Note: I am SOOO sorry guys. This thing got away from me so bad. But I finished out the whole thing on LJ, an' I'm gonna finish it here. I'll prolly do it a few at a time to spare anyone that has me on Alert tho. =T Also, I JUST NOW noticed that FF.N totally ignored my scene breaks, so I'm really sorry to everyone that's been sloshing through this thing an' wondering what the hell's going on. I've fixed it now, an' I'll go back later an' edit the old chapters. Anyway, just a small thank you to everyone who's read, commented, faved this story or put it on Alert. It means a lot, since I'm always convinced writing's not as strong a point as drawing is for me. With that said, on with the show. :D

Chapter Seventeen: Am I Demon? ((Bonie 'Prince' Billy))

No one spoke.

Everyone just stared at Crowley, not sure what to do at that point. There was a hole in the dragon's side in the shape of the demon's fist. Crowley didn't look surprised.

Finally, Bobby broke the trance everyone seemed to be in. He stormed over, yanking the demon back by the back of his suit jacket. Crowley made no move to fight the guard, instead looking vaguely amused.

Sam stared at the damage done. He frowned. Instead of blood and guts that should be pouring out of a wound that size, there was nothing. He stepped closer, examining it. Bobby put out a hand to stop him, but he ignored it. The guard rolled his eyes. There really wasn't any use at this point.

"Um…" Chuck sounded nervous. Not hurt, just nervous.

The younger hunter stepped in closer, pushing back a scale to see the hole more clearly. It was hollow. Mostly. There were a few gears inside, turning the head and joints, but for the most part, it was just scales over a frame. It wasn't real.

Dean was beside him now, looking inside the fake- dragon as well. He caught sight of the gears, blinking up at the thing's head. "Chuck, are you a robot?"

Chuck sighed. "No Dean, I'm not a robot."

"Then what are you?" Sam frowned.

Crowley disappeared from his spot beside Bobby, reappearing a moment later with a human in tow. The new human yelped, obviously not expecting to be manhandled by a demon. He took a step back before he realized he was in the middle of the group.

He was nervous- looking, somewhat twitchy. He had reddish- brown hair that looked like he attempted to get it to stay down, but it always had a few ideas of its own. He was scruffy, as if he'd forgotten to shave for a few days, and wore glasses that seemed to perpetually slide down his face. He looked around the room at all of them, managing a tight smile.

"Um…hi?"

The voice was the same.

"Chuck?" Dean stared the shorter man down. This was the same guy as the dragon?

"Yeah?"

"…Are you wearing a bathrobe?"

Chuck looked down at the forest green terrycloth thrown on over his clothes. "It's comfortable."

"It's like… five in the evening."

"Bathrobes are not important at the moment," Castiel gave Dean a look.

Crowley chuckled. "Stylistic tendencies aside, I agree." He glanced at the human, as if appraising him. "What I'd like to know is why you felt the need to play dragon."

Chuck shrugged. "It's obvious, isn't it?" Sometimes Chuck forgot what actually WAS obvious, since most things were obvious for him. It kind of came with the territory of psychic visions. "No one's going to listen to a little human, even a psychic one. Especially not demons or angels."

Dean had to concede the point there. He knew what Chuck could do, and he was still having trouble taking the man seriously. He looked like a crazy homeless person. Alternatively, an alcoholic.

"Look," he continued, holding his hands up placatingly. "Let's just all go have something to eat, and I'll explain the whole thing, okay? It's a bit of a long story."

That seemed like the best idea Dean had heard all day.

They all filed to the dining room, keeping their questions to themselves until Chuck had a chance to tell them everything. Dinner was already waiting for them when they arrived, in the same spaces they'd sat in before. There were two new spaces set, one at the head of the table for Chuck, and one to the other side of Gabriel for Crowley.

Everyone took their seats, and in some cases- mostly Dean's- started eating. Chuck cleared his throat, poking at his mashed potatoes.

It was actually Becky that spoke first. She looked more subdued than anyone had seen her yet. She frowned. "Before you all start harping on him, you should know that he did this for a good reason. He's trying to help everyone."

She sounded proud of him. It only made Chuck squirm a bit in his seat. "Becky…"

"It was our idea just as much as his anyway."

"We will not cast judgment until hearing his side of the story," Castiel spoke up, hoping to calm her.

It seemed to work. She nodded, going back to her salad. If she stabbed a few pieces of lettuce harder than she should have, no one said anything.

Chuck cleared his throat, and everyone- aside from Becky and Bobby- looked expectantly at him.

"I came to Purgatory the same way you guys did," he began, "This girl came to me one night, and told me she was an angel. I'd seen it coming, of course, so I knew to believe her. She told me that I needed to go with her, because there was somewhere that was going to need my visions. I wasn't doing anything important at the time, really. I was barely making rent as it was. So I went with her. She brought me here."

Dean frowned over his onion rings. At least Chuck had been given a choice in coming here.

