Recap:
"-The Winchester's were born. The yellow eyed demon, Azazel, begun his plans, and everything was set in motion. Times are changing, and Michael's return will change things once more. Azazel and his kind will be destroyed, and we will rejoice once more." She smiled placidly.
"If Michael decides we should be destroyed, then so we shall. Michael is wrath and fury, and with his return, he will lead us to peace, or lead us in battle."
Standing in the midst of the beauty surrounding him, Dean could appreciate how he'd got there. After Anna had restored her grace, she'd told them it would be much quicker if she flew them to California rather than driving…
"Ready?"
"Wait wait wait!" Dean had replied frantically. "No I'm not ready!" He hated flying with a passion. "Cant I just drive Baby instead?"
"You could…but that'd take too long, whereas I can get us there in a second."
"Nuh uh. Nope. I'm good" Dean refused, shaking his hands and backing away from Anna's oustretched one.
"Dean, cmon" Sam teased him, a wry grin on his face. "You're a badass hunter, but you're scared of a little turbulence?"
"Turbulence?" Dean latched onto the word, his anxiety reaching the peak. "No way in hell am I being zapped from one place to another! Nope. I'll get in my car and meet you guys there" Dean promised, turning and walking away.
"Dean, I cant let you do that" Anna called out behind him, her voice tinged with humor.
"Well you cant stop me" he replied.
"You forgot Dean…yes I can." He attempted to open the door – but it was stuck. Dean pulled with all his might but the door didn't even move one fraction. He turned back to Anna who was grinning smugly. John and Sam stood by, grins on their face.
"Looks like youre coming with us son" john told him fake apologetically, shrugging his shoulders and he beckoned Dean forward.
"I'm not going" Dean refused.
"Deaannnn" Sam pleaded.
"No Sammy" dean responded. He wasn't going. That was it. He was not going to –
"-hey!" he yelled out. Anna had just touched John and Sam and disappeared with them. Dean stood alone in the picturesque house for a moment, then took his chance to leave. He opened the door with ease, heading quickly towards his Baby before Anna returned. He patted the Classic car, rubbing his hand along her side.
"Don't worry baby, you're the only mode of transport for me."
"Dean." He spun around. It seemed it wasn't just Cas who had the penchant to say his name really intensely and to sneak up on him. Anna stood there smiling widely.
"You ready?" she asked him.
"No im not ready!" Dean yelped. Anna took a step closer to him, he took a step back – him, a decorated hunter running away from Anna.
"I promise Dean, you'll enjoy this. It's just like riding a bike" her eye twinkled.
"Anna! Anna no no-" Dean's pleas were cut off. He felt the jerking sensation in his stomach for a split second, before his body was thrown harshly to the ground. When he stood, what a sight lay before him.
Dean was surrounded by giant trees all side of him. He stood there, minute and fragile compared to the lofty trees that seemed to touch the skies. The barks of the trees were tinged with hues of red and brown, the grass green. He breathed in deep – there was smething about being here, away from all the smoke of the cities, that was entirely peaceful. Rays of light shone through the gaps in the foliage, bathing him in a warm light. It was easy to understand why Michael had retreated here of all places.
Michael?
Hello Dean.
Jheeze- you Angels and you're- never mind. Do you know where I am right now?
Yes dean I do. You're in the sequoia national park. It is beautiful,no?
Yeah it is. I get why you hid out here.
Hmmm. I suppose you would.
Huh?
Nothing dean. I suppose you are here to find me?
Yes. Anna led us here.
Anael, a smart one she is.
So you gonna tell me where you are? Or am I meant to search up and down for you? This place is pretty big you know.
I will tell you, have patience dean. But first – let me tell you a story.
You angels and your stories. Is this going to be about why you 'disappeared'? if you give me the same 'love of humanity' line I might be sick.
Sit down dean, just for a moment. We have time.
Dean looked around – the park was empty. He sat on the grace, gazing up at the sky. This felt familiar.
