OoOooOooOooO Part Three OoOooOooOooO

Dean must have blacked out, or died, at this point he wasn't really sure which. He didn't know how long he lay there before he heard Lisa gasp. Suddenly a warmth spread over him, like a blanket, something infinitely gentle touching his face and his body, a soft soothing sound started whispered in his ear building as it grew seeping into him, swirling around his very being cocooning it protectively, lovingly. He felt the softness caress his face again tenderly brushing over wounds and up and down his body, healing him. Dean made a whimpering sound as the warmth and light receded, abruptly feeling empty and alone, a surprisingly warm hand coming to rest finally on his face gently. Green eyes blinked open directly into twin blue pools.

All Dean could do at first is make a sort of a croaking noise as he tried to get his head around what stood before him. Swallowing, he tried again.

"Cas?"

"Yes Dean."

"Wha'?" he tried to move closer, but the angel placed his fingers on the brand decorating the hunter's shoulder and shook his head gently.

"The Garrison, my brothers have arrived. My father." There were tears in the angel's eyes. "My father, he." The smile on the face above him told him everything. God had finally decided to show up, the father Castiel had been desperately searching for had returned to them. Dean braced himself for pain as he tried to move but found that he felt actually pretty much awesome. He sat up and looked around. Gabriel was kneeling beside them, crouched over Crowley who made a pained noise and tried to shy away from the furious grace that was spilling off of the Archangel. The angel stopped his hand short of touching the bloodied cheek as one dark eye peeked open and looked up at him. The demon hissed something at the Archangel and Gabriel gave a soft sad smile and shook his head. Dean looked back at his own angel, unlike the blind fury evident on Gabriel's face Castiel face softened as he gazed back at Dean. But other wise the face was cold and detached as he too crouched and readied for battle.

Lisa was staring wide-eyed; her mouth gaped slightly at the newly arrived angels, holy armor and all. She and Dean were having a long talk when this was over a very detailed and extremely long talk. The demons were snarling at the angels, as Lucifer stood defiantly on the stage staring at someone down the isle. As Dean turned, he noticed Anna leaning over Bobby a hand on the man's arm as he gazed at what ever held the Morning Star's attention. Dean craned his neck trying to see past Cas. There surrounded by the more senior angels, if the design in their armor was any clue, stood Chuck, the trembling alcoholic, mess of a prophet. Bright eyed and more aware than Dean had ever seen him. Dean made a sound of fear, shit what the Hell was the guy thinking, what was he doing here. He was going to be massacred and Dean wouldn't be able to stop it. Castiel touched his shoulder gently and shook his head. Green eyes looked back at the man, he was different, calmer; more confident, he stood back straight and stared Lucifer right in the eye. Green eyes widened a he spoke.

"I am ashamed of you. All of you, is this what I created you for? Is this the purpose I designated to you? To fight amongst yourselves and threaten to destroy those you are supposed to protect?" The demons were hissing in fear and pain but the angels looked ashamed.

"No. You shoved us away, you cast us out, you love them best you always have. These pathetic creatures, who have taken your gifts and destroyed them. They who have been granted the greatest gift all. Tell me father have they lived up to your expectations? We who love and worship you are cast aside like nothing, tell me, what do these creatures do for you?"

"They come of their own free will…"

"No. You gave us no free will." He spat.

"Didn't I? You are able to rationalize your anger, misplaced though it might be. What is that if not free will? "

The wrath on Sam's face was obvious as he clenched his fists at his sides.

"Granted there was supposed to be an altercation, a test so to speak to gauge the readiness of the participants. But not this, never this." He turned toward his angels, sad as he sighed and looked around him at the scene. In a blink every demon save one was sent back into the depths of the Earth. Only Crowley remained, Gabriel still hovering over the twisted and broken form, not able to touch or offer aide. He snarled at the angel on the stage, pulsing with divine rage.

Castiel was kneeling over Dean in a protective stance, much like Anna was crouched over Bobby, though the blue eyed angel had his hand on the brand on his human's shoulder and Dean could not shake the feeling of both calm and determination that swept over him. It was an odd experience; he seemed to be feeling what the angel felt.

"You know how this will end."

"You interfered, you never interfere."