"When I got here, it was pretty chaotic. All four of the magic sides were fighting each other. Even Jo and Anna. And this city was right in the middle of it. The angel said that I could help this city. I thought she was out of her mind. I mean, I'm not exactly the type you'd trust to do much of anything, let alone help an entire city from two angels, one ex- angel and a pretty powerful demon. But I didn't need to fight. She said that my visions would help bring the people here that could stop the fighting. That was more my style."

Gabriel snorted, picking at a few strawberries on his waffles.

"So I tried to calm the people down. I figured I could at least tell them what was going on. It didn't work so well."

Bobby rolled his eyes. "That's a damned understatement. They took one look at him and went right on panicking."

Chuck shrugged, not bothering to deny it. "The only two people that stopped to listen were these two."

"I needed a good laugh," Bobby conceded.

"I just thought he was cute, trying to be all authoritative." Becky grinned.

"So the three of us came up with a plan. We needed something big. Something that people would stop and listen to. Something they thought might be powerful enough to help them. Bobby went through a lot of his old books and we decided that a dragon kinda fit the bill. So we made one."

"We let a few people in to see it, and they spread the word to the others," Bobby continued. "That way we didn't run the risk of someone getting too close and figuring it out. The special effects helped too. Lights and smoke and all that. It's more chemistry than magic."

"After awhile, Jo and Anna got wise to us. But they didn't really want to fight each other, so they helped us out. Made it more convincing with a little angel magic."

"And now it's got a giant hole through it that'll need to be fixed," Bobby shot a glare at Crowley, who only winked at him with a smirk.

Chuck looked around the table at them. "And that's pretty much it, I think. We kept this up until you all got here. When I got visions, I'd tell the people, and as a dragon, they believed me."

"So what now?" Sam sat back in his chair. "Any visions on what happens next?"

"He's sending us home, that's what," his brother countered. "Just because we know his story doesn't change that much."

"I did… have a vision about that," he spoke up. "But you're not gonna like it."

Green eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Why not?"

Chuck gnawed at his lip a bit before speaking. "I saw the spell being performed tomorrow, just like I said. But at the last second, you step out of it, Dean."

"Why the hell would I do that?"

"I'm not clear on that part…"

"Well that's helpful," the elder Winchester growled.

"It's not always straightforward."

Dean shook his head. "We're gonna do it anyway. I just won't step out, now that I know I'm supposed to."

"I don't really think it works like that," Becky made a face.

"Don't care. Me, Sam and Cas are getting out of here tomorrow."

Castiel looked at Gabriel sadly. The archangel just stared at his empty plate.

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Dean sighed. He had a feeling he was going to regret this.

He sat out in the hall beside the door to his room. They'd been given the same rooms as they'd had before, even down to the order that they lined the hall. Dean supposed that was because they had the right clothes in all the dressers.

It was getting late. They'd finished dinner, and as mad as Dean was at Chuck for jerking them around, he was at least grateful for feeding them. The food was good. They'd talked a bit more with Chuck, or at least Sam had. Dean had one thing on his mind, really, and that was making sure Sam and Castiel were safe. He regretted not finishing the job, but there was no way they were fighting the devil and winning. Even with an archangel and a demon on their side, they barely made it out alive the first time.

It went against his instincts though, leaving the job. He could hear his father yelling at him in the back of his head. He knew the people in this city would suffer because of him, and he wasn't proud of that. But he had people to look after. And at least half of the people in town were demons.

So it was his last night in Purgatory. He wasn't going to let Chuck's vision stop him. The future wasn't set in stone. All he had to do was change it, by making sure he didn't step out of the circle for any reason whatsoever. He was ready for it.

This part of things, however, he was less sure about.

It was his last night here, and Castiel's last night before returning to Heaven. And Dean knew that it was stupid of them to part on unfriendly terms. He was going to suck it up and apologize. The angel deserved that much, at least. Then they could spend their last night together being friends again, rather than avoiding each other. Castiel had barely said five words to Dean all day, and it pissed him off. It was entirely his own fault though; he was the one that told Castiel they were still fighting.

The angel stepped into the hallway. He paused at Sam's door. Rage built in the pit of Dean's stomach. Another reason he was going to clear things up with Castiel was because he'd been so angry that morning, seeing the angel curled up to his brother's side.

He really wasn't ready to admit that part yet, though.

Instead, he cleared his throat. "Hey, Cas…"

Castiel turned his head, glancing at him. "Yes?"

Dean swallowed thickly at the cold tone. "Can I talk to you for a second?"

The angel arched a brow. "Are we allowed to speak to one another now?"

He deserved that. "Uh, yeah. That's what I wanna talk to you about. But not in the hallway. Wanna come in my room?" Okay, it wasn't one of his smoothest moments, but he'd never tried to apologize to an angel before.

