A Few Years Later
Sam and Dean relaxed deeply into their chairs, feet on the war table and arms cradling a bottle of beer, as they tried to rid themselves of the aches and pains that come with the job. This latest witch had been a bitch to deal with, and they were in dire need of some R&R after the whole "cat" fiasco.
Dean was fast asleep and Sam was just about nodding off, when the bunker door opened with a slam, accompanied with a call from the red headed menace herself;
"Bitches! Guess who's back?!"
Dean groaned from his place on the floor, after being shocked literally out of his seat, "Dammit Charlie, can't a guy get some sleep?"
"Um… Nope!" She replied cheerily as she skipped to join the boys at the table. "Especially not when I've brought gifts!"
The two brothers eyed her empty hands sceptically and raised an expectant eyebrow each. The mischievous smirk they got in reply didn't make them feel any safer. You could never underestimate Charlie's ability to get them into some kind of mischief.
The sound of many more feet echoing through the halls brought the looks of realisation on the men's faces.
"I brought the gang!" Charlie cried as the group of five came into the line of sight.
Bobby, Ellen, Jo, Kevin and Castiel all made their way to greet the two Winchesters (with an extra peck between Cas and Dean) and all made themselves comfortable at the war table with the alcohol the group brought separated between them all.
"Boys, I got you summin'." Bobby announced as he rooted through the large paper bag, garnering the inquisitive looks of all present. "Oh, keep yer skirts on ya idgits." Bobby grumbled when he caught sight of them.
With a victorious huff, Bobby pulled out a wooden framed photo and placed it on the table, sliding it towards the two remaining Winchesters.
"Thought it was high time it was hung up in 'ere. She'd be so proud of you two getting a home of yer own."
The Winchesters and Harvells looked down at the photo with near awe. Even Castiel's face had taken on a slight smile in response to the picture.
"It's the photo from before the Battle of Carthage." Jo whispered as she placed a hand on the frame. "I didn't know you still had this Bobby."
"You mean when you guys sent the Devil back into his box?" Kevin exclaimed.
The youngsters stared at the photo in a new light. They had heard of the Battle in passing, and of the outcome, but they had never been told the whole story. They didn't want to push the older hunters, as the look of pain and grief that flashed each time it was mentioned warned them away from the subject.
But as they say: "Curiosity killed the cat."
"But who are they?" Charlie asked as she pointed to the two strangers stood next to each other.
The guy looked like the run of the mill hunter, dressed in plaid and denim and a roughish look about him that screamed 'ready for killing monsters'. Though that may have just been because of the imminent battle at the time. Charlie could see the thin laugh lines around his eyes, giving her the impression that she would get along great with the fellow prankster.
The strange woman on the other hand… Charlie couldn't help but feel respect for her, even just from looking at her photo. She held herself with the kind of strength and self-respect not many women could pull off. She may have been short, but her muscles, short cut hair and extensive tattoos portrayed a woman who had fought a lot of battles, and come out on top. She may not have been Charlie's type, but even the red head could feel the magnetic attractiveness of this killer of a woman.
"That's Mercy and Gabriel." Jo spoke, "Mercy Winchester and her husband the Archangel Gabriel."
"Our older sister." Sam cleared, as the prophet and hacker tried to process. "She pretty much raised us and taught us almost all we know."
"Best hunter in the business. You two would have loved her. She'd probably love you two too." Dean added.
"She was the only person alive who could get these two knuckle heads to shut up and actually think for once." Bobby voiced as he pointed a thumb at the Winchester brothers. Who in turn gave an insulted look.
"Saved my life." Jo quickly interjected, lifting her shirt to show the start of a deep scar in her side that had Kevin and Charlie wincing. "Stitched me up after I was hit by a hellhound."
"Best Winchester there ever was." Ellen simply said. Blatantly ignoring the conflicted glares of the brothers.
"She consoled me when I was forced to kill a brother." They all turned to stare at Castiel as he gently touched the frame. A proud expression settling on his face. "Invited me into her own family, and then singlehandedly fought and defeated Lucifer, sacrificing her own life for the safety of mankind."
Dean placed a comforting hand around his partner's shoulders. Showing an intimacy reserved only for those closest to the now oldest Winchester.
"She was the best. You should have seen it." Dean started. "She managed to stand toe to toe with the Devil and still managed to come out on top."
Bobby snorted and crossed his arms, "There was nothing that could stand between her and you boys. That girl scared the crap out of anyone how tried to mess with her or hers. And then beat the shit out of them."
"Hey Cas," Sam called with a thoughtful look, gaining the attention of the population of the bunker. "Didn't you visit her in heaven recently? How is she doing?"
"Yes. I did." The angel seemed to consider the question for a moment before answering.
"Mercy Winchester was reliving her childhood with the utmost enjoyment. The last I visited she was having a picnic with Mary Winchester, John Winchester and the younger versions of you, Sam and Dean. It seemed as though, as you humans say, she had a weight lifted from her back."
THE END