"I may do as I please, and it pleases me not to let you destroy this world, its time has not yet come. The test is complete and the players have been recognized. This is over."

Chuck summoned the rings to himself and activated them with a thought as the seal opened, then with a soft sad sigh he summoned his angel from Sam's being, freeing him from the spell. Empty now Sam's body slumped to the floor like a marionette with its strings cut. The thrashing golden orb was drawn toward the rings and into Chuck's waiting arms. Sadly he grasped the ball of light and brought it to his lips. Bending close he whispered something, it shuddered in response and in an instant it was placed into the cage, sealing it shut with a thought. With a sigh it all blinked out of sight and the rings fell to the floor, useless, the clattering and clinking of them loud in the deathly silence that had fallen over the arena. With sad eyes after a moment he turned to look at the others.

All of the angels had calm, but remorseful looks on their faces as most of them knelt, eyes downcast as they touched their foreheads to the floor in supplication. Gabriel had calmed down but still looked at the demon lying at his feet sadly, as Chuck walked over towards them all. Dean just blinked, 'what in the Hell had just happened', his mind tried to frantically catch up with reality. Castiel looked at him in alarm as everything snapped into clarity, okay so sometimes he was a little behind, but frankly Dean thought this was a freebee in the whole 'what the Hell game'. Chuck was God's vessel. No, no that wasn't right, God wouldn't need a vessel he could just make a body. That meant only one thing; Chuck was God. Cas's daddy had been here the whole time, watching and waiting. And he didn't do a damn thing to stop it, any of it.

Suddenly, Dean felt the anger bloom inside of him with a force he had never experienced before. Chuck could have stopped the whole thing, everything, at any damn time. The little prat, nearly snarling Dean pushed himself up and stood tall over the prophet.

"You…. you…" Dean was so furious he could only seem to point at the man unable to get anything else out, his body shaking with the rage that was blooming deep in his chest.

Chuck smiled at Dean serenely, only infuriating him more as the human made an odd gulping noise pointing at him. Chuck supposed it could be expected. The young man was very open on his opinion of him or lack there of, and to find out he'd been there all along, well. Personally he rather thought his ploy, as the Prophet Chuck had been inspired.

"You, son of a bitch. You could've… all of this." He motioned wildly, "All of the death, destruction." Dean was usually much more eloquent. "Why didn't you tell us?"

"This was something you needed to do on your own, Dean. You and Sam both, you needed to stand on your own two feet for this, but also learn how to rely on others when you needed it. It would have done you no good for me to just intervene with a snap of my fingers. What benefit would that have served?"

Green eyes lowered as Dean for all of his anger, suddenly looked like a child being chastised by his loving father, right down to the biting of the lip and the toe of his shoe digging into the ground.

"You and your brother were not the only two tested Dean. This was a test for the angels as well. I needed to see how they would react. Would they blindly follow orders that they knew full well did not come from me? Or would they think for themselves, decide their loyalties." He held up his hand stopping the questions. "Most were kept in the dark as to what was really happening on Earth, but the chosen few." He shrugged slightly looking toward Castiel and Gabriel before continuing.

"Those that knew or chose to find out had a choice to make."

"Well what's the verdict?" came the bitter question after a pause.

Chuck looked sad again for a moment before smiling, "Just as I had known it would be."

"You smug bastard."

"Dean we have been over this, it is no life for you if I say okay, I know the future and I know what's going to happen. You still have choices and your choices lead to many different outcomes. I know the ending to all of them. What I don't know is what path you will choose, as you make your choices the pathways narrow until one at the end becomes clear. The sum of your life, leads to two inevitabilities, Heaven or Hell. It's as simple as that. I have opened the pathway for everyone; whether or not they accept it is completely up to them." Chuck shrugged.

He watched as the green eyed hunter seemed to deflate for a moment before pulling him into a hug, whispering softly in his ear. "You did well Dean Winchester. You made me so very proud, through everything you never gave up." A disbelieving sound cut him off as he pulled back and brushed at the tears in the bright green eyes.

"You never gave up Dean, you despaired, you came close but in the end, even when all seemed lost, you never gave up. None of you."

"When Cas was killed?"

"Ah yes that would be my little handy work."

