Replies to reviews
Divineoverseer: Thank you for the review
vrskaandrea: Thank you for the review
Michael smiles sadly at the young hunter. It surprised him how much he has changed. He was not the sorry type to begin with and now here he is wanting to face the past and apologize for his actions. He wanted to do this he wanted Claire to see that Castiel is not to blame. Claire has forgiven Castiel and let it go but Michael felt he need to say it. Get it off his chest. He knew he was going to get a headache later from one pissed off Winchester.
Sorry Dean. He thought.
Hopefully after this the headache will be worth it.
"Claire...I'm sorry."
Claire frowns.
"Sorry for what?"
"For everything. For making you what you are today."
"I don't understand what you are talking about."
"Claire it was me. I gave out the order. I told Castiel to come down to earth. Its my fault that your life got taken away from you."
Claire blinked. She wasn't expecting that. Michael can see by her face it has hit a nerve.
"I'm sorry." He repeated. "Castiel and I promised we would protect you and your mother. That promise was broken. I was...away, Castiel has gone through a lot and Heaven has changed. Heaven is not as stable as it used to be."
"It was you?"
"I know I could have picked any angel but I chose Castiel."
"You could have picked any?"
Claire's eye twitches.
Michael raises his hand.
"Hear me out."
"Why did you pick Castiel? Why not anyone else? My dad lost his life because of you."
"Just hear me out. Please." He sighs. "Castiel is a good soldier. He loves humanity. I knew he was the perfect choice to rescue Dean from Hell."
"What was wrong with your other angel buddies? Why couldn't you rescue Dean yourself."
" I did not have a vessel to come down to earth. Almost everyone knows Dean is my true vessel. I did not want to come down, posses someone, put their life at risk because they can't hold me and I was running Heaven I couldn't be there for Dean. At least Castiel he is loyal I had faith in him to do the mission no questions asked. I had more faith in him than the other angels. I'll be honest I do not regret choosing Castiel he is good to the Winchesters. If I did rescue Dean, I think things would have definitely turned out differently." He shakes his head. "And not in a good way."
The archangel thinks how his and Dean's relationship could have been different if he was the one who brought Dean back. How much their bond could have progressed from being an archangel and his vessel to possibly becoming friends. He wonders if Dean would have trusted him and said yes when the time came. The two Winchesters in their true vessels fighting each other until one took their last breath.
It would turn out like the other world. Michael thought. Destruction.
Michael has learnt so much through Dean. If he did rescue Dean and spent time with him maybe the archangel's views would have changed. Castiel snapped out of it. Stopped following orders, gained free will and started making his own choices and became more human by the day. Maybe just maybe Michael could have gone on that very path his soldier took.
"I was scared." Claire says anger rising in her voice. "Dad scared me. He wasn't himself when Castiel came along. Do you have an idea how it felt when the angel wearing your dad's face turns around and says he is not your father and just leaves without saying goodbye. Do you have any idea how it feels not knowing where your dad is and feeling like you are not wanted. Do you..."
Claire tries to push the emotions down that started to build up inside her.
"Castiel was wrong. He should have not departed like that but Castiel lacked human understanding back then all that mattered to him was the mission he wasn't thinking of others. Again my fault. I ordered him to focus on the mission and only the mission. I neglected father's other creations causing hurt and pain for them you and your mother included. Your father loved you. He sacrificed himself for you. Your life has not been great but if Castiel continued using you as a vessel than you would have had no life at all and Castiel wouldn't be the angel he is today. I seen your father."
Claire's eyes widen.
"You have?"
"Shortly after his soul went to Heaven. I thanked him for what he did."
Flashback.
One minute Jimmy was bleeding out begging Castiel to take him then the next minute Jimmy is standing in his house. In the kitchen. He frowns and looks round.
"Castiel." He swallows nervously. "Claire. Amelia."
"Jimmy." A soft yet familiar voice spoke.
Jimmy turns round. His wife looking beautiful as ever is at the counter chopping the vegetables. Her eyes sparkle as she looks at him. Her smile makes Jimmy smile. She lights up the room with the smile that made Jimmy fall in love with her in the first place.
