"H...How are you alive?" Dean asks.
Michael sits down on the chair and places his hands on his lap. Dean shuffled away and grips his gun even though he knew it is pointless.
"I'm not going to hurt you Dean." Michael assured him. Dean didn't look convinced. The archangel sighs. "Answering to your question remember Gabriel?"
"Who you killed."
Michael plastered a smile and brushes the hunter's comment off.
"Lucifer killed an illusion of my baby brother. So when Lucifer stabbed me." He spreads his arms out and raises his eyebrow. Dean frowns. The frown causes Michael to scowl. "You humans are so slow." He waves his arms. "I did a Gabriel and survived!"
"Did a Gabriel." Dean then groans. "Lucifer killed a fake version of you."
"Yes. Though I will admit I was proud of my last words." Michael grinned.
"Is the witch alive?"
"You mean Patrick?" Michael raises his hand and waves. "Hiya Dean."
Dean jumps and his eyes widen. Michael's posture changed. His shoulders are slump forward, his lips turn into a genuine, cheerful smile and the familiar spark of the witch showed in his eyes.
Patrick chuckles at the hunter's shocked expression.
"You look surprised to see me ceann beag."
"A what?"
"My nickname for you. Wee one belongs to Michael." Patrick then laughs. "Okay Michael no need to be embarrassed it's only Dean. At least it's not your halo buddies in Heaven."
"Okay." Dean raises his hands. "You need to start from the beginning and I mean from the beginning."
"My explanation in the cemetery wasn't enough?" The witch shrugs. "It was quite an intense situation the information I told you probably went from one ear to the other." The witch stands up and paces around the bed. "You want to go to the bar? I thought it might be a better place to talk instead of your bedroom." He points. "Should be this way. Come." Dean stayed where he was. Patrick raises his eyebrow. "Don't expect me to carry you Deano. In here you're normal." He gestures to Dean's legs. "You got legs use them."
Dean swings his legs over and gets up. He follows the witch down the hallway.
"I must admit I'm getting quite good at getting into people's heads now. First trip was a bumpy ride and caused a few greys to appear in my hair but..." He opens the doors. "...how can I turn down a free drink."
Dean stops at the door and looks at the newly decorated Rocky's Bar. The broken chairs, tables and the smashed glasses are gone. It's replaced with a lounge, sofas, modern styled chairs and tables that was so clean Dean can see his reflection in it.
Patrick went behind the counter and begins to fill the drinks.
"Want some music." A tooth pick slides out of the witch's mouth as he asked. He chewed on it and smirks when the hunter didn't reply. "Alright then."
He waves his hand. The jukebox comes to life and music starts to play out.
And I'm like
Baby, baby, baby ooh
Like baby, baby, baby no
Like baby, baby, baby ooh
I thought you'd always be mine
Dean's expression becomes horrified but then turns into disgust. Patrick hums along and frowns.
"Don't like it." He cocked his head. "It's the baby part isn't it? ...I was trying to be funny but...fine let's see what else we got."
He waves his hand.
Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play
And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate
Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake shake it off, I shake it off
Heartbreakers gonna break, break, break, break, break
And the fakers gonna fake, fake, fake, fake, fake
Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake I shake it off, I shake it off I shake it off,
You don't like this one either? " Patrick frowned. "Michael told me you loved this song. It's a guilty pleasure. Right Dean?"
"No."
"Don't deny it. It was the teenage hormones, it got you into the cheesy pop."
"Not anymore." Dean folds his arms and blushes pink. "I grew out of it."
"If you insist."
He waves his hand.
I'm a Barbie girl in a Barbie world
Life in plastic, it's fantastic
You can brush my hair, undress me everywhere
Imagination, life is your creation
"Did anyone ever tell you that you look like a Ken doll." Patrick laughed. He places his hand on his chest. "Now thinking about it I guess you are, Michael did play dress up with you."
"You think that's funny." Dean glared.
The witch gestures to his clothing.
"I'm still the same."
"For now." The archangel teased.
