Special thanks to Ormus45 for the Samsica idea here! :D
(Aprox. date is September 2017)
Chapter 18
The intended week away was almost gone, and Sam found himself already heading back to the bunker, tired and with a very bereaved fiancée lying down in the backseat of Castiel's Lincoln Continental. Nothing had gone as expected in West Virginia.
For starters, Jessica's childhood home was no more, and in its place now stood an office block. The whole neighbourhood had been re-urbanized, which had forced Sam to don his FBI suit and ask around like he would do during a case, because obviously Jessica couldn't do it herself if people believed she was dead. But the answers had been devastating: her parents had already passed away, both of them. It wasn't even something new. It had happened six years ago, long before she herself had been resurrected.
Mother died of a sudden heart attack, the report said; swift and painless death. Father followed her the very next day, a heart too broken to keep going on with no wife and no daughter to love anymore. Sam and Jessica had visited their graves, since her parents had been buried together. Crying, she had said her farewell to them, but hadn't uttered a single word more since then.
"Precious," Sam called her softly, careful of the road. "Please, talk to me. I know how much it hurts, I've lived with this all my life, but keeping it inside will do you no good."
Jessica only sobbed, and for a moment it seemed like she wasn't going to answer.
"I miss them, Sam. So much. It probably sounds stupid, since they departed long ago... since I departed long ago. But to me, it feels like it has just happened today."
"It's not stupid," he reassured her. "Losing someone you loved is always painful, no matter how much time passes."
As if he wouldn't know.
The sunset dyed the road golden, but dark clouds on the horizon were announcing an early rain. The car was silent again, except for the disconsolate sniffles that Jessica was trying to suffocate with little to none success. Sam didn't know what to do to bring some kind of comfort to his beloved, but as the night closed over them and rain started to fall, a road sign pointing to the next fork gave him an idea.
"Hey, precious. We're going to take a little detour, ok? Since we're crossing Illinois, there's something I want to show you."
The woman didn't respond, so Sam did as he said. A couple of hours later, he stopped the car in front of the iron gates of Greenville Cemetery. Getting out, he opened the trunk and thanked Castiel for keeping at least some basic tools there, like salt and holy oil... and yes, flashlights. Too bad there wasn't an umbrella too.
"Jess, wake up," he called, shaking her gently. "We've arrived. Please, come out. It's still raining, but not as much as before. Be careful not to slip."
Stretching out her sore muscles for being coped in the car for several hours, Jessica took one of the flashlights that Sam was offering her and followed him.
"Are you sure we can be here at his hour?" she asked him, dubious.
"No, I don't really think we should. But we're already here anyway."
Holding her hand, Sam guided her through the evidently known graveyard until stopping in front of a particular tombstone.
Mary Winchester
1954-1983
In loving memory
"Jess, I'd like to introduce you to my mum." Sam's small smile dropped almost instantly. "It's something I always wanted to do, but sadly she's not here. She isn't anywhere. And I mean there's nothing of her buried down here. This plaque is only commemorative."
The lump in his throat was making it hard to speak, but the hunter continued, squeezing Jessica's hand.
"My mother, she died in a fire when I was only six months. There was nothing left of her to bury. I never met her, I don't have a single memory of us together. Dean, and very occasionally Dad, told me stories about her: the meals she cooked or the ones she bought, the Beatles song she sang to us as a lullaby, her hobbies, her smile... but not even one of those memories are mine. I have nothing."
Jessica, quiet as she was listening, let go of his hand and instead hugged him tightly. Sam responded to the embrace, but kept talking.
"I know... likely this isn't much a solace, but you had two decades with your parents, Jess. Two decades worth of memories and love. And even now, if you need it, you can pay your respects to their graves. But this one here? It's just a stone."
"I thought that you had met her in the past?" she asked in confusion.
"Yeah, but that was... wasn't really my mother. Not yet. She was a tender, loving housewife version of a Mary Winchester that had just found out she was pregnant with my brother. She wasn't Mum."
The couple stood there for a while, embracing under the light rain and seeking peace in each other's presence, until they felt ready to leave and continue their way back to the bunker. This time, Jessica sat once again beside Sam in the front seat.