"And the plane?"

"Guilty."

"What else did you do?"

"I guided you in the way that I could. You would not listen to me, as me, but you would listen to a prophet. You even befriended him. Something I have not had in a very long time."

Nothing was said for sometime, until Dean looked up his green eyes pleading, "Sam?"

"Samuel is fine, he is resting from his ordeal. We have many things to discuss before he wakes." He turned to look at Gabriel and Crowley, releasing Dean back into Castiel's capable hands.

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The demon made a pained noise and tried to shy away from his Creator, a look of sadness entering the hazel gaze. He reached down and Crowley all but shrieked trying to pull himself away.

"No, no please don't. I'm sorry, so sorry." He sobbed uncharacteristic for the creature, trying to get away.

"Hush now child." Gently he scooped up the demon and allowed him to curl in his lap and around him as he whispered softly into the Serpent's ear and ran his fingers up and down his back lovingly. "You passed your test as well."

Castiel and Dean had come to stand beside Gabriel as they watched the Creator comfort the tortured soul. Slowly the demon began to heal and Dean was able to discern the outline of two jet black wings beginning to fill in as he was restored, his grace knitting itself back together into something that resembled a soul and the angelic grace he had once possessed. Once he was healed Crowley clung the smaller man, curling closer, tears of the last six millennia spilling as he begged for forgiveness, not believing that it would be granted. The hand running up and down the shaking back did not stop as the emotions poured forth. Eventually, pale hands brushed the short dark bangs back and gave one last kiss on the demon's forehead, with a smile that was so kind it was nearly blinding, he relinquished his hold on the demon, placing him back into Gabriel's care.

The Archangel pulled the ex-demon close and buried his head in the dark tresses as Crowley buried his face into the angel's neck curling desperately into his embrace, the safety his arms offered, one feeling that everything right with the world for the first time in a very long time, and the second scared to face reality afraid that this was all a dream. Dean felt Castiel's hand close around his own and he found that he was okay with it; he could or would rather finally admit that the closeness of the angel felt right, like a missing puzzle piece had been filled. As he looked into those two pools of sky blue he knew instantly what Sam and Bobby had been hinting at over the last year. He felt the hand print on his shoulder tingle in the proximity of the angel beside him and the hunter leaned just a bit closer.

The only time it felt right, was when his angel was there with him, fighting beside him, rolling his eyes at the humans he so clearly thought were undeniably insane. If he was honest with himself it was what bothered him with the future Zachariah had shown him. Castiel wasn't Dean's partner, he himself had allowed the angel to wander lost and alone, to figure out the complexities that make up human life. It would be over whelming to anyone. Dean had sworn then and there. It would never happen, that future would never happen, he'd say yes to Michael before he lost Castiel in that way. He would never leave the blue-eyed angel behind, though hidden deep down he feared that Castiel would leave him. Chuck was hugging Gabriel, around his demon, when the other guests appeared. Dean felt more than heard them arrive. In a flurry, before him on the dais stood Death, himself, surrounded by a fleet of his reapers, all as grim as their names would lead one to believe.

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Dean looked up to see Death standing on the dais with four of his reapers surrounding him and others scattered throughout the room. Death eyed him and the other humans with a sniff of disdain before landing his gaze on Chuck. Dean could not seem to call him God, his mind was having a bit of trouble getting around that little tid-bit of information, so it was going to block it out all together thank you very much. The smaller man just smiled and returned the nod as the angels stood. Castiel not letting go of Dean's hand, as Anna assisted Bobby, Gabriel still knelt with Crowley wrapped tightly around him, his face buried in the angel's collar, looking as if he was trying to escape by boroughing into the Archangel.

Chuck looked down and gave a sad smile as he laid his hand on the man's head smoothing the dark locks fondly. Gabriel could sense the anguish radiating off of the demon, he was afraid, desperately afraid that this was all a dream. Some cruel hoax, he would finally submit and then he would wake up. Wake up and find that they had lost, everyone was dead and he was trapped in Hell. He could not, would not go back there, oblivion was better. He made a pained and strangled noise and curled tighter on him self as Gabriel tried to calm him, when another presence came nearer. Chuck continued to stroke the dark head soothingly, he could sense the being's desperation, it was expected, after all a millennia of surviving off of instinct and fear was hard to break overnight, even in a supernatural being. He desperately wanted to believe, but feared betrayal, that was all he was worth, all he deserved and, now that he had served his usefulness he was going to be cast aside, cast down into the pit once again to await the wrath of the others. Chuck gave a small sad laugh at the thought; the demon and Dean had more in common than they thought.