The humor fades from the witch's face. He covered his shock with a cough and waves his hand.
I wanna hold 'em like they do in Texas, please
Fold 'em, let 'em, hit me, raise it, baby, stay with me
Love game intuition play the cards with Spades to start
And after he's been hooked I'll play the one that's on his heart
"Poker face." Patrick flicks through his pack of cards. "I'm not a Gaga fan but she mentions the game so..."
"Alright this has to stop." Dean switches the jukebox off. He walks up to the witch and towers over him. "Listen here I don't know what the Hell you are playing at but this little thing you got going on forget it. I don't trust you. You're working with Michael so that gives me a good reason why I shouldn't trust you at all."
Patrick slides a Guinness over to him. Dean didn't touch it his eyes remained fixed on the witch.
"I tried stalling." Patrick sighs. His sad eyes look up at Dean. "You and Michael are similar you know that right? Both stubborn as Hell, both obedient sons, both raised to be soldiers, both blindly followed orders throughout your life."
"Don't compare me to that son of a bitch. I am nothing like him. Hell we only met once you don't know nothing about me."
"I been in your head Dean and when I did the spell that allowed Michael to possess me..." He frowns. "I saw everything that Michael saw when he possessed you. All your memories, thoughts, feelings I compared them to Michael and I saw the similarities between you both."
Dean cringed at the thought that this witch knew everything about him. Patrick turned sympathetic and places his hand on the hunter's arm.
"You were both loyal to an absent father."
Dean pulls away.
"Get out! Get out of my head!"
"Your father loved you Dean but God..." Patrick's face twitched as he felt Michael's feelings echo through him. "He doesn't care."
"The archangel managed to manipulate you I see."
"He was abandoned Dean! God forsaken him!"
"Because God was a deadbeat dad that's my fault huh?"
"I am telling you the reason why the archangel turned his back on humanity. They are part of God."
The witch's face darkens and Dean had to admit he started to feel uneasy around him.
"Why have you forsaken me?" Patrick spoke his voice cold. "In your eyes forsaken me. In your thoughts forsaken me. In your heart forsaken me."
"Are you actually quoting a song right now?" Dean frowned.
Patrick repeated those words again and took a threatening step forward. Pain showed in his voice and his eyes are wide and desperate. He repeated the words again but this time the jukebox switched on and the song played in the background.
Rocky's bar started to turn cold, the lights dim down and color melted away from the walls making the atmosphere more unsettling. Everything became black and white. Dean looks at the witch's face that hid behind the shadows. Dean didn't know what is happening but he felt he wasn't seeing the bubbly Irishman anymore but instead a visual insight into the archangel's thoughts and emotions. The pain and the feeling of neglect and abandonment overpowered the hunter. The feelings are so strong it caused Dean to fall back on the chair.
The witch loomed over him. Dean then felt himself being pulled back. He abruptly spins around and faces the witch. Dean looks over his shoulder and frowns wondering how the witch managed to change places. Patrick forced the hunter to look at him.
"You were possessed by Michael. Michael hurt you and yes that was wrong you did not deserve that and I would not defend the archangel on those matters however let me make one thing clear to you." Dean swings his punch but Patrick caught it and crushes the hunter's fist. Dean screamed but Patrick kept a firm grip and glares. "You think that you know him but you don't. I spent weeks with him, helped him, healed him I am the reason he is the archangel he is today. I pulled him out of the darkness and made him see that humanity is worth saving."
The witch gestures to his surroundings.
"You hunters see the world as black and white. Vampires, werewolves, witches evil must destroy must kill immediately. You do not see both sides of the situation. I actually had this talk with the nephilim."
"Jack." Dean shakes his head. "Dude I don't see what your problem is we let you live."
"Only cuz Lia tried to save you. Gave you the reversal spell."
"Lia." Dean had a thought. "Does she know you are doing this?"