"I love you, Sam," she said softly. "And I don't want to lie to you. This supernatural life of yours, it scares me. I repeat to myself that I have to be supportive, but I don't know if eventually I'll become a nuisance. If that ever happens... please, you need to tell me."
"Jess, no!" Sam whispered, raising a hand to cup tenderly her cheek. "You would never be a nuisance to me. And this... this is my life, which I want to share with you, but it doesn't mean you have to do the same. We went looking for your parents because you want to live your life too, don't you? We'll find you a college, you'll finish your History major, find a legit job... We can marry some day. We can have that life together, precious. I'm sorry about your parents, but you are still alive! Don't throw that away, please."
"What if one of the things that you hunt finds me? I don't want to be used as bait to get to you."
"That's something that will always happen, no matter what. Either you, or someone else. At least you knew how to handle the Devil!" Sam laughed at the memory. "What was that, by the way?"
"Cas taught me a few movements whenever you and Dean left us in the bunker. Not enough to actually fight, but at least the minimum to defend myself if necessary. I'm still learning, but he said that looking meek and fragile could also be used to my advantage, should the situation arise."
"So you see? You're not a huntress but you're already amazing, precious." Sam smiled before kissing her. "And it just occurred to me, but I think you would be a fantastic Woman of Letters. No blood, only knowledge."
Jessica kissed him back, considering the idea. A Woman of Letters? Yes, maybe that was something she could get accustomed to.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The moment Dean and Castiel stepped back into the bunker, groceries bags in their hands, the angel knew something was wrong. There was a foreign presence there with them, most likely uninvited... or better said, two presences.
"Dean," he barely murmured, dropping the bags on the staircase and pulling out his blade.
No further warning was needed. The hunter dropped his bags too and drew out his gun.
"What is it, Cas?" he asked quietly, going downstairs.
"I am not sure. It does not possess a malevolent aura, but it is strong. Better to keep on guard."
"Now this reminds me, did we ever put back all the demon wards after Crowley?"
"No, I do not think we did."
"Oh, shit."
The mystery got solved by itself quite fast, though. The moment they crossed the threshold to the library, several people (more than expected) greeted them. The younger Winchester and his fiancée, plus the nephilim boy, was normal; the lady and the girl, though, was not.
"What the hell?" Dean said, not actually sure if he should put away his gun or not.
"Yeah, same here," Sam nodded, pinching his nose in frustration. "Jess and I came back only an hour ago, and they were already here. Leisurely chatting with Jack."
"Long time no see, Winchester the Older," the goddess spoke. "But I cannot say it's a pleasure, regretfully."
"Jack!" Castiel exclaimed, going to his son, concern etched in his features. "Are you alright?"
"I am," he answered cheerfully. "Kaia is visiting me. Friends go to each other's homes, right? To talk and play? We were doing that."
"Yeah, right," Dean scoffed at that, focusing on the Indian. "What are you doing here, Kali? Playing your part as a chaperone, making sure the kids behave?"
The woman didn't respond to the obvious taunt, but stood up from her chair and walked slowly to the hunter, her every step demanding respect. Even with her short stature, it was still difficult for Dean not to recoil under her gaze.
"What have you done now, Winchesters?" she spoke lowly, fury and contempt barely veiled in her voice. "Once again you're breaking havoc wherever you go. Is there no limit for your imprudence?"
"Circumstances happened, Kali," Sam jolted to his brother's aid, which only earned him a derisive glance from the goddess. "I know it probably doesn't mean much to you, but we're trying to save the world. Again."
"Mean much? That means everything, mortal. That is actually the only thing keeping me from annihilating you two right here and now. Because, try as you might, I cannot ignore the fact that if the world is once more in need of saving, is because you have broken it. Just like a child who can't take care of his toys."
"Well, what do you want us to say?" Dean finally reacted. "We're sorry? Because we truly are, but it's not like we can avoid shit to happen. We try to do something good, and something bad happens right after. We're just humans, we're not perfect, ok? So yeah, you could cut us some slack too, princess."