"Crowley, I need you to unwrap yourself from Gabriel for a bit. Come on, it's not a dream I promise. No one is going to hurt you now. You're safe." The ex-prophet looked up to see where Dean and Castiel stood. The hunter's hand clasped tightly in the angel's, the two were perfect for one another, Castiel's calm to Dean's raging storm. Crowley felt the wave of acceptance and love that flowed off of the Creator and risked a look up. The smiling hazel gaze was warm and welcoming. The experience from before as he was being healed had actually happened; he felt a hand settle between the shoulder blades where his healing wings were repairing themselves.

"Come on you two, we really need to get the show on the road. Up and at 'em." He grasped the demon's hand and helped him stand as Gabriel steadied him from behind as they made their way closer.

Death watched Chuck comfort one of his children for a moment before returning his gaze to Dean and descending down the stairs.

"What the Hell is going on here?" Death merely ignored Bobby as he approached the younger hunter.

"I must say I'm impressed Dean you managed to do far better than I expected you would."

"What do you mean? We failed."

"Of course you failed. You honestly thought that three humans, a falling angel and a demon could stop all of Heaven and Hell? Really Dean."

Bobby bristled at the slight, " Hey." He stopped short as Anna touched his arm and Death just looked at him.

"Humph, another one. Really the audacity and self-importance of these creatures is simply amazing. It astounds me."

"So you played us; both of you. You played us, all of the deaths, all of the innocent lives that were lost and for what? Were they just cannon fodder for you two yahoos? I mean you; you've already said we're nothing more than insects to you. But you." He turned towards Chuck. Bobby was cut off before he could finish.

"Father?" Cas's blue eyes were wide and pained.

The Creator simply crossed his hands and gazed at his angel. "Part of a plan that was put into motion long before the Earth was even created my child. You saved as many as you could. You all managed to achieve more than anyone dared dream was possible. But a turning point has been reached. We have crested the precipice; the end has started. A time for a changing of the guards, so to speak, has come to pass."

Panic flashed through all the humans listening. "The end? Didn't we just avoid the apocalypse?" Bobby looked on his eyes wide as he looked from one supernatural being to the next.

"No Robert. The world will end; new worlds and new realities will be created. Life will end and life will go on. It has happened before it will happen again. It is happening all over the universe as we speak." He smiled at Dean and the humans. "Don't worry your Earth and universe are the youngest of my creations. There is still more than enough time left for choices to be made, actions to be taken. But know this your world will end. That is the one inevitability that cannot be stopped. Where there is a beginning, there must always be an end."

"So what the Hell does this have to do with the boys?" Bobby sneered coldly.

"Dean actually. There is much more to you than just being Michael's vessel. In fact that was the wrong choice, the easy path so to speak. We needed someone who would fight 'til the end, regardless of what it cost them. Do what they knew was right no matter what." Said Death coldly.

Castiel pulled Dean closer stepping in front of his human slightly, blue eyes blazing as he beheld the much older being.

"Actually, as I stated before, I was convinced that you would cave, and give into Michael. You humans rarely take the right path, always the path of least resistance for you lot." Death shrugged, "That one though. That one said you would come through." He pointed at Chuck, muttering about know it alls under his breath.

"You're too hard on them. But you do have several more choices that still have to be made Dean. No right answer, no wrong answer. If you do not accept, then no one will judge you, no one will think any less of you. It is your choice and your choice alone."

Castiel clutched at Dean's hand as he felt the other man tense his brows furrowed. "What choices?"

"Gabriel and Castiel have been offered their rightful places in heaven. Well, Gabriel has technically been reappointed. They have both accepted."

