Thanks for all the reviews. I'm so glad that everyone is still enjoying this series. I still remember when I posted the first story I thought it wouldn't do well due to the lack of Dean and Michael is not exactly a fan favorite. Then I thought the second story would be bad because they were back in the Apocalypse world again and I was worried it would be boring to you guys. *Wipes brow and sighs with relief* We're all good. I do love the reviews they do help me to continue. My favorite reviews are the ones about Michael. I'm so happy I turned a villain into such a loveable character :D
I'll stop now. Here's the chapter. :)
Michael paced up and down the room with his arms behind his back. It's been a few hours since his brother captured everyone and brought them back to the fortress.
The archangel had to admit it was weird being back in the fortress. He felt like it was such a long time ago since he ruled these lands.
Michael looks at the dark, grey sky. The archangel couldn't remember the last time the sky was blue in this world.
Now was not the time to have a trip down memory lane. Michael completed his mission. He got everyone into the fortress. Now all he needed to do was get the ingredients, open the rift and they will be back in paradise in no time. It sounded simple. It is simple Michael knows where the ingredients are he kept them in a very secure place where no one can find them not even Raphael.
Raphael is the biggest problem here. Michael could have fought him back at the camp but Raphael escaped death the last time they fought. Michael was not letting his little brother get away again.
Michael had to change tactics.
The archangel classed himself as an actor. He played Dean perfectly back in the actors world. He managed to fool everyone back at camp including his little brother. Sam and Cas were in with the plan. After Michael beat Sam up the younger Winchester gave him a wink followed by a small smile. Cas well Cas just knew his big brother Michael well.
Jack...What the Hell happened to him?
The former nephilim obviously didn't realize everyone was acting. He always feared Michael would go dark side again. Michael attacking the former nephilim's loved ones Jack did what he thought was right and saved his family. Michael understood Jack's reason for attacking him but how did he have his powers?
Michael knew his alternative nephew's powers would come back but he meant in years time not now. Castiel couldn't have supplied any grace his grace would immediately burn away as soon as it entered the kid's mouth.
The archangel thought back to the soul. A bit of the soul burned away after Jack used his powers. This led to the conclusion that Michael most feared Jack is using his soul for power.
He nervously plays with his fingers. His need to protect Jack increased. If Jack continued using his powers his soul will burn to nothing. The kid will be soulless. Memories of soulless Sam flash across his eyes. This increased the anxiety in the archangel.
Michael leans on the table. This is not good. Not good at all. Michael couldn't lose his alternative nephew. When they go back home he is going to sort this out. He will look for other options, other sources of power Jack could use that doesn't involve tapping into the soul. He would even bring the Devil back and drain him of his grace. It was Lucifer's fault Jack was in this mess.
"You would really do all that for Jack?"
Michael looks across the table. Dean is standing on the other side of the table. He looked puzzled. There is no anger just confusion.
"You're not real." Michael said with a nod.
He looks outside again.
"I am real." Dean glared. He folds his arms. "I was there back at the camp. You told Sam I was..."
"I know what this is. The guilt, I am seeing my regrets." He looks into Dean's green eyes. "Dean you are one of my biggest regrets. I hurt you and your family I would do anything to make this right. I would turn back the time. I would go back to Lucifer's death and instead of taking control." He smiles a little. "I could have helped you on hunts, train Jack, make peace with the hunters, save Heaven." His smile widens. "We could have been a team ."
He shakes his head knowing there is no point thinking about the past. What's done is done the past can't be changed. Michael can time travel but it was not wise to tamper with the timeline.
Dean looked more confused than before. He looks at Michael's guilty face.
"Michael."
"This has to stop. I hurt someone back at camp. People think I'm crazy. The empath thing I can deal with but these hallucinations no you need to go away. I need to have a clear head. I need to take everyone home, I need to help Jack, I will leave Dean and get another vessel. I will tell Dean how sorry I am." He goes up Dean's face. "You can make me suffer after the mission. Okay? Now go. Leave me alone." When Dean continued staring at him Michael presses his hand to his head and groans. "Go away."
"Listen you here you son of a bitch." Dean points to himself. "I am real. At first I was drowning then the next minute I'm here well not here its hard to explain. I'm not in control yet I can imagine myself out here talking to you. I feel like a ghost yet I'm not dead." He furrows his eyebrows. "I wanted to rip you apart but after the drowning I felt all your emotions, the guilt." He winced. "Its overwhelming. I don't forgive you. At the moment I feel restrained like I'm not allowed to hurt you." He leans on the wall and sighs. "I'm still trapped." He muttered to himself. The hunter raises his eyebrow as he thought back to Michael's confession. "Did you just say I am your biggest regret?"
Michael searches in his mind. He stops when he finds his vessel's soul. As Michael goes deeper he can feel Dean's soul. He can feel Dean everywhere. He clenched his jaw and looks at the hunter with wide eyes.
"It seems you are like a ghost. Your soul is attached to your body I'm still possessing you but it seems we can talk face to face." He frowns. "Which is impossible because there is no mirror."
"Are you doing this? Or am I?"
"I don't know. This happened after the drowning?"
"Yes."
After I rescued you hmm?
Michael folds his arms.
"I don't know how to say this Dean but since I got my powers back there has been some adjustments. Not in a good way. I got new abilities, I'm still able to have dreams and now it seems my connection to you has changed as well."
"Why?"
"I don't know. You said you can't hurt me?"
"No."
I must still have some control of him.
The archangel again had another look in his head. Dean wasn't pinned down or restrained. He is free he could try to take control.
What the Hell is going on?
That is a question Michael has constantly asked himself since he arrived in this world.
Michael grimaced as a another headache come on.
"Headache?" Dean frowned.
"All the time especially when I try to fight whatever this is." He gestures to his body. "I'm not the same. I have changed I don't know how or why? It's like I been pulled part and put back together wrong."
He pouts and looks at the floor.
Dean watched the confusion, worry and fear flash across Michael's face. Dean still couldn't believe this is the same archangel who drowned him and shoved him into a fake reality. Dean saw the trembling in the archangel's hands. He thought back to their last conversation when Michael was shaken up after experiencing Dean's memories. The hunter thought it was an act but now he wasn't so sure. Dean didn't forgive him he made that very clear but he felt he couldn't stay mad the archangel. Michael's confession still played over and over in his mind and being angry would do more harm than good. Dean wanted to go home he wanted his family safe if he had to work with the archangel to achieve that goal then Dean will do it without hesitation. This isn't the first time Dean worked with the enemy. He worked with Crowley and Rowena before they became the good guys and Dean worked with Lucifer a few times as well.
Dean sighs as he approaches the sulking archangel.
"Maybe you have changed for a reason. Maybe you are not supposed to fight it. Maybe you have to embrace it...for good."
Michael looks at the hunter with surprise. Dean looks away feeling awkward. The archangel continued staring at the hunter until suddenly there is a bang.
Then the door opens.