If looks could kill (and Dean was pretty sure Kali's could), he would have been roasted on the spot. Fortunately, the goddess' attention moved to the dreamwalker.
"Are you sure you want to stay here, child?"
"Wait, what?!" Sam exclaimed. "What do you mean, 'stay here'? Why?"
"Kaia is being chased down by Legion," Jack explained. "She didn't want to endanger Jody or the other girls under her care. So she's staying with us now."
"And who the hell decided that?" Dean yelled. "You?"
Jack's happy demeanour fell, hearing the chastising tone in the hunter's voice. Had he done something wrong? He merely wanted to help and protect people.
"Kaia is my friend," he whispered, cowed. "It's only thanks to her that I was able to locate Jess in the other world. She killed herself trying to rescue you and Sam from the Bad Place. She left Jody's house to protect them. Shouldn't I help her, now that she's the one in trouble? You, Sam and Castiel always try to protect each other, because you're friends and that's what friends do. Please?"
Castiel smiled proudly, but didn't say anything. Sam and Jess kept quiet too, but it was obvious what they thought. Dean sighed in defeat, running a hand through his hair.
"You're right, kid. We don't abandon our friends when they need us. I guess it's settled then that the girl is staying in the bunker," he admitted, but immediately added. "But she's getting her own room. No funny business, got it, Romeo?"
The nephilim frowned in confusion in a very Cas-like manner, but didn't ask about the strange order.
"But Kaia, if you want to be here with us, we need to know about you," Sam told the girl. "What are you, where you come from, what you can and cannot do."
"She's an avatar," Kali answered for her, since she didn't seem willing to it. "She's the physical manifestation of a deity. There have been some in my pantheon, but Kaia isn't one of ours. Compared to me, for setting an example, she would be a lesser goddess."
Taking into account how many people were staring at her astonished, Kaia guessed there was no more escaping from telling her story.
"I'm not from this Earth, that's true. I'm from a parallel one. Back at home (and I meant home, not what you call the Bad Place) there were more like me. When we reach maturity, we must face a trial to prove our worth if we want to join the higher circle of our society. I accepted mine, and was exiled to an alternate reality in my world, this the Bad Place. But... I failed." Kaia's voice broke a little, her face contorted in shame. "I couldn't defeat the guardian, the giant. It broke my essence in pieces and sent them across different worlds, condemning me to no escape and no possible death, unless letting myself being devoured by it. I've waited for centuries until all my pieces found their way back to me."
"If you're whole again, why don't you go back?" Jess inquired.
"Because I can't," Kaia murmured, sad. "I may have recovered all my wandering pieces, but the fact that I failed my trial remains. If I went home, they would simply exile me again. There's no place for me there, not anymore."
"You don't have to," Jack attempted to cheer her up. "You're my friend now. You can stay with me. Or you could live with Jody, she seemed to like you."
The youngsters then engaged in their own conversation, not of interest for the grown-ups, who took theirs to the other corner of the library.
"Well, I guess this means we have one less problem to take care of now," Sam opined. "This Kaia is not our enemy."
"What other problems are you drowning in?" Kali asked, helping herself to a shot from the glass decanter that was next to her.
"Besides Kaia? There's the shedim, AltMichael wanting to invade us, and Heaven disintegrating due to the lack of angels."
"The WHAT?!" the goddess shrieked very uncharacteristically. "What have you just said?"
"Yeah, didn't you know?" Dean confirmed nonchalantly, drinking a shot too. "Angels are about to going extinct, and if that happens, all the souls up there will fall back to Earth."
"A brother of mine, the angel Balthazar, is currently searching for hidden vaults that belonged to Lucifer and the last King of Hell," Castiel added. "We hope to find something useful in them to prevent such a catastrophe, but the statistics of finding a source of power great enough for it are not favourable."
Kali's eyes darted around, like thinking intensely of something. Apparently having reached a conclusion, she finished her drink in one sip and straightened her posture.
"For better or worse, this won't be the last time we meet. Be sure of that."