The last time I was here, before when I came here I mean – I was here with my brother.
Lucifer?
Yes…
Oh…
….
What happened?
This was following his outburst, his refusal to bow to the humans. He left Heaven enraged, we couldn't find him. Then the Angels who sided with him also left. I was – lost. He was my brother, my…favourite, you could say. I had no clue where he would be, until I did.
He was here? Why?
Yes. You see, when our Father begun to create the Earth, he gave us tasks to complete. Lucifer, the brightest of us, helped Father to create the suns and the stars, bright lights to guide all creatures. This place though – he and I made together. We stood here when there was nothing to see, and together combined our grace. Trees grew, and we knew they would last a millennia – longer than human lives would, longer than civilisations. They would see the change of ages…I suppose much like we would. I taught him how to create them, when we were mere infants. The smile on his face – it is one I cannot forget Dean.
Oh, how he smiled. Pure. Happy. Together we spent what seemed like eons here, making tree after tree – knowing which tree would grow tall, which tree would eventually fall. We wanted them to touch the Heavens, close to our Father and our residence. I created the stones, he the water. And when it was nearly done, we stood atop the cliffs and looked down at our creations. Our creations, Dean. In that moment we understood – just briefly, for a moment- what it felt to be our Father. To look down at something so stunning, carved from our grace, our imagination made tangible. Perhaps…perhaps it was his brief experience as a creator that instilled all the rage at humanity. He – we, had created something so perfect…yet the humans seemed flawed.
And when our creation was almost done, when the trees were all planted, some saplings, some tall; when the water ran and the grass grew green, when the cliffs stood tall and would stand tall for eternity, we had one last challenge.
He challenged me to create a tree, the tallest tree, one that would endure all struggles for eternity. And I made it – and when it as done, I looked back at my creation in awe. And he said: "here, let it be something we have both created." He instilled his grace in it, his light – and we both knew then that this tree would last for an eternity. It dwarfed even us in our real forms, it was solid, sturdy. It stood as a symbol of our enduring brotherhood – like us, the tree would withstand anything, it would last all time.
And…?
And when he left heaven and could not be found, when the rebel angels went with him, my brothers and sisters looked everywhere for him. But I alone knew where he would be – for he hadn't told anyone of this place, neither had i. I met him here, standing by our tree. He begged me to join him, to see that Father's creations were flawed- that we should not bow down to them. Dean…
Yes?
I agreed with him. I did.
What?
I knew that humans were flawed – in the time they had been created they were afflicted with greed and corruption, anything they touched died. The rivers we had made begun to turn sour, animals already extinct. How had humans destroyed so much in such a little time? I – I could not understand it. But lucifer knew – that it was because humans were flawed. And when he pleaded with me to join him, not to fight him – I was tempted. I was. He was my brother and I did not want to fight him, but I did. I did dean. I told him he was wrong and left. And the next time I saw him here… the next time I saw him here I cast him down to Hell. I imprisoned him in an icy cell, alone for all eternity. And I visited our tree, our spot, and I could almost hear his yells and screams from down below – I couldn't feel his grace, I couldn't feel my brother: the only thing I felt was his pain, my own pain, and our shared loneliness.
I came to this place time after time. And one time – when I saw that some of our creations had fallen, I couldn't do it anymore. So I left. I hid from Heaven and allowed them to do as I wished.
And youre here?
Yes, I am here.
Where?
I am hidden near a tree dean, you will know it when you get near to it. You should be able to sense me.
Sense you?
Yes dean. We have a connection you and I, all you need do is see – truly see- and you will find me. But dean –
Yes?
When you do find me, remember the stories. Remember all I have told you – remember and trust me.
…I do. I do. But – anna said that if you chose not to help humanity whne you return, that you could destroy the earth.
Yes.
Do you intend to?
Even if I wanted to, you would stop me.
Ha. I can't, I'm just a guy.
