Title: The Swap

Rated for: T

Genre: Family, Friendship, Adventure,

Fandom/Universe: Supernatural

Characters: Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester, Bobby Singer, Castiel / Pastor Jim, Mary Campbell, Samuel Campbell, Deana Campbell, Christian Campbell, Mark Campbell, Gwen Campbell, Henry Winchester, John Winchester, Adam Milligan, OC's - Diana & Samantha Winchester.

Pairings: NONE

Spoilers/Warning: Mentions or info of some episodes through all 9 seasons. This chapter is somewhere between all the Leviathan stuff.

Disclaimer: Supernatural and all related characters are copyright Eric Kripke, Kripke Enterprises & The CW Network. No infringement intended. Good Omens and all related characters belong to Neil Gainmann and Terry Prachett. No infringement intended.

Summary: They were looking into a forbidden hunt – as per usual.

Status: in-Progress

Author's Note: Been a while, I know. I haven't forgotten. Still working on it.

Chapter: Find A Way

Castiel hasn't moved from his spot overlooking the waves. Its been three days, wind and rain have left their mark which in itself is an alarming sign. More and more, the taunting voice and image of Lucifer inserts itself. He's come close to harming Diana … if it hadn't been for Dean-, well.

"What is it you're contemplating out here?" Lucifer takes another step so he's just in front of Castiel. Both angels looking out at the ocean. "You know, you could've just kept going." He glances at Castiel. "Burned her right out. … And then Dean …"

Castiel turns to face Lucifer.

"There you are." Lucifer applauds.

W

Jo hasn't stopped with the questions. The 'what's it like', 'who else is dead', 'how come Sam didn't go to college like Samantha', 'why is Dean always playing the hero to Sam', and 'why is Sam taking advantage' aren't they supposed to be a team?

She has a point there and Sam is wishing he hasn't said anything at all about their lives. He hasn't really given it a lot of thought. He's avoided looking back on their lives because going through it once is more than enough. But in telling their story … Sam has come to see the things he's taken for granted. The fact his brother is always there, always in his corner, always trying to protect him. And yes, while its damn annoying, Sam can see where his brother has saved and sacrificed for him.

In return … well, Sam has paid Dean with more pain and blood and … why the hell would his brother still want him back?

"That totally sucks." Jo frowns. "I guess I should be happy the other me went out with a bang."

"Yeah, it sucks." Sam agrees sadly. "We've lost everyone in a short period, couple of years." He sighs. "Don't have many friends left. Bobby's not getting any younger."

"Don't let him hear you say that." Jo chuckles.

Both look up at the approaching footsteps. "You flirting, JoBee?" Mark smirks as he skips up the steps to the cabin Sam has been sharing with him.

"Call me JoBee one more time, Mark," Jo threatens. "Even Charlie wont talk me out of hurting you."

"What's with all the threats?" Mark wonders. "I think Sammy's rubbing off on you. Girls got the devil in her-. Not literally, of course." He assures. "Just, lately her temper has been right up there with… that time of the month."

"You ass." Jo rolls her eyes.

"Came for you." Mark turns to Sam and motions for him to get up. "Got some plan in the works and they wanna pick your brain."

Sam follows Mark, trying to keep his cool because there's a lot he hasn't told them about his version. If they're going to start another interrogation … how the hell is he going to avoid all of them?

"You gonna fill me in?" Sam tries to get at least an idea of what he's walking into.

"I'm playing delivery boy, Sam." Mark shrugs. "I get to hear it along with you. Don't worry." He glances at Sam. "I'm sure Sammy's already put in her two cents."

Sam sighs. The last thing he wants to do is run into her. They've been doing a good job of staying out of each others way.

A lot about her reminds Sam of Dean. And she has no problem calling Sam out on his faults. She says one of them has to point it out so Sam can 'make the necessary corrections'. He's definitely wanted to 'correct' some of hers since being hijacked into her version of reality.

He can hear them as soon they get to the porch. Muffled voices behind the door but he can recognize his grandfather: Samuel Campbell is kind of a douche in this version too.

'How'd Mom do it?'

But Sam has figured something out during his time on this side; Mary Campbell wanted out of the Hunters life. That's what had made John Winchester more attractive. Sam's version of John hadn't a clue of his legacy, he'd no idea demons were real, nor all the other monsters of legend and fairy tales. It seemed their version of John had also wanted to stay out of the life but Mary hadn't stayed out of it for long…

"…you're talking spells and -."

"What I'm saying is there's the possibility we could. All we need is the book with the instructions." Henry reiterated once more.