"She's dead." Dean's eyes widen. "I didn't kill her." Patrick quickly added reading the hunter's thoughts. "I had this conversation with your brother as well." The witch had a thought. He drums his fingers on the counter. "You know rather than me just explaining it, maybe I should just show you."
Patrick snaps his fingers and the room is suddenly transformed into a cinema.
Dean is sat at the front and stares at the big screen. Patrick sits next to him with a box of popcorn.
"Want some?"
Dean turns away and looks at the screen.
"What is this?"
Patrick raises his hand.
"Everything you missed."
"Wait. Does that include my memories?"
The witch nods.
"And Michael's and mine as well."
"How do I know what you show me would be the truth?"
"I hate liars Dean. I wouldn't lie to you. I swear on that. Now you want answers sit back and watch."
Dean faces the screen again. The witch waves his hand and the screen comes on.
Dean watched Rowena perform the curse. It puzzled him why the Scottish witch did that out of all the spells.
"My first thought." Patrick says. "I thought Sam was pulling my leg. Rowena most powerful witch alive turned the archangel and you into a child."
"That doesn't answer my question on how you were involved."
"Keep watching."
Dean watched his brother and the Irish witch enter a room. Patrick sat down with his cards while Sam sat opposite.
Oh God Sam no. Dean thought with realization.
Where's the other witch?" Sam asks.
"Pardon?" Patrick replied.
"Where's the other witch? Your partner?"
It went silent until realization spreads across Sam's face.
"Oh. Um...sorry for your loss."
"She's been dead for a long time." Patrick put bluntly. "Died shortly after you won."
"Did you..."
"Kill her. I'm a gambler not a murderer Sam. Despite what she did I would have never hurt her." He sighs "She wanted to be at peace. She went all in, she lost...she got what she wanted."
"She wanted to die?" Dean frowned. Patrick sadly nods. "You let her?"
"I respected her wishes. If I forced her to live that would be cruel. I didn't want to let her go but... I'm not a selfish person."
His gut told him that Patrick was telling the truth. The hunter sat back and continued to watch the screen.
"Thirty six years." Sam says.
"Thirty six years." Sam nods. The witch raises his eyebrow. "You are not here to shave off a couple of years? Not here to become a new born are you? Start your life all over again. From what I heard you and your brother's lives suck."
"I want to gain years for my brother."
"Dean Winchester."
"I'm playing on his behalf."
"Sam came to me hoping that I can reverse the spell. He hoped if he lost the years would go to you."
"I'm assuming that didn't work."
"I refused. First I wanted information on why he requested such a big number of years. Secondarily there was nothing I could do. The spell couldn't be tampered with. With you being possessed by Michael and all it was a risk." He sighs. "Let's just say little brother Sam didn't take the news very well."
Dean's eyes widen when he sees Michael's monsters entering the bar. Patrick suddenly became excited.
"Oh see this son of a bitch." Patrick points at the leader of the vampires. "Something special is going to pop up later. I'm going to show it to you. It is one of my finest moments."
Dean saw everything. He saw Sam kidnap the witch and when the witches went into Dean's head to locate him. Dean sat up straight when he saw his four year old self waking up to the two witches.
"What the?"
"Ah well me and Ro were suppose to wake you up and make you take control but we didn't know you were mentally four. I tried to use the clap story but it only made you cry harder."
Dean frowns.
"The clap story?" Then Dean gasped. "You remember doing that?"
"Another one of my finest moments. Admit it Dean you found it funny." Dean had to hold back a smile. The witch noticed and chuckled. "I know I'm hilarious."
Dean watched the archangel wearing his face beating the crap out of the Irish witch. Of course Michael had to wear that stupid suit.
"This was all happening in my head?"
"Surprised your brains are not fried." Patrick scoffed.
What surprised Dean was when the archangel opened up about God. It was weird to Dean as he watched the pain and heartbreak appear on the archangel who borrowed his face. Dean never thought Michael was capable of emotion. The hunter noticed as he watched on Rowena and Michael got close Dean sensed a special connection between them but Dean also noticed the spark between the two witches as well. Thinking back to when Jack announced Patrick and Michael's death it hit Rowena hard. Although she covered her reaction up Dean saw right through the mask she put on.