You're more than that dean – but, I promise, I won't destroy them.
So you will help us keep Lucifer imprisoned, to kill the demons?
I do not wish to see my brother harm any humans Dean, nor will I allow the demons to live.
You promise?
I give you my word. I will kill Azazel and his demons. Now dean, go and find me.
Goodbye.
For now.
Dean could almost feel Michael's melancholy and sadness, even as the connection broke. He felt a newfound appreciation as he looked at the creation surrounding him. He stood and brushed off his jeans and headed towards the closest tree. He touched it – the rough bark against his warm hand. He could almost feel the grace thrumming within the tree, the lifeforce of an Angel keeping the tree alive – helping it to thrive. He sympathised with Michael – he could not imagine having to cast out a brother. He wouldn't – even if dad had asked it of him, he would never have hurt Sam – or Joey. Dean would rather suffer eternity with him than die alone.
"Dean?." That was Sam's voice, emanating from the forest. Dean saw his lanky brother emerge, a look of confusion slowly turning into humor on his face.
"If you want some alone time Dean, just ask" he winked. Dean rolled his eyes, strolling up to Sam and slapping him over the head.
"shut up bitch"
"you're such a jerk Dean!" Sam whined, rubbing his head as they both walked along the path.
"wheres dad and anna?" dean asked.
"theyre just up there ahead. Anna said now's the time to look for Michael. We don't have long"
"why not?"
"anna said the moment her grace was restored, the Angels could feel it. Which means-"
"-which means they'll be coming here for her."
"exactly. But since not all Angels are on our side…"
"…theres a chance demons might be coming too" Dean summarised.
"Exactly. So we need to move fast" Sam slapped him on the shoulder, unable to disguise the look of worry on his face.
"Hey Sammy, everything's going to be okay alrihgt?" Dean promised, pulling Sam to a stop.
"yeah I know" he sounded unconvinced.
"look at me" Dean commanded. "what's the problem?"
"the problem dean?" sam asked with an ironic laugh. "well, we're looking for an Archangel who might or might not decide to kill us? We've got angels and demons on the loose, trying to set lucifer free. We've got a yellow eyed demon who has plans for me. What isn't the problem? All we need to do is: find an archangel, make him join our side, kill all the Angels and Demons against us – oh, and stop the Devil from roaming free!" Sam laughed ironically.
Dean rubbed a hand along his shoulder. "look, I get it. There's a lot to do, but we can do this Sammy." Sam didn't look convinced.
"Sam. We survived Azazel when we were kids. I survived amnesia, attempted murders AND found my way back to you. You survived not going crazy like the other special kids. We can do this" Dean promised him. He saw the hope begin to light up in Sam's eyes, even the hitn of a smile on his lips.
"Plus" Dean added, "you survived dad so you can survive the devil."
"hey!" Sam laughed in mock affront, seeming much calmer. Dean smiled back at him, encouraging him to walk forward. The moment sam had headed on, dean's smile slipped off his face. They did have a giant task ahead of them – there were so many ways it could fall apart. All it took was for Michael to blast them into little pieces and that would be the end. Even Cas couldn't do much against that. Speaking of –
"Hey Cas? You alright? I'm in Sequoia national park if you-"
"-dean." Dean turned, smiling at the familiarity of the intense statement.
"Hey Cas. You okay?" Cas looked at him seriously, his blue eyes intensely locked upon Dean's.
"No Dean. You are consorting with Anna – an angel who fell. This is forbidden, I must report her to the-"
"No no no Cas! Don't do that"
"Dean, I must"
"Please Cas, don't. she's just a girl who wanted to be human, wheres the harm in that?"
"you mean besides forsaking the gift our Father gave us? Or the knowledge she possesses whilst refusing to obey orders? That harm dean?"
"Okay Cas, no need to be sarcastic. Are you telling me you couldn't understand why she fell? That you want her dead for it?" dean looked at cas. "is being human disgraceful?" he asked, almost hurt. Cas looked at him, really looked.
