What is to Come

By: Ridley C. James & Tidia

A/N: To happy endings, and fine beginnings.

SPN*thebrotherhood*SPN

"What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from." –T.S. Eliot

CALEB

Caleb lightly rapped his fork against his crystal glass of champagne. The laughter and buzz of conversation dwindled as he stood.

They were all gathered beneath the gauzy white tent in the meadow behind the farm. It was filled with linen covered tables, centerpieces spilling over with daisies and tulips, and a crystal chandelier. Mac had spared no expense in all the trimmings for Joshua's wedding, having convinced Carolyn to let him treat after the fiasco with Barnwell Mansion. The guest list was scaled back to mostly close family, some members of The Brotherhood, and the coven. Mother Nature complied, providing them with a warm, clear spring evening, a breeze showering the event with apple and cherry blossoms from the neighboring fields. It was the perfect way to celebrate their victory over Lucifer.

The reception was grand, complete with silk draped chairs, a champagne fountain, and a gazebo for the big band orchestra. Mac even sprung for LED lights to illuminate Pastor Jim's flower garden. Miss Emma's roses bloomed early, stealing the spotlight, looking as if Mac had also hired landscapers for the event. Caleb believed they were of a higher power, Jim's own special blessing.

He waited for the crowd to grow completely quiet. Dean gave him an exaggerated thumbs up sign from where he sat with Sam, a few chairs down. Joshua shifted in his chair at the head of the table, Carolyn covering his hand with hers as she smiled at Caleb in moral support. He winked at the bride.

"I know Joshua was afraid I'd try and pen some verse of my own for this best man's toast. He even went so far as to call in The Scholar to assist me."

His revelation was met with laughter and a pointed look from Sam.

"The thing about Scholars is they think they know everything about everything, but rarely do they know anything about passion. That's where the great artists come in."

"Voices like Millay, Eliot, Emerson, and Dickinson are far better sources, but it wasn't any of their verses that sprung to mind. It was the voice of Pastor Jim Murphy which rang the clearest. Despite not being a great poet, he was one of the men who taught me the meaning of true love."

Caleb paused, scanning the crowd. He saw the faces of his family - Mac, Esme, Cullen, Jocelyn, Bobby, Dean and Sam. But also those who had weaved small threads into their lives over the years, making a world so much richer and more vibrant for their presence - Elijah, Ethan, Riley, Kathleen and Bradley along with Naomi and her adopted son, Fisher. Jessup had even made a special appearance, and Buzz surprised them all by showing up in a tux with Missouri on his arm. The house was abundantly full.

"Pastor Jim had one hell of a way with words, a gift that allowed him to speak from his heart and not just when he was on the pulpit. I heard him talk about love many times in his sermons, but it was when he spoke of his family, of Miss Emma, that his words took on a life of their own."

"I asked him once how he could still have such faith in love after all the things he'd seen - war, suffering, losing his wife. I'll never forget his answer. Real love doesn't have a happy ending because it is never ending. It endures all things, including loss and sorrow. It forgives all trespasses, forgets every sin. Love never dies. It is the possibility of what is to come."

"I'm sure wherever the pastor is; he and Miss Emma would agree that Joshua and Carolyn have a future ahead of them blessed with amazing possibility." Caleb raised his glass to the happy couple. "To love and its never ending possibilities."

There was an echo of congratulations. Esme's eyes were watery, and she brought her cheek close to Mac. Carolyn was crying, Joshua gently wiped away her tears before kissing her. A hoot went up in reaction.

On Caleb's return to his seat, Missouri grabbed his hand in passing, and gave a small smile of forgiveness. Caleb returned it with a nod. He could get past what had happened- there had been too much loss already, and he was unwilling to lose Missouri. After a few bites of filet mignon he was assaulted by Carolyn's aunt, who wanted to dance. Bobby, on the floor with Jocelyn, gave him a wink, encouraging the woman as he passed by. After the third time of removing her hand from his ass, Caleb grabbed Sam, pulling him away from his conversation with Alison, Eli, Riley and Bradley before Carolyn's aunt corralled him. Deuce had quickly fingered the old lady as a groper, ducking out after the bride's dance with her father. He had plans to follow The Guardian's lead.