"You and Rowena were close." Dean points out.
Patrick smiled sadly. Dean gagged as he imagined the witches as a couple. Crowley's mother hooked up with the poker player...
Dean really has missed out on a lot.
"It didn't get anywhere." Patrick shook his head. "I stopped it from becoming a..." He stops and thinks back to the conversation with Castiel. He admitted to the angel that he loved Rowena. The witch waves his hand and smiles. "This is not about me."
"She took your death pretty hard."
Patrick's voice trails off.
"She did?"
"She made out she didn't care but..." Dean frowns. "She even looked upset about Michael."
Patrick sadly lowers his eyes.
"I love Michael like he is my own child. Rowena, I never felt so strong about someone since Lia but..." He swallows. "I couldn't betray Lia."
"Lia is dead."
"I know but..."
Dean didn't know why but he found himself playing matchmaker.
"Lia wanted to be at peace right? She would want you to be happy?"
"Of course."
"Then you should go to Rowena and tell her how you feel."
Patrick laughs.
"Earlier you said you didn't trust me."
"Well..." Dean sighs. "From what I saw...you really helped us I mean..." He shrugs. "That was badass the way you handled the vamps."
"Oh stop it I know I'm amazing."
"You let Michael posses you. You fought Lucifer. You did it to save Rowena."
"And Michael." Patrick added. "And you and Sam as well. Although we're not friends you boys are not that bad."
"Why did you give Jack his grace?"
"Michael wanted to. That's the truth. Dean you saw Michael changed. He helped you when you got stabbed."
Dean's face tightened. The witch didn't show that memory but Dean has seen bits and pieces of it and the more he saw the more sick he felt.
"How did I get stabbed?" Dean asks.
"What do you know so far?"
"I seen mom, Bobby, Michael, Cas, Jack I saw everyone but it's not making any sense. I..."
"Shh."
Patrick places his hand on the hunter's leg. Dean stops and faces the familiar glowing blue eyes. Dean pulls away and his guard goes back up.
"Apologizes Dean the witch can be dramatic." Michael sighed. "He was never meant to reveal that. That was a topic I wanted to discuss with you." He looks round the cinema room and mutters "That witch couldn't make it simple." He again sighs. "Using a song to describe my feelings seriously."
"I guess you're made for each other. Both are dramatic."
The archangel glares at him. Dean didn't back away he didn't feel as scared as before. He instead felt sympathy for the archangel. Which is weird because when did Dean ever feel sorry for Michael? A trip down memory lane wouldn't change his mind just like that.
"So I guess you want to know." Michael grits his teeth "About that incident. Before you say anything it wasn't your fault. I was the target."
"Let me guess your mouth got us in trouble."
"Bobby, he did it. He..." Michael lowers his eyes. "I'm sorry Dean."
"Bobby he..."
Dean refused to believe it. Michael leans forward and places his hand on Dean's head.
"I'll show you."
Then it was like someone pressed the rewind button. Everything around the hunter froze and he found himself going back in time to the time when he was in control during the curse.
Dean smiles at Jack's singing and laughed at Cas's confusion thinking there was an actual dragon in the bunker but Mary assured him it's only a game. However Dean's eyes widen as he remembered his mom shielding him from his brother and lying to him saying Sam was a friend. The memories of the drawing session became clearer and the feelings regarding the archangel started to return.
The memory appears of Mary taking Dean to the cabin. He remembered his mom leaving and Bobby giving him a hot chocolate. He remembered falling asleep and going to a bar.
Dean tensed as he saw his four-year self being yelled at by Michael. The hunter can see by looking at the archangel's face it's an act, a way to push Dean away.
He saw Michael collapse and blood pours out of him. Four year old Dean followed shortly afterwards and he started to lose his breath.
"No. No."
Dean couldn't do it. He is scared to see the next part. He wanted to break away.