"Dean…" he paused for a moment. "humans are not disgraceful…you are the greatest human I have ever known. You possess a resilience, a strength that other humans do not. That some angels do not. You continue to fight, you carry on despite all the trauma you face. Since I have met you, I have had the privilege of watching you be- sublime. You are not disgraceful, you are graceful. I did not understand why she fell then, but perhaps I understand it now. She could not remain an angel when she was not devoted primarily to our brotherhood, to our father. And I – and I fear, that I am capable of doing what she has."
Cas's voice was quiet, his eyes locked on deans and never strayed.
"Cas?" dean breathed. "what do you mean?"
"I mean, if you asked me of it, Dean Winchester…I would fall for you. I would fall for you, happily."
"fall for me as in…as in an angel, or as in-" he breathed shakily, unable to truly vocalise the question.
"as in?" castiel asked.
Dean breathed in again, releasing his breath harshly. He summoned his inner strength, the strength Cas was so proud of. "fall for me as in falling to humanity, or fall for me as in, falling in love with me?" dean asked hesistantly, his breath stuck in his chest.
"I would fall to earth and be human for you" cas told him. Dean's heart sunken, the butterflies turned to molten lava in his stomach. Dread and humiliation crept in his throat, his face blushing.
"Look Cas, I didn't mean-"
"BUT, Dean Winchester" Cas spoke over him, his hand coming up to rub at Dean's face. "I have already fallen for you. I would fall to earth for you, just as surely as I have fallen in love with you, because I know nothing but you. I know nothing but your strength, your beauty, your courage and compassion. I know nothing but that I want to be by your side, for as long as I can" Cas confessed, his eyes locked onto Dean's.
"Cas…" Dean was stuck for words, unable to fight the rush of happiness and nervousness that swelled in his chest.
Cas' eyes remained on his, though his face clouded over with uncertainity.
"that is…" he was the one who sounded nervous now. "that is, if you would have me."
"Castiel, Angel of Thursday, I will have you" Dean grinned, seeing the tentative smile blooming on Cas' face before he pulled him close. When their lips met, Dean felt very literal tingles and electric bolts of lightning run down his space. Where Cas's hands cupped his back, Dean felt his supernatural warmth. Their lips touched and it was as though Dean had been thrown into the cosmos, he was afloat and unattached to anything - except from where he was bound by the soft lips on his and the strong his on his back. Cas kissed him back, and Dean's heart could burst from the way he felt. Finally. Finally. He had waited eons to find love, and now he was so lucky to find it from Cas. An Angel who would fall for him, who would stand against his brethren if he merely asked of it.
"Castiel" he breathed.
"Dean"
Dean kissed him again, he lost himself in the kisses. He was consumed by fire and drowning in water simulatenously, all he could feel was Cas' love for him, for his own for Cas. Any worries he had were blocked out by the thought of he and Castiel together. Together they would do anything, achieve anything. He would give Cas power, give him never ending love and happiness. He would be with him until the end of time – they would face all their foes together- they would destroy any enemy together. They would travel the world – he would teach cas how to make jokes – cas would make him love flying – they woud be together, always and forever.
When the kiss ended, dean's head swam with happiness and headiness. He grinned widely at Cas who smiled just as widely back.
"I love you Dean" Cas told him simply.
"I love you Castiel" Dean replied back just as happily.
"Dean!" They were jarred out of their ecstatic moment by the call of Dean's names. They turned to see Sam stood in the bushes, flanked by a grinning Anna and a speculative John. He didn't look pleased at the sight – and whilst dean might have cared before, now that he knew cas loved him, now he knew how he felt – nthing else matter. He gripped cas' hand tight, shocking the angel who had moved to create distance between them at Sam's interruption. He smiled shlyl when dean gripped his hand, and they walked in unison together rtowards the group.