Green eyes locked with blue as the new Archangel felt the desperation and despair coil and grip Dean's soul as it instinctively reached out towards Castiel's grace, frightened. The man was unaware of the bond he and the angel shared. Castiel was the only angel in all of heaven that could have gone into the pit to save Dean's soul. He had been drawn to him, physically pained when the hunter's soul had been claimed by the Hellhounds, calling the Garrison to action.

Clutching the human's hand he offered a serene smile.

Dean was not so calm, the angel could see the throat working as he tried desperately to calm his voice, "You're leaving? Cas?"

The newly appointed Archangel simply tightened his grip; he knew his human would make the right choice. He always did, when it boiled right down to it, whenever it truly mattered. Castiel watched as Crowley sent Gabriel a similar look, his dark eyes wide when they met the golden ones of the other Archangel. Gabriel just pulled the demon closer as an answer.

"Why threaten the whole world for a damn test?" asked Bobby.

"Test really isn't quite the right term. It was more like a job interview."

Death sighed at the varying looks of outrage on the humans' faces. "Oh do try to keep up boys, we've talked about this. I'm old Dean, and I have been doing this for a very long time. It's time to pass the torch so to speak."

Green eyes just stared back at him blinking. Death tapped his cane on the floor in irritation. "To you Dean. To you. I was just holding the position until you were ready. I should have been out of here ages ago."

"Me?" Dean did not squeak at least that is what he told himself when he heard the sound that emanated from his own throat.

"Yes Dean, you. Of all the destinies that lay before you this is your true path. This is your true birthright. The one that you and your very soul were created for."

"No, no way man. This is so far above my pay grade its galactic. You've got the wrong guy; you have to have the wrong guy. No."

"No Dean, that's where you are wrong. No one else is capable of what you do. Your soul is good and bright, compassionate and fair, but not softhearted, a true balance of what is needed. You will do what is right no matter what the cost is to yourself; you do it because it is simply the right thing to do. Not because of how it will benefit you. You need to be hard and unyielding but posses the ability to be gentle when needed."

"No, you're wrong. There is no way in Hell."

"Dean, I am God, I am the Creator, the Alpha and Omega, I am never wrong." At this Dean made a distressed noise in his throat as Chuck walked over towards him and Castiel, who had never let go of the hunter's hand. "Dean. It makes me sad that you cannot see how truly wonderful you are. Despite everything you have lived through, experienced, seen in the middle of a simple hunt you can stop and feel sadness for a small creature that was caught in the crossfire. You have earned the friendship of an Archangel, and a demon. Your soul shines so brightly that when it was cast into Hell it called out to it's other half, your companion, it's mate, sending the angels into motion to come to your aide. Angels, Dean rallied to your side."

"But, how?" Dean chewed his lip calming as Castiel's grace washed over him soothing his agitation.

"The position answers to neither Heaven or Hell, it is entirely neutral."

"But…"

"The position, answers directly to me. No middle man, only me."

"Oh." The human relaxed a bit.

"However you will need assistance. You are not magically going to know everything you need to know. You will be responsible for everything Dean, not just this world, eventually when you have come into your own. You will have a Lieutenant, someone to assist you in your endeavors." He held his hand up when Dean took in a breath, "And no I'm sorry angels are not eligible, neither are demons. While you will be able to enter both Heaven and Hell you will not be able to reside in either as you are not an angel nor a demon, you will reside here on Earth for the time being." Castiel gave Dean a reassuring smile as he tightened his hold on the hunter's hand.

"But I don't want to loose…" he couldn't finish, he had just realized what he felt for the angel, and now here he was fixing to loose it all, all over again. "You can't go Cas. Please." He said to his angel and turned to Chuck, "Please."

"Castiel has chosen to accept his position, and stay by your side if you would have him. But he still answers to me Dean Winchester, that goes for Gabriel as well."

Golden eyes frowned, "But Crowley?"

"Is in much the same boat Dean is in I'm afraid. He is neither angel, human, nor demon any longer, he is not able to reside in Heaven or Hell at this time, but like Dean may travel between realms." The ex demon looked on worried, he could not bring himself to speak in front the Creator, it was ingrained in his very being to cower, to run, but the man had soothed him, fixed him and restored him to as he nearly was before his fall. But he was right, he felt different, freer somehow.

