"Do CPR!"
"Is he alive?"
"Faster! Go faster!"
"Help! Help us please!"
Their voices, their cries played over and over in his head like a broken tape recorder. Michael didn't fight when they grabbed him by his arms and dragged him to the dungeon. Well actually it was just a shed that contained ropes and chains they called it the dungeon anyway. The hunters shoved Michael in and slammed the door behind him. Michael didn't bother trying to find a way out. He can already feel the warding weighing down on him. Even if he did escape the hunters would be suspicious. Then there would be a risk his identify would be exposed.
The archangel sat in the corner of the room. He hums a soft tune and closes his eyes. He tried to clear his mind. The panic outside kept nagging at the back of his mind. He remembered Sam screaming. He remembered Cas and Jack's horrified expressions. He remembered Caleb banging Quentin's chest while Jessica breathed air into the older hunter's lungs.
Michael knew he was a freak when Cas told him he was an empath but hearing those words from Quentin's mouth, seeing the worried and scared reactions from the hunters it upset Michael. The archangel was aware Sam was a psychic years ago. If this is what it's like to live as a psychic then Michael felt sorry for him. Sam had visions. Michael would take visions over emotions. This empath crap was really getting to him now. Sure it helped him fight the vampires but he wished he can have a break and not feel what others are feelings. It is making him paranoid and anxious. How can he understand others emotions when he is still trying to figure out his own.
A tear slips down his cheek. He messed up again. He hurt everyone again.
So much for making friends.
The archangel lies down and continues to hum the same, sad tune.
Sam, Cas and Jack waited outside the medical tent. While Sam and Cas looked worried Jack looked pissed.
"I told you we couldn't trust him."
"Jack not now." Cas says.
"What the Hell was that back there?" Sam asked.
"He tried to kill someone." Jack glared at him. "If I had my powers Quentin would be okay."
"Jack don't blame yourself." Cas places his hand on the former nephilim's shoulder. "This is not your fault."
"These people had faith in me to take down Raphael. They trusted you guys because of me. Quentin is right we have lied to them. We brought the most dangerous threat into their camp." Jack sighs. "Now we are all going to suffer."
"We're not." Cas looks at the younger Winchester. "Sam Michael was scared I don't think he did this intentionally."
Cas remembered Michael looking stressed when everyone was arguing. Suddenly the archangel sprung up from his seat and he charged at Quentin. The hunter received a punch before Michael tackled him to the ground. Michael strangled him and laughed as he watched Quentin struggle under his grip. He look like a mad man in front of everyone. When Cas pulled his alternative brother off the hunter Michael just stopped. He snapped out of what he was doing and the wild look he had in his eyes was gone. Castiel knew in the past this Michael enjoyed hurting others but this was different. The archangel looked terrified. The first thing he did when he realized what he done was turn to Castiel and said.
"I'm sorry."
It broke Cas seeing those familiar green eyes with so much fear in them. The hunters grabbed Michael. Cas was about to protest but Michael just shook his head at him and allowed the hunters to take him away.
Cas tried to reach out to his alternative brother but there was a block. Cas assumed there is warding in the shed. He tried to visit the archangel but the hunters wouldn't allow it. They forced Sam, Cas and Jack to wait outside until further instruction.
Jessica steps out of the tent. She sent Sam a glare. The look struck Sam like a stab to the heart. Seeing the face of the woman he loves looking at him with the look of betrayal and hurt made Sam wish he can just vanish. He didn't want to be here. He wanted to be with his brother in the Impala driving down the road like the good old times.
"How is he?" Jack asks.
"Alive." Jess answered. "Left with severe bruising. If you didn't stop your friend, Quentin would have been dead."
"Look we are really sorry."
"Sorry?" Jessica scoffed at the angel. "What sorry that my friend tried to kill one of your people." She glares at Cas. "Sorry is not gonna change anything. Quentin is an asshole but we don't kill our own people. That's the rules. If we kill our own we are just as bad as the angels."
"My brother. He...He's been through a lot." Sam says.
