warm and strong, spreading from Sam's eyes that enlightened his facial features.

At some point he rose and got his stuff, realizing that it was harder than expected, although he knew that this wasn't like those times before, this wouldn't be some great farewell, some last moment. It was just him going on a hunt without Sam, like they had done so many times before, nothing special, nothing unusual, still things would change from now on.

As he threw his stuff into the trunk, Sam stepped beside him.

"Feels weird, right?" He asked and Dean nodded.

"I would really feel better, if…"

"You're not coming along, Sam, we talked about that."

"Yeah, I know, I know. It's just…" He sighed and regarded Dean with a little frown. "I understand why you won't want me to come along, but I would really prefer you're not trying to figure this out all on your own."

"Well," Dean shrugged his shoulders, "not much I can do about this, Sammy. Chuck threw a Chuck again and I have yet to meet another savior, who could give me the pep talk."

"We should call Cass."

"Sam," he groaned. "I'm not going over this again. If he's mad, he's mad, but I won't…"

He paused at the creaking of the door and few seconds later said angel entered the garage. Now he looked like Dean was used to, except for this bluish shimmer in his eyes, that was so intense that Dean got goosebumps just from looking at him.

"Talking of the devil," he mumbled, "didn't expect you to come back, thought you were mad at me for becoming the ultimate Hunter."

Sam next to him groaned like he was already regretting coming up with that name.

"I am," Cass agreed as he walked towards them, "I'm deeply troubled by your decision."

"Then why are you here? There's no talking me out of it, you know? Not that I could still back out. So what do you want? If you want to lecture me, just keep it to yourself, I don't wanna hear it and I have to leave."

"I'm not here to lecture you," the angel explained, "though you would deserve it, and I won't try to talk you out of it. The awakening of a savior is irrevocable, I can see that your process is almost complete, so there's nothing we could do about it anymore if God weren't to show up within the next ten minutes to stop your soul from changing for good."

"So, why are you here?" Dean asked again.

"I called him," Sam confessed. "After you left the kitchen."

"What?"

But before he could say something Cass stepped in front of him and looked at him earnestly.

"Dean," he said and as always hearing his name spoken by the angel it had something different about it, something urging, "I still stand by my word that you have made another reckless decision, no matter the reason. But…"

"I told you I don't want your lecture."

"But," the other continued, "Sam is right. You won't die for centuries, for millennia even, it will be a lonely journey for you when every human you've ever known is dead. And nobody really knows what kind of gift God has given you to take on your task. So it would be even more reckless to let you go on your own, as it certainly will be dangerous, especially in the beginning, before you can control your powers, if you even have some. But I am no mere human, I'm a warrior, have fought the unearthly evil long before you were born and unlike any human I as well will live for centuries, millennia even."

With an open mouth Dean stared at the others.

"You were right when you said that it would be too dangerous for me to come with you," Sam stated clearly, "so I asked Cass to go instead."

"But I…"

"You need somebody to keep you in check." Sam smiled. "You need somebody making sure you don't just live on burgers and pie and that you take a rest every once in a while. And I need the assurance that you won't be dealing on your own with whatever you have to deal with."

"But what about heaven?" Confused Dean stared at Castiel.

"Oh, everybody up there is thrilled," Cass commented, "we haven't had a savior since forever and it's considered a great honor for an angel to become a guardian of said savior. They all are encouraging me to take on that role – as I was the one to gripped you tight and raised you from perdition - and are certain that they will manage without me. So, may I accompany you?"

Dean wasn't really convinced about that statement, but he couldn't help this warmness filling his insides. The loneliness of eternity had indeed scared him but right here and right now he had to admit that his younger brother did look out for him and he had friends, who did the same. He wasn't alone in this, they all weren't.

"Okay," he nodded, barely able to fight his tears.

Half an hour later they were on the road, his thoughts still with his brother, who had actually left with them, because he had gotten a call from Jody about some vampire nest. He recalled how they had taken care of that nest the last time and was confident that Sam would be able to stand his ground just fine and maybe it would be good for his little brother to keep his mind busy for the next few days.

"This one, Dean?" Cass next to him lifted up a tape from the box in his lap.

"Yeah, that's perfect," he agreed while the angel put the box away.

"I'm kind of excited," Dean admitted, "and I wonder what kind of evil we will face first. What's your guess? I'm going for demon."

"A chimera?" Cass suggested.

"What? Why a freaking chimera? Those things are rare as hell."

"Because there's one behind us? Catching up."

One glance at the rear mirror confirmed the angel's words.

"What the hell," Dean mumbled, "ain't on the road for even half an hour and it's already starting."

"What do you want to do, Dean?"

"Well, what do you think?" He grinned at Cass. "Put on the music, I feel like starting this job with a little race. Pretty sure that even a chimera won't be able to keep up with Baby."

"But Dean… slow down!"

"Oh, no! We're just getting started!"