"Didn't you need me for something, Sammy?"

Sam looked from the blue-haired aunt to Caleb, giving him a smile he hadn't seen since James had inhabited The Scholar's body. "I don't think so."

Caleb gave him the telepathic equivalent of a slap on the head. "You needed help with something at the house. I'm sure Riley, Eli and Bradley can hold up your end of the conversation."

"Right." Sam rubbed his temple, his smile now a twisted grimace.

Caleb smiled at Carolyn's aunt, pointing across the room to where Ethan was getting seconds of wedding cake. "That guy over there is my understudy. He'll be glad to fill in."

"Ethan's going to be pissed," Sam said out of the side of his mouth.

"He owes me."

Caleb escorted Sam to the house, finding Mac encamped in the library, Harper Lee snoring at his feet and Dean not to be found in the house. After two weeks, there was still a lot of energy in the Triad connection. Sam's plan had been doomed to failure. Using the dark side of the force to bring about anything good was not going to work.

"That was a wonderful toast, Son." Mackland was all about touching his son- pats on the back, a squeeze of the shoulder, to make sure he was still there- war weary, but alive. He did the same to Dean and Sam. They all knew how close the end had been, for Sam especially.

Dean pulled a Luke Skywalker at the last minute, his belief in The Brotherhood, in The Triad, in Sam, allowed Dean to become Michael's vessel, yet still retain control. The prophecy of the righteous man had been fulfilled. The switch up was enough of a distraction for Sam to be pushed into the prison as Lucifer while Caleb used Triad Power to call forth a lost Triad member. At least one of Malachi's spells had been useful. Sam was returned safe with Lucifer locked up for all eternity.

"I did it for Carolyn. Think I'll be godfather to their firstborn?" Caleb grinned at his Dad, touching the secret panel that would reveal the door to The Tomb. He wanted to forget the past, especially the last year, and move ahead. The future looked much brighter. "It had to score me some points."

"Perhaps," Mac glanced at Sam. "Surely you boys aren't thinking of researching a new hunt after all that's happened. I imagine a vacation is called for."

Sam shook his head with a full smile. "Caleb's pilfering some of Jim's brew from the safe."

Mackland looked over the rim of his glasses. "Because the open bar and champagne fountain was insufficient?"

"I heard that," Caleb called from inside. He slid Abe's picture away, making easy work of the combination. He grabbed a bottle of the stash and returned in time to catch Sam discussing vacation destinations.

"So Vegas, perhaps?" Mackland had gone from sitting to standing next to Sam.

"Vegas would be awesome," Caleb answered. He was all for carrying on the festivities.

Sam hitched a hip on the desk. "Actually, Mac, since all that has happened, I was thinking maybe I could spend some time with you?" Sam briefly looked away; Caleb could sense Sam's humbleness coming though. It was new to Sam to accept he had a lot to learn and needed to be a willing pupil. Caleb suspected it wasn't just what had happened with Lucifer, but something in his trip to the future as well. Sam was seeking some kind of equilibrium, what Mac had always wanted for them.

"I want to learn how to be The Scholar that Pastor Jim expected me to be."

Mac reached out, hand on Sam's shoulder. "I would like that, Sam."

Sam picked up a book from a stack that had been gathering dust for years. "I figured I could check out Columbia too, maybe some other schools."

Caleb thought it was a good idea. They all needed a distraction, some time to heal. "You're going to stay at my place, I hope. Three's a crowd," Caleb quipped. His father and Esme earned some time as a married couple without all the outside pressures of impending doom.

"Yeah, that would be great. It's about time that place actually be lived in." Sam turned the book in his hand, a frown marring his brow as he read the spine. "Where are you going to be after Vegas?"

"Maybe I can convince Deuce to hit the road with me, check out Cooperstown for real this time. There's always the haunted brothel in Reno to investigate, too. Maybe find Bigfoot- Bobby's been pushing for that." It had always been Bobby's dream hunt, but placed on the backburner with high level demons running about.

