Chapter Three: Every Choice Under Heaven

Dean spun around and Sam looked up.

An older man stood there, his face calm and peaceful. "Dean. Sam."

Dean blinked. "Who are you?"

Sam stepped around the bed. "I..know you." He shifted, head cocking to the side, then straightened. "The Garden. When we died and went to Heaven. You were the gardener who told us God wasn't going to interfere. You're..."

"Joshua. Yes. I am."

Dean studied him. "How the hell did you get in here? This place is supposed to be warded to 'invitation only' standards."

Joshua smiled. "I had help. From my boss."

"You mean God." Dean swallowed.

"Yes. Exactly."

Sam swallowed too, then took a cautious step forward. "So...why did God send you here? I thought he wasn't interested in anything happening on Earth any more."

"Not entirely true. But...to everything a purpose under heaven, and a time and place. Even God himself." Joshua smiled again, then dipped his head to indicate the bed. "I'm here for Castiel."

"What? Like...as in here for him, like a Reaper?"

Joshua actually laughed. "No. Nothing like that. I'm here to tell him that his task is done."

Dean blinked. "Task? What task?"

Joshua shook his head. "Perhaps explanations should wait until after I've revived Castiel. That should make things easier."

Dean looked backed at the frozen, agonized form of his friend. "You can stop this right, this pain he's going through?"

"Of course. That was my first intention."

The brothers shared a look, then stepped back, clearing a path to the bed. Dean looked Joshua in the eyes. "Please."

Joshua stepped forward and laid a hand on Castiel's forehead. Castiel's body went limp, then began to glow with a brilliant, white-gold light. Celestial light.

Dean and Sam both stepped back, watching as Castiel's body rose from the bed, glowing. The sweat and bandages vanished. The wounds healed. Across the bed and floor, the shadow of great outstretched wings grew from Castiel's shoulders, then flared and flapped. The pain left his face, replaced by peace. Then Castiel settled back into bed, the light sinking into his skin, fading until he looked as he always had. Joshua removed his hand from Castiel's forehead. "Wake, Castiel."

Blue eyes snapped open, blinked, and the angel's brow furrowed in confusion. He sat up, looking at his wrists. "I don't understand. I was..." He looked at Sam and Dean, then at Joshua. "I don't think I know you."

"We haven't met in a very long time. I'm God's gardener. Among other things." Joshua smiled warmly.

"Joshua. You talk to God. You told us God didn't care any more." Castiel frowned. "Why are you here?"

"Because it was time." Joshua reached out and pressed two fingers to Castiel's forehead. "Remember, Castiel."

Cas gasped, his eyes closed. He sat for a moment, breathing deeply. Then: "So...it's...it is over? Finally?"

"It is. It is done, Castiel."

"Whoa whoa...what's done?" Dean stepped forward. "Cas?"

"The salvation of Heaven." Castiel exhaled. He looked...tired, and relieved.

"The salvation of...okay, someone please explain that." Dean sat on his chair. Sam sat on the bed. Joshua remained standing.

Castiel took another deep breath. "Angels serve in Heaven, but Lucifer proved that angels, like mortals, were created with the ability to choose. The problem was, Lucifer's choice, like the Biblical Adam's, was disobedience. And with him came the fall of angels, as Adam supposedly caused the ruin of mankind." He shook his head. "Angels are God's servants, but with Lucifer's Fall, corruption entered Heaven. Hatred, greed, anger, pride...all the sins of humans were ours as well, cloaked in heavenly service. Worse, angels as a whole didn't understand the concept of free will. Therefore, they would do things that contradicted God's word, because it was 'heavenly mandate', brought about by those few with the power and understanding to manipulate the system. Like Raphael and Metatron. We experienced all the flaws of choice, and none of the understanding required to exercise it properly. I believe you've experienced the result for yourselves." He grimaced.

"Okay. So...Lucifer's Fall paved the way for angels to become overbearing dickheads. Or freaking lemmings." Dean looked at the two angels in the room and ducked his head in apology. "Some of them, anyway."

"Yes." Castiel sighed, frowned at his bare chest, and clicked his fingers. Seconds later, he was clothed in his usual garb. "And so God left Heaven, until such time as it could mended, as Earth was meant to be mended by the coming of Christ."

"So...what you're saying is...God made plans for the angels to have a savior?" Sam stared, his gaze darting back and forth between Castiel and Joshua.