"Dean while you have experienced both Heaven and Hell you have not truly had to navigate their halls work with in the system so to speak. You will need someone who has done both, and was successful in his endeavors. This person will also have to have had successful dealings with humans and Earth, as well."

"But I thought you don't get directly involved?"

"We don't and neither will you. But there is a lot more going on behind the scenes than you could ever imagine. You will be privy to knowledge no human has ever had before, we needed someone we could trust to not to try and use this against us. I have already had my children warring amongst themselves. It is something that I will not allow to happen again and needs to be avoided at all costs, this will set things off kilter for a bit if you accept, but it will turn out as I have foreseen." Chuck smiled smugly at the human a glint of challenge in his eyes.

Gabriel was holding his demon closer as he listened a realization dawning on him, Crowley had been set up to become Dean's second in command, Death's Lieutenant. From his creation to his fall, all of it, he was the only one among them that had navigated in both realms in positions of authority; his dealings on Earth all of it. Golden eyes met blue and then green as the realization hit Dean and his angel as well. The green eyes of the hunter widened as he made a small inhalation of air, the eyes brightening with comprehension.

"So Crowley is supposed to be my Second in command huh? Well damn. You do know we fight like cats and dogs right?"

"As do I and Tessa. It is for balance Dean, a necessity I am afraid."

Everyone was quiet for a moment, so quiet you could hear the proverbial pin drop. Sammy was still curled lying on the dais with Lisa cradling his head as she stroked the sandy colored tresses, her eyes wide watching. Dean looked over at Bobby with Anna beside him, and then back to Gabriel and Crowley, neither had said anything. Crowley just stood watching the floor with a crestfallen look about him, sure Dean would deny him. Then the hunter met Castiel's gaze and gave a small smile.

"So you aren't going anywhere?"

"No Dean, no matter what you choose. I have asked to remain by your side if you will have me. I will be Heaven's liaison to Earth so to speak. Several of us are being left to monitor the situation down here; the balance had listed too far in one direction. It caused things to slip further and further away. And when the time comes, if you accept, to fully take on your role then I will be beside you then as well. I want to stay with you Dean, forever."

"Forever huh? That's a really long time Cas."

"Not really. It will never be long enough if I am with you."

Dean was not going to do something as sappy as tear up as he felt Castiel's grace brush against his soul. It was like coming home, he felt safe, protected, cherished and loved. Forever was literal with this bunch; he had never even had a relationship that had lasted six months. Now he was looking at forever, and it felt right. He had never understood what people meant when they talked about their heart and soul until this very moment. He gulped and smiled shyly ducking his head off kilter and way out of character for himself.

"I think I'd like that Cas. I'd like that a whole lot."

Castiel caught the man's face in his warm hands and kissed him in a sweet and loving kiss, before pulling away and placing a small peck on his nose. "You are my beloved Dean, I will never leave you."

Beloved, Dean could get used to this, and damn it he was blushing, thank God Sammy wasn't awake to see this. "Okay. I accept. Crowley, man looks like your it, you up to working with me for a couple of eternities?" Dean still hadn't quite gotten his mind around what was going on, but he knew despite the unsettling doubt pulling at him, that this was the right choice.

The demon gave a watered down but very familiar smirk as he eyed the hunter, "Sounds like fun Winchester. I'm in." Gabriel pulled him close and smiled.

"Remember this. There is no pulling out, no turning back. Once this is done, it is done." God eyed the angels as well. The two Archangels nodded solemnly placing their hands over their hearts, as they and the other angels knelt before their Father. Crowley met Chuck's gaze and nodded as well his hand over his heart but did not kneel as God turned toward Death and nodded. The older being descended the stairs to stand before the human, ring in hand. Pulling Dean's hand out he slipped the ring onto his finger and handed over the cane, whispering in a language the human could not understand. Placing a wrinkled hand on Dean's forehead there was a searing warmth and a bright light as Dean gasped. Suddenly as it appeared it faded and the human staggered under the onslaught of feelings that tore through him. He could sense all of the reapers in the room, in the world, all of the worlds. Each and everyone stopped and listened, when he turned, one by one all of the reapers knelt lowering their heads, supplicating themselves before their new master. Dean let out an awkward laugh as he looked at Bobby who was simply aghast, mouth hanging open slightly. In all of this after everything that had happened, all Dean Winchester could manage to say was.