And in a burst of flames, she was gone.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Balthazar stood in front of the desk, nervous and barely holding himself from fidgeting under the tough gaze of the current boss in Heaven. But what could he do? In tense moments like this, he usually would spurt some kind of joke in an attempt to relax the mood, but he didn't dare now. He absolutely didn't dare, not with a figurative bullseye painted on his back.
"Despite all my reassurances, you still seem to expect someone putting you in chains any moment now," Naomi observed with a bit of satisfaction, fingers intertwined in a professional manner.
"Rogue as I am, that doesn't make me an idiot," Balthazar retorted. "I'm well aware that, wasn't the state of Heaven this dire, you would imprison me without batting an eye."
"Both of your statements are true," Naomi sighed, leaning in her chair. "The situation is beyond awful, which is forcing us to take extreme measures to deal with it. Apparently forgiving rogue angels is one of them, since we can't afford to lose even one more of us. That's why, once again, I promise that no harm will be done to you. Not on my command, at least. And in fact... I'm grateful that you have decided to collaborate with us, Balthazar."
"Heaven is still my home," he said, a bit more calmed now. "Angels are still my siblings. And of course, to protect Earth and humankind was God's last wish."
"Yes. I wonder when we forgot that," Naomi accepted, her eyes glossing just for a second. "But we're on our way to amend past mistakes, which is the reason I've asked you to come. Some new instructions have been given to us, very important ones, and we're following them to the best of our ability. And, since I guess that I can't retain you here to help because you want to work with Castiel, there's a little task for you."
The silver-eyed angel breathed deeply, and nodded. Whatever it was that Naomi intended him to do, he only hoped not to regret it later.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"It's been a long time since the food in my plate was actually dead."
This had been the first comment that the dreamwalker, wearing some of Jessica's clothes, spoke when Dean put his famous homemade burger under her nose.
"Yeah, I can relate. Your lizards didn't taste all that good."
"Please, you two make the rest of us a favour and shut up," Sam grimaced.
Sitting at the table, Team Free Will 2.0 plus avatar girl were about to enjoy their first meal together, but before they could sink their teeth into the hamburgers, all the lights in the kitchen (as well as in the rest of bunker) started flickering like in a storm.
"Sammy, did you forget to pay the electricity bill again?"
The younger hunter bitchfaced, not thinking this was the time for smartass jokes, but he got up either way and headed to the library, intending to take one of the weapons that decorated the room in case they needed to defend themselves. The rest of the people followed him, but when they arrived, they found Balthazar already waiting there for them.
"Hello, darlings. Missed me? Don't feel shy in admitting it."
"Thaz, didn't your mother teach you not to play with the lightbulbs?" Dean grunted, looking around and wondering how many of the lamps would need maintenance.
"I see that you've got some new company since my last visit," the rogue angel commented, ignoring the human and staring at Kaia. "Well then, I hope you don't mind me bringing another guest to the party, because it's not like I can take him back now."
"Is this another angel?" Kaia asked, suspicious. "He doesn't look like Castiel. His wings aren't burnt and broken."
"Hey, watch your mouth, young lady," Dean warned her.
"Balthazar, what do you mean?" Castiel spoke, trying not to feel hurt by the insensitive observation. "Have you find the person whose belong the other soul that came with Donatello, perhaps? The one you have taken into custody?"
"No such luck yet, sorry. But you see, the thing is..." Balthazar became serious, all of his usual playfulness gone. "I was called upstairs. And I didn't want to go, but dammit, they wouldn't leave me alone! I had angel radio tuned into my brain 24h for days! So in the end, I answered the call because Naomi promised me she only wanted to talk, nothing else. And when I met with her, I was given a mission."
The mood in the room abruptly turned cold. Not really strange, since none of the present people had a good memory of anything related to 'missions'.
"What kind of mission?" Castiel asked, tense.
"I don't really know what's happening in Heaven, Cas," Balthazar sighed, "but I was tasked to escort a very important someone down here. And thus, here he is."
And then Balthazar, who hadn't moved an inch since his arrival, turned around and showed everyone the person that stood behind him. Black hair, intelligent eyes, friendly smile and a badass attitude that he had learned from the Winchesters.