"Exactly." Joshua smiled again. "God loved mankind. Lucifer's fall was a result of his jealousy. Someone had to be willing to fight to repair that mistake."

"Okay. And Cas's part in this was..." Dean gestured.

"Castiel was the first angel in the history of creation who was willing to rebel, not out of anger, or hate, or self interest, but out of love. Love for you, love for humans as a race. He was the first to embrace free will as more than simply a rebellion, to try and change. He was willing to stop Destiny, to move Heaven, Earth and Hell for that one purpose. He has always been special, but the moment he chose you over the plans of Heaven, his destiny was set in motion."

"Cas rebelled because he considers us brothers...and that triggered the coming of the Angel Christ."

"Yes and no." Castiel was looking at his hands. "Do you recall, Dean, how I was resurrected, when the Apocalypse began, and when it ended?"

"Yeah. You said God brought you back, both times." Dean blinked. "But the second time...that was after God said he wasn't planning to interfere."

"Exactly. That should have told us, told me, something. But it didn't."

"You weren't meant to know. You know why the foreknowledge would have been disastrous."

Castiel nodded. "Because I wouldn't have been acting true to the purpose."

"You're the savior." Sam's voice was quiet, tinged with awe and with shock. "You...what you're saying is that when you rebelled against Heaven, for our sake, you somehow became the one chosen to become the redeemer of heaven." He sat forward. "You said it yourself...you did what you did because we taught you about free will, and how to choose."

"Yes. When Castiel died the first time, God gave him a choice. And he agreed to take up the task. But if he had known what his purpose was, he could only have acted on that knowledge, instead of doing what was truly needed."

"What was truly needed?" Dean smiled, a quick twist of the lips that held no humor at all. "What the hell was that, huh?"

"To bridge the chasm between angels and the rest of creation. The chasm Lucifer created in his rebellion. Castiel was returned to Earth, and to Heaven, to bring the world back into balance. To stop those who would destroy the human race, and the world. To find a bridge between angels and demons."

"Fight people like Raphael and Metatron. Do things like team up with Crowley. And fall for Meg." Dean huffed in exasperation. "And the whole Purgatory thing?"

"A failing on my part." Castiel's expression was ashamed. "Like my cursing of God. I..."

"You took the sins of Heaven and Earth onto your shoulders." Joshua's voice was soothing.

"I failed in my faith." Castiel's hands clenched. "I cursed God, and even dared to try and usurp his place. I was full of pride, arrogance."

"But you did it to try and save the world, to end the fighting of Heaven and Earth. You did it for love, Castiel, and to teach your brethren. Of love, and choice. And the breaking of the strings of Fate. You did it to help them grow." Joshua rose and laid a hand on Castiel's shoulder.

"I don't recall feeling that way." Castiel shivered. "I was angry. I was arrogant. I was desperate."

Joshua shook his head. "You don't understand. You were meant to take the sins of your kind, and to become the bridge between Heaven and Earth. How could you do so, unless you truly understood what it meant to fall, as well as to rise?"

Castiel turned to look at the older angel. "You're saying...that God understands...that I am forgiven for what I have done?"

"Of course." Castiel looked away, and Joshua squeezed his shoulder comfortingly. "If you doubt my word, then go ask for yourself."

Castiel's bowed head shot up. "What?"

"Go ask for yourself." Joshua smiled. "You were reborn as the Son of Heaven, Castiel. Do you truly think that after all this, you would be forbidden into the presence of God?" He lifted one hand, palm up in obvious invitation. "Only wish it, and you can see the Father whenever you like, as I do." Joshua leaned forward to murmur into the startled angel's ear. "Just between us...he likes to wander in the garden."

Castiel stared at him, then looked at Sam and Dean. "I'll...return in a moment." Then he vanished.

"Wow. Talk about a bombshell." Dean huffed. "So...everything since the beginning of the Apocalypse, that was all some grand plan to help Castiel fulfill his destiny of saving Heaven, and giving angels some sort of free will workshop."

"Not everything. But much of it was the fulfillment of Castiel's purpose, yes." Joshua must have seen something in Dean's face. "You mustn't blame him. He was prevented from knowing the truth. Everything he did had to be done with no prior influence other than his heart. Otherwise, he would have failed. The Restoration of Heaven would have failed."