Samuel Campbell straightened , looked at Henry with a bit of suspicion. "I'm guessing you already know where to get it."

"Well." Henry sighed, he seemed uncomfortable but squared his shoulders and nodded. "It won't be easy."

"Never is." Samuel grouched. He looked to the pair joining them and barely gave Sam any attention. "Took your sweet time, Mark."

"I heard spell, book and difficult." Mark grins, hands rubbing together in anticipation. "What's the Hunt?"

"Excommunicated Man Of Letters hiding out in his magically concealed bat cave." Samantha barely looks at Sam before focusing on the map laid out on the table.

"When do we leave?" Mark leans into the table, following Samantha's finger trace a road.

"Soon." Samuel gruffs. He turns to Sam and stares for a long moment. He can see John in the features and dark hair but there's also a little of his Mary in the Hunter. The unsettling part is that Samuel doesn't feel anything close to the love he has for his girls, all the little reminders of Samantha and Diana just make him angry. As though an impostor were trying to usurp their place. Deanna has laid into him once already for being distant, cold and snappy with the boy version of their Sammy. She's right, too. Because Sam didn't ask for this but he hasn't been forthcoming with information either.

And Samuel hates liars.

"You ever hear of Cuthbert Sinclair?" Samuel waited for a tell. Something else to dislike this version some more.

"Magnus?" Henry added after a pause.

Sam shook his head. "He's the Man Of Letters?"

"Yes," Henry sighed. "He was. At one point. He was… 'asked' to leave our ranks in 1956."

"Why?" Sam tried not to fidget but he was uncomfortable around Samuel, couldn't stop thinking of the grandfather that gave them to demons.

"How about you start sharing and we'll think about getting to your five year old 'why'." Samantha glared at him. She didn't miss the flash of smirk crossing her grandfathers face before he wiped it off. Samuel never called her to task for being mean to her other self.

"Samantha, please." Henry sighed. "Cuthbert wanted the Men Of Letters to take a more active role. The Elders disagreed… I used to visit him. Tried to get him to come back, not to make such demands. But he shut himself away."

"Can you blame him?" Samantha wonders. "Men Of Letters work side by side with Hunters, they marry each other!"

"Only a select few, Sammy." Henry makes sure to point that out.

"Exclusive club." Samuel snorts. He's still treated by some of the Men Of Letters as though he's been granted a privilege. As if Mary's marriage to John Winchester has been the price of admittance.

Mark pulls back his shirt sleeve to show the leather cuff and the silver Aquarian Star. "Got our membership 'ring'." He nods to Samantha. "Show 'em yours, Sammy."

After a moment, she yanks on her sleeve as well, glaring at Mark the whole time and displays her ink. "Now that show and tell is over, can we get back to business." She snaps at her cousin and turns to Henry. "Is there a possibility we can talk to him?"

Henry nods. "Maybe, he might speak with me again."

"He will." Samuel assures, eyes focused on Samantha. "You'll be taking Sammy. Make the introductions, Winchester."

"Samuel-."

"I wasn't asking." He cuts Henry off before he can fully express his concern that Cuthbert might take her presence as a threat. "She's one of yours too. A Woman of Letters,"

"She isn't only a Woman of Letters." Henry points out.

"I am still in the room." Samantha cuts in. She's never liked seeing her grandfather's argue. Worse still is being forced to take a side, which Samuel usually always asks her to do.

"Henry's gonna be asking." Samuel shifts his gaze from Henry to Samantha. "Cuthbert doesn't feel like sharing…"

"Yes, sir." Samantha nods. Even without being told, she'll do whatever it takes to get her sister back.

"Good girl." Samuel murmurs.

W

Dean pokes his head into the open door. He can hear someone muttering and easily recognizes her voice.

"…not this either… son of a bitch…easier with the app…shit!"

He finds her squeezing her finger, kneeling amidst a bunch of boxes and dust.

"What are you doing?" Dean takes a hasty step back when she jumps to her feet, a half choked scream and knife in her hand.

"You dumb ass?!" Diana breathes.

"Excuse me?" Dean glares.

"What are you sneaking up on me for?" Diana demands.

"I didn't sneak-."

"You need a bell." Diana cuts in. "Here," she turns around, completely ignoring his scowl and points out the boxes still sitting on the shelves. "Grab yourself some floor and start sifting through your set of boxes. And watch out for paper cuts. Damn things are low tech booby-traps." She ends up muttering.

"What are you doing?" he asks again. "What's all this?"

Diana looks up from her seat on the floor. "Guess you want the long version in order to get started, huh?"