Michael placed his hand on Dean's shoulder.
"Don't break contact." He ordered.
Michael pounds his fists against the glass. He yelled Dean's name as he pounded on the glass. The archangel ignored the blood that stained his clothes and continued until a crack formed. The archangel stands up on shaky legs and grabs a chair. He growls and smashes the chair against the window. The chair smashed into pieces and the crack only increased by a few inches.
Now Michael is pissed. He clenched his fists and charges into the wall of thick glass. The force sends him falling backwards into a table.
"Damm it!" He gritted his teeth as pain shoots through his shoulder.
Michael's eyes snap up at the sound of screaming. Dean was awake and he was freaking out. The sight of the blood caused a blood curdling scream to escape Dean's lips.
"Dean!" Michael sighed with relief. The body must still be alive and functioning on the outside. The archangel places his hand on the glass. "Dean."
The kid looks at the archangel.
"Micha..."
"Save your energy." Michael narrows his eyes at the soul of the young Dean Winchester. It was still bright. If he can keep the kid awake and responding he might be able to tap into the soul and be strong enough to break through this barrier. Michael places his hand on his wound and puts on a smile. "Dean its okay we're going to be okay."
"You..." The tears continue to pour down the hunter's face. "You hate me."
"I don't hate you."
"You just said..." Dean coughs and cries harder. "You told me to go away. You didn't want to be friends with me."
"And I did." Michael sighed. "I'm sorry I should have not reacted like that you were only trying to help..." His eyes turn sad. "You were right Dean...I'm alone. I been alone for a long, long time. I thought I adjusted to the idea of being alone but..." He shakes his head. "I was wrong." Dean managed to slide across the ground and reach the barrier that prevented him from getting close to the archangel. "Since all this began I can't stand the thought of being alone now...it hurts. Hurts more than a punch. I just...I should have treated you better Dean."
Michael rolls to his side and feels the pain increasing inside him. Dean frowns when the archangel laughs. Why would someone laugh if they are in pain?
"I can't believe I'm saying this but I'm glad I got this curse while I was possessing you." The archangel knew Dean wouldn't know what he is talking about but Michael continued anyway. "I can't imagine myself going through this while possessing another."
The archangel imagined Sam locking him away and not bothering with him. Maybe he would have ended up in Ma'lak Box and been dumped into the ocean. Or maybe the archangel would have been killed. Michael is only alive because of Dean. Part of Michael is grateful for that.
Dean smiles despite the pain he is in.
"I'll be your friend."
Michael smiles a genuine smile and feels his connection to his Sword. He reaches out and taps into the soul. He continued to assure Dean that everything was going to be okay as he uses the power from his Sword to destroy the glass.
The cracks glow bright and the glass shatters. Dean squeaks and goes back. He started to cry again and he curls up into a ball and shakes.
Michael runs out and scoops the child up.
"Dean shh."
Dean buries his head into the archangel's chest. Michael holds him tight and runs out of the bar and to the Winchesters childhood home. He enters the bedroom and puts Dean in bed.
"Me need doctor." Dean winced. "Me hurt."
Michael leans forward and holds the hunter's tiny hands. Dean stops crying and smiles. Dean suddenly wraps his arms around the archangel and hugs him. Michael hesitated but didn't hug back. He instead carefully pushes Dean away and puts him down on the bed.
"I'm going now." Michael places his fingers on the kid's head. "Get some rest."
Dean's eyes close and he drifts off to sleep.
Michael gives the kid one last look before leaving the room and taking control.
The next memory is what shook Dean to the core.
"It's not her fault. I did it. I killed him." Bobby says.
Sam turns his attention to the other hunter.
"You did this?"
"Mary didn't know." Bobby answered. "I did it behind her back because I knew one of you would try to stop me."
"You...did this."
Sam approaches him. Bobby takes a few steps back with his hands up.
"I told your mother it was for the best." Bobby explained.
"Killing a kid is the best option huh."
