Bobby's House
Bobby, Sam, Dean, Jasmine and Castiel sat around the table silently. There was no beer drinking this time, and no one seemed to know how to start a conversation. Finally, Jasmine leaned forward and looked at them.
"Tonight, I'm going back to Palo Alto to make my husband's funeral arrangements," she began shakily, "I need to say good-bye to him and pack up our house." She looked over at Bobby. "Then I would like to come back here and train with you."
Bobby nodded and allowed himself a small smile. "But what about your life back in California?"
"That's over," said Jasmine, shaking her head, "There's a war coming and I want to fight." She placed her hands on the table and stared down. "I owe that much to Alison."
Bobby placed his big hand on Jasmine's small one. "You are definitely welcome here." His smile got bigger. "Besides this place could use a feminine touch." Jasmine smiled back and squeezed his hand.
"What about Alison's body?" asked Dean. "Shouldn't we send her back to California?"
"No," said Castiel, "we can't bring attention to her death." He folded his hands in front of him. "That's what Michael wanted." He unfolded his hands and stared at his palms. "He wanted her death to become a big spectacle."
"Cas is right," interjected Sam, "she was a famous academic." He looked over at Cas who met his gaze. "Her murder would cause a media firestorm."
"So what do we do?" asked Jasmine. "We just can't leave her there."
"We give her a hunter's funeral," said Castiel, "I've already completed the ceremony to send her soul to heaven."
They all looked at each other and without saying a word; everyone got up and headed out the door toward Bobby's repair shop.
Singer Salvage Yard
Castiel had done most of the work. He cleaned and wrapped Alison's body in a white sheet given to him by Bobby. Then he carefully gave directions on how he wanted her funeral pyre to be built. Dean, Sam, Bobby and Jasmine watched from a respectful distance as Castiel said his final good-byes to the woman he finally understood that he loved.
When he was finished, Castiel nodded at Dean who came forward and together they carried Alison's body to the pyre and lit it. As the flames shot skyward, Jasmine began to cry again while the rest of the group sat silently. After an hour, the flames began to die and that is when Castiel stood up and turned to the group.
"I'm leaving you now," he said, "I'm not sure when I will be back."
"Cas," said Sam, now standing, "I can never be forgiven for what I have done, but please don't leave, we need you."
"I told Lucifer that I would die to protect you," said Castiel, "Now, I cannot make that promise anymore." He stared directly at Sam. "Alison wouldn't want me to break my promise, so until I can fulfill that promise, I need to leave you."
At that, Castiel turned again to leave. Dean stood up. "When will we see you?" he asked.
Castiel stopped and looked from Sam to Dean and then to Bobby. "In a couple of months." He said sadly. "Probably in Detroit."
Castiel turned again and started walking in long strides, and then he vanished. Sam sat down with his mistakes weighing heavily on his broad shoulders. He stared blankly into the fires of the woman he murdered. It would be several hours before he would move.
Jasmine stood up and hugged Bobby good-bye before nodding at Dean to join her away from the fire.
"You think that Sam will be okay?" she asked.
"I don't know," said Dean in an exhausted voice. "Truth be told, I'm simply too tired to care anymore." He looked over at Sam. "If we weren't blood, I wouldn't be here."
Jasmine looked at him sharply. "You don't mean that." She turned her head toward Sam. "Right now, I hate his guts, but if we turn on each other, then we are no better than Michael and Lucifer." She squeezed Dean's shoulder. "I know that it is a lot to ask, but he needs you."
Dean looked at her and nodded. He understood why his future self was so attracted to her. He would have to remind himself that he needed to be faithful when they got together. Jasmine nodded to him and walked away. Dean then went over and sat next to Sam and Bobby. They would still be sitting there long after the fire had burnt itself out.