"congratulations are in order, I guess?" sam was almost bouncing from happiness. Dean smiled gratefully when Sam beamed at Cas, his smile loosening the Angel up. They looked to John.
"don't –" john growled. He swallowed. "don't hurt him" he eventually said. Dean smiled shyly at his nodded back at him, smiling minutely.
"im happy for you kid" he confessed, his throat thick.
"so am i. but- there was a reason we interrupted. We need to find Michael remember? We're running out of time" she told them.
"Anael is right" Cas confirmed. Anna tensed when Cas spoke: she looked at him as if ready for a fight.
"Castiel" she greeted him nervously.
"Anael. It is – good to see you. You have been missed" he told her tenderly. She smiled fondly at him.
"now the sappy feelings are over, let's get down to business" John snapped them out of the moment, clapping his hands loudly.
"right" dean agreed. "so, let's find Michael"
"any ideas where?" Anna asked him.
"Well…maybe finding the biggest tree here might help?" he hedged.
"great. The biggest tree is-" anna trailed off, before she popped out of existence. In the instant she was gone, she was back.
"from what I could see, it's over there" she gestured to the right.
"how do you know that's where he is?" john asked.
"Well, considering theres a barrier that prevented me from flying close to the tree, im guessing I'm right. So, I can get us as close as possible – then we walk from there, yeah?"
"Let's just make sure we're all on guard" Dean warned them, taking out of his knife. John and sam nodded back seriously. The happy moment dean just experienced was negated by the severity of the situation.
"ready?" anna asked outstretching her hands to john and sam, whilst Cas held dean possessively close.
"ready" Cas replied. Dean's body was jerked out of place once more – this time it wasn't jarring. They were all stood near a collection of trees, sign pointing north.
"this is where the barrier is" anna told them. "we can't fly through here, but we can walk through I guess." The sign had a strange symbol carved into it: when anna touched it there was a ripple of near-visible light all over the sign and arcing up into the air like a dome of protection.
"let's go" john commanded roughly. They all entered the archway with trepidation. There were walking through a sheltered pathway, vines growing on the rails beside them. Through the ending, dean could see the growing light. He could almost sense Michael's presence.
"here, he's here" he told them, excitement building.
"Are you sure?" Anna asked, "how do you know?" Sam and John asked. "Dean" Castiel cautioned.
Dean felt a thrill of excitement race through his veins, he couldn't stop himself. He begun to walk faster and faster through the underpass, until he was almost sprinting. When he reached the end, sunlight hit his face once more. He walked with speed to the tree. He could feel a throbbing anticipation, an almost whirring sound in his ears. This was the largest tree there, it was massive – he looked up but couldn't see where it ended, saw only the sturdy strength of the tree.
He stopped just before it, his hand outstretched. He could feel the electricity buzzing off the tree.
Dean Michael whispered.
Michael. Are you here?
Yes dean. Touch the tree Dean, touch it.
Dean moved to do just that, his hand becoming impossibly close to the tree- ten seconds away, eight, six seconds now, three seconds – he was going to –
"DEAN!" he turned abruptly at the sound of John's yell, staring aghast at the sight before him. There, a hand wrapped around Sam's throat – was Azazel.
"No!" Dean yelled, beginning to run. He was thrown back immediately, hitting the ground with a giant thump. He groaned as pain coursed through his body. "Sam" he moaned weakly. He turned to stare in horror at the sight. Azazel and what must've been twenty or thirty demons surrounded them all: two sharp blades were held against the shocked Anna and Castiel's face.
"Hello Dean" Azazel murmured, his voice sickeningly sweet.
"Azazel" he growled back. "what are you doing here?"
"it's a wonderful day. Thought I'd talk a walk in the park. Imagine my surprise when I found you here. And little Sammy" his beady yellow eyes turned to Sam, who was stuck futilely in his grip.
"Dean" he choked out. "Run"
"That's right Deano. Run. Like you always do" Azazel murmured.