For a moment, he thought Castiel would refuse. He studied the hunter, almost calculating, debating whether or not to accept the invitation or just knock at Sam's door. Dean just stared at him. Finally, he conceded.

"Very well." he sighed, stepping away from the younger Winchester's door and towards Dean's own.

Dean almost relaxed, until he realized they were going to have to talk about this. And Dean's weak point was talking. Not smart- ass one- liners to fake out demons. That he was very good at, proud of it, in fact. But normal talking, about emotions and how he'd hurt the angel's feelings, that was another story.

He almost decided against it after all, but by then Castiel was already moving past him into the room, so it was too late. Dean shut the door behind them.

"Okay, look. We both said some stuff that we probably shouldn't have. So I'm sorry."

The angel sat on the edge of the bed, staring up at him. The staring thing would never stop being awkward, he swore. He leaned against the door.

"So you're not mad at me anymore…?"

"I… shit, Cas, I was just mad in general. Of course I don't blame you for sticking up for your brother, even if he does dumb stuff. That's what family's for, I know that. I was just upset, and no one else seemed to think it was a big deal. I shouldn't have taken it out on you."

Castiel hummed. And then he smirked. Dean's jaw dropped because the goddamned angel fucking SMIRKED.

"I'll forgive you on one condition."

He was definitely hanging out with Gabriel too much. That had to be it.

"What's that?"

"I get to use you as my… human pillow, I suppose is what you'd say."

Dean laughed at that. "Okay, fine. It's better than you trying to sleep with my brother anyway."

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When Dean woke up the next morning, Castiel was gone. He wasn't too concerned though. The angel had slept just fine; he had just gotten up earlier. Dean washed up and left the room, figuring that everyone would be in the dining room as they'd usually been when he woke up.

Sam was there, along with Bobby and Becky. He was reading again, which didn't surprise Dean in the slightest. It was Sammy, he was always reading things. Becky tried to talk to him every so often, and he muttered something in response, only half- listening. Bobby just sipped his coffee. Crowley wandered in a few minutes after Dean, looking disheveled and almost hung over as he slouched in his chair. He recalled then that most of the demons here were nocturnal. It probably took a lot to shift into waking up in the daylight.

Crowley was soon sipping at tea and looking a little more ready to deal with the world, and still there were no angels. Dean was on his second cup of coffee- black, of course- and he finally frowned, tossing an unused sugar packet at the demon.

"Where's your boyfriend and his brother?"

Crowley scowled at him, flicking the packet right back. "Having a heartfelt little chat. Miss him already?"

Dean almost threw something heavier than a sugar packet, like a chair, but Chuck popped his head in the doorway, smiling sheepishly.

"Spell's ready guys."

Sam and Dean looked at each other. This was it. Sam folded the edge of the page, marking it before shutting the book. He got up, waving at the three who remained sitting at the table.

"It's been… well, not really fun. But thanks all the same."

He left, and Dean went to follow. "See you guys."

Crowley grinned. "It was nice getting to kick your ass for awhile."

Dean had kept the spoon from his coffee for a reason. He tossed it at the demon before hurrying out after Sam. The brothers followed Chuck back up the large staircase to the main room. The dragon was gone from the wall. There was a circle drawn in red in the center of the marble floor. It was the same as the one the redhead had used to bring them there.

Castiel and Gabriel were already in the room, speaking quietly to themselves. Gabriel looked up at Dean and gave a knowing grin. The older hunter arched a brow in confusion. Weird archangels.

The Winchesters went to stand in the circle's center. Castiel said a few more things to his brother that the others couldn't hear, and then moved to join them. Gabriel stood beside Chuck, a sort of sad smile on his face.

Chuck muttered a few words in Latin, pushing his glasses up. The circle began to glow. Wind seemed to come from nowhere, blowing at their hair and coats. Dean shut his eyes, ready for the blinding light that came before they were transported.

And then something was pressed up against him. His eyes shot open in surprise in time to catch bright blue, and Castiel was far too close. The angel grabbed at his face with both hands, slamming their lips together hard enough to hurt. Dean made a noise into it, nearly falling back in shock if Castiel hadn't been holding onto him.

Sam and Chuck gaped at the sight. Gabriel only smirked.

The light got brighter and Castiel hadn't let him go yet. Then Sam let out a yell, falling out of the circle. Or not falling, exactly. He was pushed. He fell to his hands and knees on the cold floor, eyes wide. He had all of a moment to stare up at his brother before Lucifer flashed into existence beside him. The devil grabbed Sam by the arm, hard. Sam caught sight of what had him before looking back at Dean, horrified, and then they were both gone before Gabriel could tackle his brother. The archangel went skidding along the floor instead.

"Sam!"

Dean didn't even think as he stepped out of the circle to where his brother had been seconds ago. Castiel was right behind him. Once no one was left inside it, the circle ceased its glowing, the wind dying in an instant.

Dean had stepped out of the circle, just as Chuck said.

But more importantly, Sam was gone.