He choked a sob feeling the tears coming on. He approaches his wife and hugs her keeping her close to his chest afraid to let go in case he lost her again. Amelia became tense in his arms and a soft sigh escapes her lips.
"I'm not Amelia."
Jimmy let's go frowning at those words. Then her eyes glow aqua blue. Jimmy backs away with a mixture of shock and fear.
"Do not fear me." The thing wearing his wife's face ensures him. "You are in a better place. You are safe." The glow fades from the eyes returning to normal. "I am Michael."
"You are an angel?" Jimmy asks remembering that familiar glow from Castiel's eyes.
"More than an angel. I am the Archangel Michael."
Jimmy's eyes widen.
"No way." He gasped. He is standing here talking to the most famous archangel. The ultimate warrior of Heaven. He then frowns "Are you possessing my wife?"
"No. Jimmy you are in Heaven. Castiel took your body and sent your soul to us."
"Claire..."
Michael smiles.
"She's fine."
Jimmy sighs with relief.
"Oh thank goodness."
"What you did was brave. Saying yes, being a vessel to an angel, sacrificing yourself for your daughter. Thank you Jimmy."
"I would do anything for her. She's my daughter. You would do anything to save your kids."
"Of course." Michael nodded. "I am thanking you because you took Claire out of something that could have damaged her. As the protector of children watching Castiel using a young child as a vessel did indeed worry me. No child should be a vessel. They have a life ahead of them, a future they do not deserve to have that taken away from them. You and other adults already lived your life. Got a job, got married, had children you already had the experience. I, my brothers and sisters are very grateful that you and others like you are willing to do something for the greater good. For God. God would be proud of you Jimmy. You never lost faith and with your help we are one step to closer to achieving a mission that will wipe the ultimate evil from this world."
"What is that? Castiel saved Dean but why? What is happening for both Heaven and Hell to be involved?"
"Dean has a purpose. A role. You are a vessel for Castiel because of your bloodline well the Winchesters bloodline...Dean he is my vessel. My Sword." Jimmy looks at the archangel with disbelief. "The events in the Bible will soon unfold." Michael continued.
"What events?"
"That is something you don't need to worry about. Your wife and daughter will be safe. I will order the angels to watch over them. Update me." Jimmy looked worried. "Jimmy you trust me?"
"Y...Yes."
I promise you. Your child is going to have a bright future. You will be so proud of her."
"I will always be proud of her."
Michael smiles.
"I know."
"I promised him." Michael spoke. "I ensured him you and your mother were going to be safe."
Michael and Claire now sat on the ground. Claire watched with curiosity. Its been so long since she spoke about her father so this conversation hit her hard.
A look of guilt shows on Michael's face.
"I failed. I was too focused on the Apocalypse I ignored everything else around me. When I fell into the cage the angels stopped following my orders. Castiel like I said before he was going through a lot. Wars, , Metatron, Heaven, the Darkness, Lucifer..." He shakes his head. "It goes on. He didn't realize you were not in a stable home and when he found out it did indeed hurt him. It made him feel guilty. If I knew and wasn't in the cage I would have helped you Claire. I promised your father. He was a good man and his family did not deserve none of this. As the protector of children I failed to protect you and I am sorry. Sorry about your father, your mother."
Tears stream down the girl's face. She throws her arms around the archangel and sobs into his chest. Michael looks down feeling surprised. Claire realizes and let's go. This is not Dean. This is Michael.
"Sorry." She mumbled with a apologetic look.
Michael smiles.
"Don't be. It's good to let it out."
Claire wipes her tears with her sleeve and clears her throat.
"Sorry its just been a while since I spoke about mom and dad. "
"I understand." He nodded.
"Thanks for telling me. You are right Castiel was the perfect choice. He saved Dean and he has always been there for Sam and Dean even been there for me. He's family now. My life hasn't completely sucked. I met some of the most amazing people. Jody, Alex, Donna, Patience, Ka..."