"I'm going to kill you" Dean promised him, anger building. One of the demons laughed, slicing the knife across Anna's cheek. Blue grace spilled from the wound alongside her body, she moaned.
"Dean" she called his name. "Run" she told him.
"No. No. I'm not going anywhere" dean told her.
"Do as the little angel tells you Deano. Run away, before the big bad monster comes to get you."
"Dean" Anna pleaded. Something in her voice called to him. He looked at her. She was struggling in the Demon's grip, the knife carving deeper into her face- more grace seeping out in larger and larger amounts.
"I have always done as you asked" she told him.
"what? Anna? You're not making any sense"
"I fell for you!" she cried out, her voice echoing amongst the trees. The demons stood there in confusion. Anna's face was contorted in pain, but her eyes never wavered. They locked onto Dean's.
"what?"
"I fell for you! I did as you asked. I gave up my wings for you. I stayed and waited and waited until you returned. I felt it- I have been loyal, haven't I?" she looked at him mournfully, tears beginning to cascade down her face.
"Anna…" dean murmured.
"What's the little angel going on about?" Azazel asked viciously, shaking the red-faced Sam in his grip. John growled at the sight.
"The great prince, who protects your people, will arise" anna cried joyously, the tears on her face contrastingly horribly with the ecstasy in her voice. "He is here" she yelled.
Dean didn't know what to say…except a horrible suspicion was dawning in his mind…Anna had known where Michael was all this time. All these hints along the way – Anna. Michael. Death.
"Hidden, in plain sight. Hidden – strong, protected always. I did as you asked! Have I pleased you?" anna cried out brokenly. "I wished I I wished I could speak to you, to you once more" she softened. "Dean. Dean, are you listening?" she asked seriously.
"yes" Dean replied just as much. He saw the anger growing on Azazel and the demons face, Cas's face in agony at the blade that was carving its way along his own face, he saw John bent double from the force of the punch, Sam's face red from his inability to breathe.
"OH BLESSED ONE! Rejoice!" Anna cried zealously. "Now dean, NOW" she cried out, her voice reaching the Heavens. The moment she finished, she turned back, knocking the demon on the floor and using her hand to kill it in a blaze of light. John, Sam and Cas came alive – them too fighting against the demon. Using angelic powers or blades alike to end the scum.
And Dean?
He knew what he had to do. He turned back to face the tree, his heart thrumming inside the chest. He staggered towards it, his pace increasingly – like his heartbeat- which every step.
"MICHAEL" he heard Anna yell loudly from behind him.
"Michael" he whispered as he got closer.
"MICHAEL!" she yelled once more. He was almost there, his finger a breadth away.
"MICH-AHH" her yell was cut off in her throat. He turned in horror, like the others, to look. Azazel had a sword thrust through her chest, lifting her off her feet from the force of it. He grinned manically, Anna's eyes were open wide, her mouth parted – her eyes were stuck on him.
"Mic-Micha-" she attempted to speak.
"Rejoice, Little Angel, for I have heard your pleas" Dean replied brokenly, seeing her smile faintly and his family and demons watch him in shock. His eyes met Azazel's, then he touched the tree.
The world exploded in a blast of light, a million times more powerful than Anna's own. A supernova of fire and light flooded him. He was blown into the body, body arching from the pain and power that hit him. His spine broke and reformed, he felt the little shards of bone pop out his back. His fingers tingles, his eyes lit with grace and light. And suddenly – he remembered!
Michael he murmured
Dean, I told you we would meet
I am… I am you?
Yes, and I am you.
H-how?
I fell to earth because I didn't want to rule. I wanted to feel love like humans did – I wanted to appreciate them, after all, I sacrificed everything for them. And so I fell- but not without a plan. Anael, my loyal Anael, alone was tasked with the importance of hiding my grace away and waiting for me. She too, fell like me. And then I was reborn as you – reborn as you Dean Winchester, destined to lead the fight against the demons. How could it have not been you? And so I slumbered, hidden away until I rose from sleep, ready to fight.