"Hey, guys! I bet you thought that you had seen the last of me."
"K-kevin?" Sam whispered, being the first to react.
He couldn't believe it. Was it possible? Was the young Prophet of the Lord actually right in front of them? A prophet that, mind you, had been sent to Heaven by said Lord himself? But yes, it was truly him. Your one-and-only Kevin Tran, smiling and carrying a backpack by the strap on his right shoulder.
"Good to see you again, Sam," he spoke sincerely. "And Dean, and Castiel. And whoever you others are, nice to meet you too."
"Kev, how... how are you here? Why?" Dean asked, happy but also befuddled.
"As interesting as those two little questions are, I'm sorry to disappoint, but I don't have the answers. However I'll tell you this: Heaven is currently under great remodelling. And when I say great, I mean massive. I've met Donatello, you know."
This caused a new wave of confusion among all the people who actually understood the ongoing conversation (meaning everyone except Kaia).
"I liked him, he was wise and kind. And I'm not sure what happened, but everything began to change after he arrived in Heaven. I actually think you might know more about this than me."
"You met the other prophet?" Castiel repeated, bewildered. "That is certainly unusual. Did any of you exit from your respective heavens?"
"No, not really like that. As I was telling you, Heaven is being remodelled. Aware souls are no longer confined to their own heavens. In the future, several clouds will be used as meeting places of sorts for the people intended to, or at least that's the plan I know of. For the time being, Ash's heaven Roadhouse is already acting like one for hunters and some other people who died aware of the supernatural. There is where I met Donatello."
A sharp gasp escaped from Dean's throat.
"You met Ash in the Roadhouse?" he mumbled, stunned, remembering when he and Sam had visited him upstairs.
"Yes. And not only him," Kevin grinned, sympathetic. "I met Pamela, Missouri, Rufus, Ellen and Jo... and a few others. But more importantly, I also got to know one bubbly redhead named Charlie, who threatened me into delivering a message from her to you, Dean."
Ash. Pamela. Missouri. Rufus. Jo and Ellen. And Charlie... dammit, Charlie. So many friends, family, they have lost along the way.
"What's the message?"
"I warn you, it might not be to your liking. Are you sure you want to receive it?"
Charlie had died for them, like many others. She had died because of them. Whatever spiteful words the redhead wanted to throw at his face, Dean was going to take them.
"Yeah, buddy. Go ahead."
Kevin walked slowly to the hunter, still not convinced, but seeing the older Winchester readying himself to listen to the message, he decided to do what had been asked of him. And so, fisting his hand, the prophet punched him with all his strength, making Dean retreat a couple of steps.
"This isn't from me, I promise," Kevin said, clenching and unclenching his aching hand. "But Charlie said, and I quote, 'Don't be an idiot and stop blaming yourself for my death. I chose it because I love you, guys'. End of the message."
Dean looked at the prophet surprised, massaging his attacked jaw, but far from being angry, he laughed. He actually laughed. Fuck, that had been so Charlie! And apparently Sam and Castiel were of the same opinion, since they joined him in his laugh.
"Hey, wait a moment. You punched me."
"Because that was the message and you wanted to take it. Don't complain to me."
"No, I mean... Kev, you physically punched me," Dean clarified. "You're not a ghost, you're... solid?"
"Very much, I was surprised too. But it looks like I'm going to be around for a while, so... here I am, in flesh and blood."
"Dammit, kid, come here!"
Before the prophet could even react, he was pulled into a strong hug by the hunter, followed by another from Sam and even Castiel. Then, introductions were made among the rest of the people.
"Welcome back, Kevin. For as long as you can stay," Sam smiled, patting the boy's back. "By the way, what's in your backpack?"
"Oh, yes. This is the reason I think I'm actually here for," Kevin said, placing it on the table and taking something out. "Naomi lent it to me in case you needed it."
For who knew what time again, the Winchester brothers and their angel were left speechless once more, staring at the item in the prophet's hands: wondrous, powerful and in one piece as if never been broken, was the Angel Tablet.
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