"I didn't want to kill him but I had to. Michael was weak you think I am gonna let a chance like this slide. If it wasn't for your brother we wouldn't be in this damm mess."
Sam lunges and pins Bobby to the wall.
"My brother said yes to save us from Lucifer. The monsters is not my brother's doing its Michael's. You had no right." His face darkens. "You had no right making that decision. YOU KILLED HIM!"
"Sam!"
"SHUT UP MOM!" Sam snaps at her.
Bobby shoves Sam away and aims a gun at him.
"Bobby!" Mary yells. Bobby keeps his gun aimed at the younger hunter. "Bobby!"
Mary puts her hand on Bobby's arm.
"Why are you defending him?" Sam yells.
"I'm not." Mary yells back. "I already lost one son I don't want to lose another."
"He is the reason Dean is dead!"
Mary lowers Bobby's arm.
"Killing him is not gonna bring Dean back." Mary sighed.
"Sam!" Cas yells.
A small whimper came from the bed.
"Dean!"
Mary is about to go to bed. Sam blocks her and gives a look to say back off.
"You done enough." He says.
Sam kneels down.
"Dean." He said softly.
Dean's head turns to Sam. His eyes glow faint blue. He coughs up blood.
"Help him Cas!" Sam ordered.
"Let me." Jack says.
"Don't touch me."
Cas paused.
"Michael."
The boy nods. This caused Bobby to swear.
"Is Dean alive?" Sam asks.
Michael again nods.
The archangel flinched away when Cas tried to heal him.
"Don't touch me." He repeated. Michael looks over. "I wouldn't do that if I were you."
Everyone looks at Bobby. Bobby slides the blade behind his back. Michael smirks he can read the older hunter's thoughts.
"Get him out of here." Sam ordered.
"I can let myself out thank you very much." Bobby huffed.
Bobby goes to the door. He pauses and looks at the archangel. He suddenly gets out his gun and shoots.
Michael vanishes and the bullet hits the wall.
"BOBBY!" Mary roared.
Bobby runs through the door and goes outside. Everyone ran out of the cabin but they are too late. Bobby is gone.
"I'm gonna kill him." Sam growled.
"Sam. Bobby he...he is not thinking straight."
"We gotta find Michael." Jack says.
"He is not at full strength he would have not gone far." Cas says.
"Lets find him." Sam says.
Sam brushes past Mary and walks inside.
Michael let's go and Dean gasps. His eyes are wide and shocked and Michael had no idea how to comfort the older hunter.
"Dean."
"I'm good." Dean stands up. "I think its time you get the Hell out."
Michael stands up.
"You're in denial you refuse to believe it. You probably think I twisted things round to make your family the bad guys and me the good guy. It's not true. I showed you the truth Dean."
Dean opens the door where it had the word EXIT in bright neon green letters.
"We do this the easy way or hard way."
The archangel sighs.
"Very well." He stops at the door and faces the hunter. "As you know I have no intention on destroying your world so don't come after me. I don't care if I die but Patrick..." The archangel shakes his head and gives the hunter a stern expression. "I would think about your next moves very carefully." He then nods. "Farewell Dean."
The archangel left and disappears into the darkness.
Dean shuts the door and locks it fearing that Michael will come back. He steps away and looks at his trembling hands.
"Michael has to be lying he has to be." Dean sits against the wall with a beer in his hand. "I'll talk to mom tomorrow. Yeah that's what I'm gonna do. She will tell me that Bobby had to defend himself." Dean smiled at that thought. "That's what happened I'm sure of it."
Dean sips his beer.
"I will find out the truth tomorrow."
This was supposed to be the last chapter but this conversation turned out to be longer than I originally planned lol and a few more scenes popped up in my head lol so honestly I don't know if the last chapter will be the next chapter or the one after it. I guess we'll see.
The songs I used for the chapter.
Baby: Justin Bieber
Shake it Off: Taylor Swift
Barbie Girl: Aqua
Poker Face: Lady Gaga
Chop Suey: System of a Down (Thank you vrskaandrea for suggesting the song.)