But- but what happens to me? What happens to everyone? What will you do?
I do not want to hurt you Dean, or your family. For your family is mine and know that I shall not hurt any of my brothers – every again Dean. I will lead the fight, with you, against the demons. Rejoice dean – for their rule is long over.
I still don't understand
I do not need to explain it to you, you just need to remember
And so he did. In bright flashes, in millions and trillions of flashes, he remembered.
He remembered being created. Father? Hello my Son.
He remembered seeing humans for the first time. What are they?
They, my Son, are my newest creation. They will be better than all of us.
He remembered teaching Gabriel and Raphael how to fight, Lucifer the brightest and smartest of them all. Move quicker Gabriel, use your wings. Do not go where your opponent leads you.
Why don't you join them brother?
Why should I Michael? We all know I am the greatest fighter.
Yes, you are.
But Lucifer wasn't. He remembered the battle, the world aflame. Seeing brother and sister strike each other down, his father hidden in Heaven. He saw the devastation in Gabriel's eyes, the youngest brother forced to see his family murder once another. He saw the desolation in Raphael's own eyes: the healer. But this – this was too much for him to fix. He saw his brothers heart harden, whilst Gabriel's grew heavy with the strain. And on the battlefield…on the battlefield, he saw Lucifer
Brother. Will you not rethink this course of action?
I could ask the same of you Michael. Join me
I cannot
You can. You will not
Then I will not.
Why Michael? I am your brother
And so are the ones you and your kind are striking down.
'my kind'? my kind is Angels!
Not anymore. I must kill you now Lucifer.
You can try!
And so they fought. They shattered mountains in their wake, tore apart the Earth and sent down hell-fire. And at the end of the battle, when he had the Serpent – his little brother- pinned beneath his foot, his sword raised high, he found he could not do it. Lucifer saw the weakness in his eyes.
Do it brother
But Michael could not, and so, instead of ending his life, he condemned lucifer to spend an eternity in a hell of his own making.
Dean saw everything – the destruction of the angels, the disappearance of his father – Father? Where are you? I cannot feel you anymore – the absence of his brother – Where is Gabriel? Find him! Did he die on the battlefield? – the coldness of Raphael – we kill all who do not obey us now. No mercy to any, brother or not – and the screams of Lucifer from the depths of hell – Michael?! Michael please! Please brother, I am sorry!
He heard the screams in their entirety, until Lucifer grew quiet. He saw everything that led him here today. He felt Michael's pain and isolation over the millennia, the peace Michael found when he was eventually reborn. And then he saw no more.
When the light receded, he crashed back to the ground, power imbued in his body. He stood, looked at Anael's prone form, the fighting around him. "STOP" he commanded, authority imbued with power. Demons, Angels and humans alike froze.
"Dean?" John groaned out, his body stiff but eyes tracking Dean. Dean walked slowly, flexing his hands. He felt weird – he could feel Michael in him, together they were one. It was confusing – he had eons of memories mixed in with his own. He knew he loved Sam and his family, just as much as he knew he loved all the Angels.
"Michael" Azazel growled.
"Hello Azazel. Or should I say…brother?" he smiled faintly at the look of shock and Sam and John's face- the only ones who didn't know. "Should I explain? Hm, let's have an audience first" he mused. He clicked his fingers, and the new guests – Bobby, Ellen, Jo, Rufus- appeared.
"What the- Dean? Azazel!" Bobby yelled, swinging out his gun and aiming it at Azazel.
"Stop" Dean commanded again. The newcomers all froze, unable to move. "I'm going to explain everything" he promised. "I am Dean Winchester, but also Michael. When I fell, I was reborn into this form. I slumbered, wanting to feel what it was to be human. I missed my brothers, I mourned that I put Lucifer away in the cage – yes, I did" he smirked at the demons.