Claire stops and her mind goes on to the other Kaia. The one who murdered the dreamwalker who Claire felt deeply attached to.
"Don't do it Claire. Killing the other Kaia is not going to make you feel any better. I told you before when I killed Lucifer it didn't fill a hole. Didn't make feel satisfied. I thought Gabriel was dead I thought my other me killed him and I wanted revenge I wanted to tear my other me apart but you know what, it would have made no difference. Yes the world would be saved but it wouldn't bring Gabriel back. I would still be alone."
"Thought? So Gabriel is alive."
"Yes he is in Heaven."
Michael smiled at the ceiling. Smiling to his brother in Heaven who would be now sat on throne trying to keep Heaven going.
He has matured. Come such a long way. Michael thought feeling proud of his little brother.
"Kaia deserves justice." Claire says. "I can't let her evil twin live. The thought of her alive replacing my Kaia." She shakes her head. "I can't let that happen."
"Kaia...the other Kaia is not staying. She wants to go home."
Claire frowns.
"To the Bad Place?"
"Yes. She wants to return home to her loved ones."
"She has a family?"
"She not only came over here because of Kaia but also to see if this world is the ideal home for her and her loved ones. She did want to go back but her powers don't work here. I agreed to help her. Open the rift and send her back."
"I...I didn't know that."
"Now Claire. You know how it feels to lose people you love think of her loved ones. If you killed the other Kaia they will lose her for good. Yes what the other Kaia did was wrong but she has learnt from her mistakes and no one deserves to lose people they love."
Claire agreed with him. This is the first time she thought about Kaia's death without feeling angry. She saw things much clearer now. Strangely she felt calm around Michael. The weight she has carried has been lifted off her shoulders. It felt good.
"She would be out of this world. Gone." She asks.
Michael nods. Claire had lots of thoughts swarming around in her head. So many emotions. Michael's words have opened her mind a lot.
The younger hunter finally made her decision. She looks at the emerald green eyes.
"I want to see her."
Jody was a nervous wreck. Sam was not far behind to losing it. Where the hell is Michael? What the hell is he doing?
The flutter of wings causes everyone to turn around.
Michael stood with his hand on Claire's shoulder.
"Dea..." Sam sighs. No the archangel is still in control. Damm it.
Jody charges towards Michael.
"The hell do you think you are taking Claire like that. Do you have any idea how worried I was. Sam said the cage got you bad the thought Claire alone with you..."
"Jody its okay." Claire interrupted. She smiles at the archangel. "He helped me. Cleared my head." Jody goes horrified. "Not literally I mean I thought about a few things without feeling angry for once. It helped. It helped me a lot."
Claire decided to leave out the part about her dad. That talk was personal and should stay between her and Michael. She starts walking towards the person who she has hunted for months. Kaia stands up, the adrenaline kicks in ready to fight.
Claire stops and takes a deep breath.
"I don't forgive you and I never will." Kaia didn't look surprised by those words. "But." Claire continued. "You have people to get back to. To protect."
Kaia nods.
"I do."
"You do that. They must miss you. Our Kaia didn't have anyone. You shouldn't have to go through the same thing."
"Thank you." Kaia says.
"When you go to your world." Claire's face darkens. "I hope to never see your face in this world again."
"You won't. I do not plan on coming back." Kaia eyes Claire up and down. A small smile appears on her face "Take care of yourself blondie. Kaia would have wanted you to be okay and move on."
"That's what I'm gonna do." Claire nodded.
Jody smiles at those words. She turns to the archangel.
"Thank you." She says.
Michael beams at her.
"I am the protector of children. It's what I do." He grinned.
Sam clears his throat and tries to avoid the archangel.
"Well um...lets um...lets get you home."
Kaia smiles.
"Please. I can't wait to get out of here."
I'm not sure what happened to Jimmy. If he went after the Swan Song. I'm not really sure because I only watched the episodes once. I think I have got it all wrong damm it. I just posted the chapter now. I don't wanna go back and rewrite it. I guess I just wanted Jimmy to be at peace and it helped me to connect with Michael and Claire. :)