"I think The Guardian is due a vacation before he assumes his rudimentary duties." Mac looked from Sam to Caleb. "The former Scholar can look after things. Go convince him by plying him with Pastor Jim's cure for all that ails. He's out by the pond."

Caleb had already sensed Dean was seeking some solace by the water. "Sounds like a brilliant plan." Caleb held up the bottle, arching a brow at Sam as he realized what book Sam had. "Unless Sammy wants to stay here and get his Austen fix? Northanger Abbey is definitely a girl's book."

"Shut up." Sam started to put the book down, but reconsidered and took it with him. "I'll need something to entertain me after you and Dean become sloppy drunks."

Mac shifted some of the books in the pile. They were all Austen novels. Caleb should have realized Pastor Jim was a fan, although they may have belonged to Miss Emma. "Austen is a brilliant author. That story is about a girl in love with Gothic novels who goes to stay with a family that wants to set up a marriage between her and their son." He picked up Sense and Sensibility. The books had probably been sitting there since Pastor Jim died. "Of course it is also the intricacies of society and the maturation of teenagers."

"Yeah, like I said- its chick lit, although the teenagers maturing thing is something the runt might be able to relate to." Caleb would not admit he had read three of Jane Austen's books, having taken an Austen Literature course in college. It was filled with female students, and worked as an English elective.

Even with Caleb's disparaging remarks, Sam seemed compelled and took the book with him. They found Dean skipping rocks over the calm pond with Boo by his side. The full moon reflected off the water, illuminating the whole area in a silver glow. The bow tie that had been placed around Boo's neck in honor of the ceremony had disappeared. His owner was still wearing a suit, but his tie was loosened and his shirt unbuttoned.

There was an empty plate near a log. Caleb had seen Dean leave the festivities, figuring he wanted some alone time. Sam, on the other hand, had gone in the opposite direction and surrounded himself with people. Both were trying to come to grips with what had happened to them in their own way. Too much alone time for Dean had his mind thinking about people in his life asking him to make promises, and how no one kept the promises they made to him.

"I thought some of Jim's brew could wash down that steak." Caleb held out the bottle.

Dean grabbed it with a wistful smile. "That it would."

"Caleb's hiding from Carolyn's aunt." Sam pulled the feed bucket over and used it as a chair. Boo threaded through The Scholar's legs. "He threw Ethan to the wolves."

"More like cougars. I had her figured as a grabber in one minute." Dean joined him on the log, shoving Caleb with his shoulder to take more than his fair share of room. "I'm surprised she went after you, usually Sammy gets the seniors."

Caleb did not want to talk about Carolyn's aunt. He had more important matters. "Did you hear my speech?"

Dean used his teeth to remove the cork. "Course I did- a hundred times, because you held me hostage to practice it."

He had been a bit nervous about making a speech that didn't involve building specs, sparring or training. There was a lot of pressure to get the toast right, especially from Joshua. "If this Knight thing gets old, I could always work for Hallmark."

Dean choked on the drink he'd taken. "Yeah, because no one does sentimental chick-flick moments like you, Damien."

Caleb looked at the two Winchester brothers, thinking of what they had put him through. "I happen to be the most emotionally accessible of The Triad."

Sam stole the bottle before Caleb could get it. "That's like saying you're the driest grain of sand in the desert. Not much merit."

"He does make people cry a lot, especially women." Dean gave his best friend another shove. "I think I saw some tears when Castiel was saying his goodbyes."

"I was just beginning to like human Cas. He had to go and get his wings back." Although the fallen Castiel made it evident that humanity had a fragile psyche. It was a reminder of their weakness, and how much humans needed to overcome.

"He earned them." Dean stole the bottle back from his brother, yet again bypassing Caleb. "I have a feeling he'll be keeping an eye on us."

"Speaking of…" Caleb looked at his friend, and forcefully took the bottle. "Mac thinks we all have paid our dues and deserve a break."

"A vacation?" Dean looked past Caleb to his brother, looking for confirmation. "We've only been The Triad a few months. I don't know if we need to be slacking. With the Lucifer and Michael gigs gone, Sammy and I need to keep our day jobs."