He touched her, she smiled at him, blood leaking from her mouth.
"Michael" Anna whispered faintly. He moved to her, holding her in his arms.
"Anael, beautiful and loyal Anael. I am thankful for everything you have done"
"Rejoice, for he has returned" Anna gasped, a tear leaking from her eye. "Have I done as you asked?"
"always and more. I will fix things. I will undo it all" he vowed. Anna frowned, her face contorting in confusion.
"Michael?"
"you will be the last Angel to die, I promise you. No more of my siblings will die, I vow it."
"Michael? No" she pleaded, the last remnants of her strength disappearing. Her grace exploded, leaving behind the imprint of wings. Dean and Michael both mourned her death. Dean stood, turning back.
"She is the last Angel to die. No one else will suffer at the hands of corrupt Demons and Angels. I will undo it all"
"How?" Cas asked, frowning.
"Kill the demons and then Lucifer will never be free!" John commanded.
"I'm not going to leave my brother imprisoned in a cell any longer" he smiled placidly. "wait what?" Dean question. His head was hazy. "Huh? Michael?" he questioned himself.
Dean
Michael? What's – what's happening? What are you saying? I'm confused
Shhh Dean. Sleep
"Dean?" Sam asked.
"Not quite" he replied. "Dean's in here, but he's resting."
"What's happening?" Ellen asked suspiciously, raising her gun at- at him.
"Let me continue. I'm not going to leave Lucifer imprisoned. I'm not going to let the Angels kill each other, or the demons kill humans. I have been on earth a long time, I have seen how humans love one another. I understand now why my father left – because he saw all the beauty in the world and couldn't bear to see it destroyed. I understand him – and now I'm going to undo it all."
"No! Dean!" Cas pleaded. "Michael, you cant kill them!"
"I'm not going to kill them Castiel. I'm going to undo it all. I'm going to go back, to before Lucifer fell. This will never happen – demons will never exist, humans will never suffer. Do not despair" he told castiel. At his words, everything erupted. The paralysed demons began to move frantically, attempting to break free of his hold. Azazel began to curse, the humans shouting and begging for Dean to come back.
"It is too late. I have seen the corruption in this Earth and I will undo it all."
NO! NO MICHAEL! DON'T DO THIS! PLEASE DON'T DO THIS MICHAEL!
I am sorry Dean. This is the only way. You know of how I've loved my family. You can understand everything I would do to protect them.
No. please! Let me – let me say goodbye to my family. Please
I will grant you that Dean.
Before his eyes, his adopted family appeared. They were visibly confused, but Dean didn't have time to explain. "I love you! I love you all!" he told them quickly. "I am so lucky you took me in, I love you mom and dad! I love you Joey" he told them, tears streaming down his face. "Sam, dad. I love you both!" he told them. He staggered towards them, holding his father and brother in his arms.
"Dee, I love you" Sam whispered in his ear, his body trembled in devastation.
"Sammy" he murmured.
You do not have long Dean.
"Cas" he murmured brokenly. He cupped Cas' cheeks in his hands. The blue eyes looked at him, filled with sadness and despair.
"Dean"
"I love you Cas, I love you. I love you" he promised. As he stood there, Cas' body against his, he was aware of Michael exerting power. In a golden haze, the demons disappeared. Then, the tree's began to turn into dust and evaporate, he was aware of Bobby and Ellen disappearing – then Jo and Rufus. He turned to his family, "I'm sorry" he told them sadly. They also disappeared.
Then it was just him and Castiel, standing in the middle on the middle of the Earth with everything around them turning into dust.
"I love you, I love you. I love you" he repeated frantically.
"I love you too Dean. I will always love you" Cas told him.
I love you.
And everything exploded into golden dust.
AUTHORS NOTE:
And that is it!
I hope you enjoyed both endings!
Thanks for all the great reviews, all the people who supported me! – Especially you Nina!
I am so thankful to everyone!
Until next time.