"Awesome."

Chuck rolled his eyes as Dean looked back at him, and once again Dean knew what he had to do. The older Death had once told Dean that he would one day reap God, this had always felt wrong, even as he heard the words. The hunter had always claimed that he didn't believe in God, in any higher power really. There was no way, that if he was as they said, he'd let them suffer like he did. But he got it, he really did or least he was starting too. "You aren't gonna throw me into a burning lake of sulfur during the end of times are you?"

"No Dean. No lake of fire for you my boy. It is merely a story, symbolism showing that man kind will no longer die, they will reign with me and the angels in Heaven or with Lucifer and his demons in Hell." He shrugged as Dean nodded rubbing his hands together; he knew what he needed to do. Placing his hand over his heart he looked at Chuck in the eye and said, "I swear" and knelt bowing his head. Crowley followed suit as the reapers lowered themselves just a bit more all swearing their fealty to the being in front of them. Chuck just beamed as he nodded accepting their actions and turned to walk back toward the stairs and the gaping Lisa and unconscious Samuel.

"Now that business has been taken care of, why don't we wrap things up."? He touched two fingers to Sammy's head and the man arched sucking in a deep breath as he was brought back eyes wide and staring at the man above him.

"Chuck? Lisa? What? Dean!" he shot up before a calming hand was placed on his shoulder.

"Don't worry everyone is fine. It will all be explained. But now to deal with our audience." He turned toward the humans who had been witness to the events that had just transpired, television cameras that had captured everything the battle with the Devil, the arrival of God and the angels, even Death and the reapers. In a blink most of the angels were gone, Chuck looked at Dean, who then dismissed the reapers back to their duties. Death just stretched and with a nod to the shorter man and disappeared. A peace flowed through out the building surrounding all of the occupants, all eyes both in the auditorium and through out the world locked on the earnest ones of Chuck Shirley who smiled, and with a whispered 'forget' the world blinked and reset itself, only a certain few would be allowed to remember what had transpired, for the most part, however, the world would carry on as if nothing had happened. With a snap of his fingers, the preacher was once again preaching behind the podium, Lisa awoke with a start on her couch with the revival blaring out of the TV, blinking she got up the need to hug her son and tell him she loved him was over whelming. And three angels, an ex demon and three humans found themselves standing just outside of Bobby's back door, most of them looking flummoxed and gob-smacked. Sammy looked around shaken and confused something was off, he had the distinct feeling he had missed something, something big. He blinked as Chuck beamed at them and then vanished in a swirl of mist with an 'I'll be in touch kids.'

Sam looked around, "Dude, what the Hell did I miss?"

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ooOooOooOoo Disclaimer ooOooOooOoo

Neither the author nor the artist own any of the characters found in the above story or the accompanying art work. We are are merely letting our plot bunnies out to play. ^_^

ooOooOooOoo Author Notes ooOooOooOoo

This story was spawned by my envisioning a picture taken at Sam's wedding to Sarah, of his side of the family.

The photo consists of Sam and Sarah, Bobby, Gabriel, Crowley, Castiel, Dean and Chuck. Sarah chuckles and teasingly comments to Sam after watching the events of the reception unfold that Sam has the oddest family. Sam just laughs and tells her "she has no idea." in her family portrait she has an ex-hunter, the Boy King, two Archangels, an Ex-demon, the Grim Reaper and God. Odd doesn't even begin to cover it.

I was going to have this story as an epilogue but I think I want to do it as a stand-alone story and it doesn't really fit in with what I wrote.

The apocalypse confrontation came to me while sitting in Church one Sunday. It was a really good sermon about it being okay to have questions. But my plot bunnies appeared in the pew behind me and whacked me over the head with the idea. Silly little things, my plot bunnies.

I did use some instances from Swan Song for a few of the conversations at the beginning and I read somewhere that an author thought that the whole apocalypse was one big job interview for Cas so there you go.

And obviously my Crowley is based on a fusion with the Crowley in Good Omens, only in this one, though he is never mentioned, Crowley and Aziraphael are more like brothers. ^_^