"How long is long? And what the hell are you doing?" Dean looks around, all the open boxes and files, folders, journals… he's cringing already, wishing he'd just kept walking.

"I'm no fan of researching either, bro. But this is all that's left of Cuthbert Magnus. The genius who placed all the wards on the Bunker that has kept it safe all these years. Also the Man Of Letters who tutored grandfather and then got himself kicked out. There's gotta be something here that can help me get back to my version. And if there isn't, then I hope we get an idea of where he is because I'm not even going to entertain the possibility he might not be in your version." She takes a breath then reaches into the box in front of her. "That would totally suck." She mutters.

"Right." Dean crouches next to her. "You get knocked in the head while I wasn't looking?" he places his palm on her forehead and earns a smack for his teasing.

"I don't have a fever." She frowns, then quickly shoves her palm into his chest and sends him sprawling on his ass. "So easy." She laughs.

"You're lucky you're a girl." Dean grumbles.

"I'm you." She laughs and gets a grimace from him. "Come on, Dean. Help me look through this mess. Cus, I'm awesome, I know, but two of us in the same dimension is a lot of awesome. And we shouldn't deprive the other side."

Dean chuckles, he stares at her; the honey brown hair she tucks behind her hear and the amused little smirk on her lips, the sparkle in her hazel eyes. "Your beautiful."

"Uh, yeah." Dian looks at him. "I know."

Once again, Dean chuckles. "Modest too."

"Well, I don't brag about my gorgeous good looks." Diana rolls her eyes, smiling. "Its just a fact. Bat my ridiculous girly lashes and … voila, boys are idiots." She winks and he's got a smile on his face. She likes to see him smile, get him laughing… She doesn't like to think of the reasons that have kept him from enjoying life because even Hunters deserve a little slice of that apple pie.

"You had a choice…" Dean hasn't taken his eyes off her. He doesn't understand and the time they've spent together has been all over the map; bickering, joking, commiserating, disagreeing, finding a lot of things they have in common which shouldn't surprise him but does. "Why Hunting, Di?"

"You mean, because Mom didn't get offed by a demon?" Diana glances at him, the hurt that ghosts over his features before he can hide it. "Sorry, that was a jerk thing to say."

"Kinda sounded like Sam." Dean mutters getting to his feet.

Diana watches him drag two boxes from the selves and set them down. "Usual teenage rebellion."

Dean looks up, the box open beside him.

"Dad went off to do his normal apple pie life." Diana shrugs a shoulder. "I felt like he wasn't in a position to tell me what to do. So anything he said 'No' was something I was going to do."

"That's exactly what Sammy would do." Dean points out.

"Awesome, I share some of his 'best' qualities." Diana fakes her chipper tone. She doesn't get what Dean is so protective of, when its clear their version of family is so one sided.

"The kid is a pain in the ass." Dean agrees. "He's still my brother."

"How do you do it?" Diana wonders. "After all the times he's screwed up? He doesn't listen… Why keep running into the same wall for him, Dean?" at the clenched jaw and scowl on his face, Diana throws her hand up with a tired groan. "Come on, dude! You can't keep getting all defensive anytime I ask a question about Sam. I'm asking, not condemning."

"Judging." Dean corrects.

"Hey, I'm allowed to be judgy, ok." Diana points a finger at him. "You and I, we got the same love for family. There's a difference, Dean. My Sammy doesn't screw me over. We'll fight like cats & dogs, yeah, all the time, but when it comes down to it, I know she's got my back. She's not going to hurt me. And she knows I'd sooner die than do anything that would hurt her." She can see the flash of anger as well as yearning on his face. "She's my sister and I love her, Dean. Sammy's my best friend in this wor-. That world. We've been thick as thieves as far as I can remember."

They sit in silence for a long moment; Dean staring at the girl-him, wishing he could say the same about Sam and hating that he can't. not with 100% certainty that Sam would lay his life down for him… not out of love, at least. A sense of duty, possibly or maybe guilt? He frowns at the box beside him and reaches for the stack of folders.

"… And we shouldn't deprive the other side."

"What am I supposed to look for, Di?"

Dean knows he's going to miss her once she's gone. He'll miss having someone that gets him, that doesn't question the why and just accepts it. With Sam … there's always been a struggle, even when they've been getting along. But after Ruby and Lucifer, the fact they're both vessels… they've both done their share of screwing up. Almost as bad but they haven't been able to get to where they had been, to fully trust in the other. No matter what, their mistakes are something neither of them can forget even if they forgive.

W