"Okay. Sure. Got it. Cas is off the hook." Dean sat back. "Only...where do we fit in? Me and Sam, we got a lot of lucky breaks. We were with Cas a lot of the time." He paused, then cocked his head. "Come to think of it...Death told me once that me and Sam were an affront to the natural order of things. Because we kept coming back. Kept affecting destiny."

"You do." Joshua resettled in his chair. "You were the hinges of the Apocalypse and the destiny of humankind. And when Castiel rebelled for your sake, you became the hinges for the destiny of Heaven as well. You were, and have always been, the focal point of Castiel's struggle, the reason for his choice, and all his actions on the road to fulfilling his purpose."

There was a whoosh, and Castiel reappeared. He swayed, and Sam and Dean leaped forward to catch him. "Whoa there. You all right?"

"All right...that doesn't begin to..." Castiel blinked at Dean. "You have no idea what God is like. I had no idea…."

Joshua smiled. "The heavenly presence can be a bit overwhelming, the first time or two."

Castiel nodded hazily. "Overwhelming...is a good choice of words." He let Sam and Dean settle him on the edge of the bed and sat there, blinking and swaying like a man drunk.

Dean watched him for a moment, then turned back to Joshua. "So...what happens now? You said it was done."

"It is. Castiel sacrificed himself, the greatest sacrifice an angel can make. He gave up his very essence to save you. It was the last great sacrifice required of him. To lose his place in Heaven, to give it up entirely with no chance of recall, at least not by any hand other than God's. To truly die to God's grace, as it were."

"Okay. But that was three days ago." Dean turned away, then whipped back around, pointing angrily at the bed. "He's been lying here, tortured by his memories, suffering a repeat of everything that was done to him, for the past three days! He's been in agony. And you could have stopped it. So why are you telling us this now?"

"And the third day, he shall rise." Sam muttered the words, then looked at Joshua. "God's Son, his chosen vessel...died for three days, and then was resurrected, according to the New Testament. It's Biblical precedent."

Joshua nodded. "On Earth, as it is in Heaven."

Castiel raised his head. "And so, God returns to Heaven, and Heaven is restored. And I..."

"You have a choice. Return, to sit beside the throne, his second Son, or..."

"I want..." Castiel swallowed sharply. "The presence of the Father...it's indescribable. It's beautiful. It's...everything I expected, everything I hoped for."

Dean rocked back on his heels. "I thought you were pissed that he wasn't here to help."

"I was. But he explained it to me." Castiel swallowed, then looked into Dean's face. "You can't let your children grow up, not completely, unless you let them go. Let them face the world on their own." He shook his head. "If God had interfered, it would have negated my purpose here."

"So..." Dean looked between the two angels. "It wasn't that God didn't care. It was that he was...what, letting you hunt solo?"

"A rough analogy. But yes, essentially." Castiel looked down at his hands, then at the older angel. "I know where God is. I respect him. I understand why he did what he did, and I don't regret it. And I do want to return to Heaven. But I...I have brothers here too." He looked at Sam and Dean, then away. "I would have failed without them. I...love them like family. I don't want to return to Heaven, if it means leaving them."

Dean stared. "Can't you just ask God if you can get a day pass or something when we call?"

Castiel ducked his head. "I was too overwhelmed to remember to ask."

"But you should already know the answer." Joshua rose from his seat. "You are the bridge of God's creation, the unifier of Heaven, Earth, and perhaps even Hell. You opened the doors of choice and destiny for all of God's children, even the ones that Lucifer's legacy has distorted. No door shall ever be closed for you."

"So Cas can come and visit, whenever."

"Of course. He is forever marked as God's chosen."

"He is?" Dean studied the familiar figure. The trench-coat, the backwards tie, neat white shirt and black suit. All the trademarks of the Castiel he knew.

"I am." Castiel raised his head, then stood. "God...gave me something."

Wings flared. Light sparked around his hands. And a thin band of golden fire wound itself across Castiel's forehead and temples.

"You've been crowned." Sam's eyes were wide.

"I'll be damned. Seriously." Dean's knees weakened, and he fell into his chair.

The light faded, and Cas stood before them as he normally appeared . He looked suddenly shy and self conscious. "Yes. I was crowned. And there's more. I received a promise." He looked at both of them. "When the time comes...I will be allowed to take you."

"You mean, when we die. You'll be allowed to take us to Heaven?"