"That's your excuse."
"Quentin was pushing his buttons."
"He pushes Caleb's buttons but Caleb doesn't strangle him! What the Hell did Quentin mean about Dean being an empath."
"Dean is an empath." Sam lied. "Sometimes he really struggles to control his abilities especially when he is with big groups of people."
"We believe the situation back there really affected him. He was overwhelmed with everyone's emotions. It caused him to freak out." Cas continued. "He does have anger issues alongside this empath problem."
"It really sucks." Sam added.
"Very." Cas agreed.
Jessica blows out a sigh. She puts her hands on her hips.
"Everyone has been talking. They don't really want a empath here. "
"Why is that?" Sam asks .
"Because he is a um..."
"A freak." Sam said his tone harsh.
"We are uncomfortable with being around people who express um...powers."
"They are not bad people."
"I have to disagree. There has been cases of gifted people who have killed innocent lives. There was a woman who created fire and she burned people alive. Another case was a man who compelled people. He told them to kill themselves."
"Not all of them are bad. There are some who use their powers for good. Some people didn't even want to have psychic powers. They didn't want that type of life."
"Sam I get it. You are defending your brother. A empath is pretty serious. They can manipulate you. Amber told me that Dean played with her emotions. Made her think she fancied him. We don't what else he could do. We can't have him clouding our thoughts. We need Jack to take down Raphael. We are okay with Castiel Jack trusts him."
"Jack trusts Dean. Right Jack? "
Jack shifted uncomfortably. He swallows.
"I'm sorry Sam."
Jess raises her eyebrow at Sam. Sam clenched his fists. He couldn't be mad at Jack. Jack didn't trust Michael. The former nephilim had good reasons to not trust the archangel. However the anger refused to leave Sam. He felt offended by the hunters opinions on the gifted people. Sam was once a psychic. He didn't choose to be a psychic. He didn't want to be Azazel's special child. He was scared just like the other special children. They were seen as threats to society. They were seen as freaks that needed to be eliminated. Sam can understand people's fear towards psychics but he wished people gave psychics a chance so they can see psychics and other gifted people are human and not all of them are bad.
"Jessica." Sam didn't want to ask this but curiosity got the better of him. "If someone very close to you developed psychic abilities what would you do?"
At first Jessica looked puzzled by the question. She then furrows her eyebrows and she was debating with herself on how to answer this.
"Honestly." She sighs. "They go dark side I would kill them. Gotta protect the community."
"So you wouldn't accept them? Help them?"
"I...I can't the abilities they have gained it changes them. They wouldn't be the same. Best thing to do is put them out of their misery."
Sam didn't respond. He knew this is not his Jess but her answer made him think about his Jess. What would have happened if his Jess found out he was psychic? What would have happened if she found out he was given demon blood? Would his Jess fear him? Would she accept him? Would she leave him?
Sam clutched his chest. He felt his heart breaking into millions of pieces. Maybe it was a blessing she was dead so she didn't have to see the freak the monster he became.
The memories of his days on demon blood caused bile to rise in his throat. He turns and runs off leaving the others standing there.
"I'm...I'm sorry." Jess looked apologetic. "I didn't mean to upset him."
"It's okay." Cas sighed. "I'll talk to him."
She nods.
"Good. You guys get some rest. We got a big day tomorrow. I'm um...I'm gonna go and check on Quentin."
She turns away and goes back in the tent.
When Michael opened his eyes he knew he wasn't in the dungeon. For starters his clothes are gone. All he is wearing is a pair of shorts. He also knows he is not in the dungeon because the scenery is different. The sand, the ocean he is on the beach.
The archangel wraps his arms around himself suddenly feeling conscious about his body. He watched the waves crash and the water comes and soaks the sand. He let out a sigh as the water made contact with his skin. The water is cold but it felt nice. It soothed his mind. He could stand here all day.
Michael knew this wasn't real. The beaches in his world are gone. Even the sea is now an empty pit.
This means Michael is dreaming. The archangel groans. He thought he was past all this. He is an archangel again he shouldn't be dreaming.