"Yes."

"But Dean still has the Mark of Cain. It's been pretty quiet, but still..."

"I can fix that." Castiel took two steps forward and reached down to grasp Dean's arm. He laid one hand over the Mark. Light flashed.

Dean gasped. "Holy mother of..." Then Castiel let go, and Dean looked at his arm. His unmarked, unblemished arm. "Damn. Just like that?"

Castiel smiled. "Just like that."

"Pretty sweet. Guess there are some perks to being a Heavenly VIP." Dean flexed his arm, then looked at Cas, and at Joshua. "So...what happens now, exactly?"

Joshua smiled. "God has returned home. It's in a bit of disarray, so we have our work cut out for us. And there are some changes coming. Speaking of which, I do have a garden that needs tending." he vanished.

Dean jerked back, then turned to Castiel. "Cas? What does he mean by changes?"

"Angels will have freer access to Earth. And also to God. The rest...I'm not sure of yet." He smiled, slightly shy and slightly self-deprecating. "I haven't...quite absorbed everything yet. But things will be better. For everyone."

"Better. Better is good." Dean moved to get up, and Castiel stepped back to let him. "And...us?"

There was an edge of regret to Castiel's smile. "I'm needed in Heaven. God can manage, of course, but it works better if there's a wider structure in place. And that was my purpose." He shuffled, then look Dean in the eyes. "But...I will always, always, come when you call to me. Whenever you need me, I will come to you. You have only to ask."

Sam rose. "It seems pretty weird, calling on a prince of Heaven."

Cas laughed, a sound of pure merriment that they hadn't heard from him since he'd been insane. "You have called on me as an enforcer, a rebel, a commander and...everything else. Just think of it as one more change."

"Meaning, like nothing's changed." Dean grinned.

"Yes. Like that." Castiel smiled.

"Okay. What if...what if we don't need you? What if...we just want to see our brother?" Dean shifted. "Like, to visit a bar and talk and discuss stuff? Or to look through funky old artifacts?"

"Call me. I'll answer." Castiel's smile mellowed. He reached out, and placed a hand on each brother's shoulder. "For you, for both of you...I can always, will always, answer."

"That's great." Dean grinned. Then he leaned forward and wrapped Castiel in a crushing hug, surprised when the reserved angel returned it. "We'll make sure to call often then. And Cas..." He stepped back. "I'm glad you're okay."

"I know. Thank you." Castiel's eyes darted between both of them. "Thank you both. For everything."

"Any time." Dean clapped him on the shoulder. "And hey, tell your Dad we said hi."

"I will." And Castiel vanished.

Dean looked at his brother. "Well...I think I need some food. And a shower. And a beer."

Sam was still staring at the place where Castiel had stood. "Yeah."

An hour later, they were both clean. Sam had whipped up sandwiches and salad, and even some pie out of a box. Dean had collected two beers each. They each pulled up a chair and settled in.

Dean reached for his sandwich, then paused, looking at it. "We got enough for a third?"

Sam blinked. "Yeah, sure. Why?"

Dean smirked. "Wanna invite our brother to dinner?"

Sam laughed, then stood. "I'll get an extra plate. Give me ten minutes." He came back a few minutes later, another sandwich ready. "Hope he still likes food."

"Yep." Dean leaned back and closed his eyes. "Castiel."

"I'm here." Dean turned. Cas was standing at the end of the table.

Dean grinned. "Hey. We were just about to have dinner. Thought we'd call, invite you over to eat with the family. Thought about asking your dad, but we don't know him as well."

Castiel smiled. "My Father is busy. However, I'll tell him you extended the invitation."

"Sure. You do that." Dean kicked the chair out across from him. "Pull up a seat. Have a sandwich."

"I will." Castiel settled in, looked at the food. "It smells good."

Dean popped open a bottle. "Got a beer for you too."

"Thank you." Castiel looked at the beer, then raised it. "A toast. To family."

"To family, heavenly and otherwise." Dean and Sam clanked their bottles to his, then tucked in.

None of them knew what would happen next, but for now, it was good to be alive. Good to be together, and home.

Author's Note: Anybody surprised by the ending?

I confess, I think there's something going on with Castiel. Once resurrected is generous. Twice is suspicious. After the Leviathan mess...someone's got a plan for that guy. Which, clearly, no other angel in Heaven knows about, so...