Then he felt a presence. He knew he wasn't here alone. Fear rose in him. Is Dean here? He really did not want to speak to Dean. He wanted to avoid Dean as much as possible. Then he felt something wrap round him. He looks down and sees arms are around him.
"That's beautiful baby." A female voice praised him.
Michael turns round.
Mary Winchester is facing him. She wore a hat, a long summer gown and flip-flops. She had a smile on her face and her eyes sparkled.
Michael was not dreaming, he is living through a memory. Dean's memory.
Not again. Michael sighed heavily.
The archangel would take a day at the beach over forty years in Hell. So he played along knowing there is no point fighting this.
Mary goes down on her knees. Michael sits down next to her. He saw her looking at the sand castle. He guessed Dean must have made that, that's why she is praising him.
"Thank you." Michael replied unsure what else to say.
Mary turns to him with a beaming smile. It is weird seeing her like this. He couldn't believe this is the same woman he had locked up. The same woman he tortured. Michael moves away from her. The guilt consumes him. He hurt Sam and Dean's mom. How could Sam still be talking to him after what he done. Jack has seen the torture up close and personal. He has seen the pain Mary went through. No wonder Jack didn't want nothing to do with him.
Mary gently takes his arm and gets him to sit next to her again. She runs her fingers through his hair.
"Does your castle have a name?" She asked.
He shrugs. Mary pulls him closer and wraps her arm around him.
"How about Winchester Castle. Named after you."
He nods and leans into her touch. He didn't care about the sand castle. He was taking in her warmth and accepting the love he was receiving from her. He knew he did not deserve this but he missed the comfort. He missed Danneel's comfort. He still remembered when he woke up from the nightmare and she was there right by his side.
Mary kisses his head and strokes his cheek. Her eyes showed warmth. It made him feel safe and content.
Then the touch is gone and Michael falls face first into the sand. He sits up and spits the sand out. He touches his cheek where her hand was and he mourns the loss. Then the sound of splashing got his attention. He looks at the ocean. His eyes widen when he saw a hand sticking out of the water.
Michael reached the shore. He froze when he saw a face poking out of the water. Dean Winchester struggled and tried to stay on the surface. Few seconds later Dean is suddenly pulled down and the splashing stops.
Michael stared with disbelief. Dean is drowning. How? How is that possible?
Then it dawned on Michael. He is an archangel now. Rocky's Bar is gone. That means Dean has fallen back into the endless torture Michael put him through. That's why Michael hasn't heard from Dean. He thought it was to do with him being low on grace so he couldn't form a connection but actually all this time Dean has been drowning in his own mind.
Michael didn't even know!
The archangel charges into the water. He then starts swimming. He pushes through the waves and swims as fast as he can. He stops when he felt the hunter's presence below him. Michael dives into the water and swims towards the older Winchester.
Dean is kicking his legs about and fighting an invisible enemy. He cries out as he goes deeper into the Abyss. Michael reaches out and grabs Dean by his wrist. The hunter didn't protest. He instead went limp and his eyes close.
"I'm sorry." Michael pulls Dean up and puts his arm around him. "I got you now."
The archangel swims towards the surface bringing Dean along with him. As soon as Michael touched the surface there is a white light followed by a flash.
The last thing Michael heard was the waves before everything went silent.
Michael wakes up and finds himself back in the dungeon again. He glances at the window and sees the sunlight pouring in. The archangel has slept through the whole night. Michael stands up and almost jumps when he hears the door open.
Sam and Caleb are standing at the door with a tray of food. Michael didn't need food but the hunters thought he was human so he had to play along.
"Good morning Dean." Caleb nodded.
The greeting was blunt. Had no emotion to it at all.
"Hi." Michael greeted back.
"Are you okay?" Sam asks.
Michael ignored the question when his eyes fell on to the person who was behind the younger Winchester. Dean Winchester stood behind his brother. Michael's eyes met Dean's green ones. They both stared at each other. Both had the same confused expression.
Michael eyes widen.
"Dean."