"More like a breather," Caleb clarified, making designs in the dirt with the heel of his shoe.

Sam beckoned for Caleb to hand over the bottle. "I'd like to work with Mac some, maybe check out some schools, see if it's possible to get my scholarship back."

"Who needs a scholarship when you're freaking rich?" Caleb smiled. When he had sold the majority interest in Tri-Corp, he wanted to pay back his mentor for his initial investment. That money was still in the bank, held in trust for John's sons.

Sam shook his head, handing the bottle back to Caleb. "I appreciate the offer, Dude, but this is something I need to do on my own."

"I meant you, Runt." Caleb gestured with the bottle in a mock toast. "You and Deuce. Both of you are rich."

Dean raised one of his eyebrows, and Boo looked at his owner in confusion. "Are you trying for sentimental again, Damien? Is this your attempt at metaphor?"

"No." Caleb took a gulp. The brew was quickly being diminished. "This is me telling you when I sold Tri-Corp, Johnny's initial investment grew to quite a bit, and I set up accounts for both of you." John may have left them many things –hunting skills, the Impala and a place in The Brotherhood, but not money. "Your inheritance."

Dean scratched his chin. "Dad made us rich."

"My hard work, talent, and charisma made you rich." Caleb laughed, giving The Guardian the last bit of booze. "Johnny just cashed in on it."

"Wow." Sam rubbed Boo's ears, the dog giving a whine of rapture.

Dean was still assimilating there was a bank account with his name on it, and also that his brother would be leaving. They needed the break after five years of consistency. It would make them appreciate their similarities and differences, yet still be family. "So what are you planning on doing while Samantha cruises the college campuses?"

Caleb never thought there would be any question. He was sticking by his best friend with the occasional bowling trip with Sam. "I thought I'd hang out with you. Help you spend some of your money since you've been mooching off of me all these years."

"Caleb wants company for Cooperstown," Sam replied.

"Cooperstown?" Dean set the empty bottle down on the ground. "What's left for us in Cooperstown?"

"The Hall of Fame Classic," Caleb recalled the conversation in the Impala. "Father's Day weekend is coming up. We could even swing by Bean Town; see a few Sox games."

"You don't like baseball," Dean sounded suspicious.

Caleb understood his friend did not want anyone to believe he could not handle being on his own. "I'll suffer through in the name of brotherhood and all." This wasn't about Dean being alone, but about Caleb wanting to reconnect, prepare for the future.

Dean snorted. "Don't play me. You have a side trip up your sleeve, something involving women."

"This is me we're talking about." Caleb thought about the haunted brothel—it was a dream hunt for him and Deuce. "You'll never know for sure if you don't come." Caleb grabbed a nearby stick, breaking it down. "Besides, you're the one who told me if you ever got the chance you'd want to do more of the normal stuff. Hang out."

"He wants his buddy all to himself," Sam said with a confirming nod. He had picked that up from Caleb's mind. "I don't mind giving up shotgun for awhile. In fact, I think I might enjoy the peace and quiet."

"You'll miss me within a week." Dean patted his leg to reclaim his dog. Boo sauntered over, leaning in for an ear scratch.

"Yeah, and we know you'll be crushed without me." Sam stuck his hand in his pants pocket pulling something from inside that he handed to his brother. "That's why I think you should take this so it's like I'm there."

Dean accepted the offering with a frown, unfolding his hand to find his protection amulet.

"You don't have to wear it if you don't want to, but I hope you'll keep it." Sam smiled at his brother. "It would mean a lot to me to know you have it-that it still means something to you."

"It means something, Sammy." Dean closed his fingers around the necklace.

"It means Sammy has to get half lit to verge into chick-flick territory." Caleb would never admit he'd missed the damn pendant. It seemed wrong for Dean not to wear it, and Caleb hated its absence represented the faith his best friend had lost in family. Maybe some healing would find it a familiar presence again.

"Sorry, I'm not the emotional conduit that you are." Sam rolled his eyes.

"Like I was saying." Caleb cleared his throat. "We've earned this break. We did head off the apocalypse."

Dean smirked. "And defeat the devil."

"We saved mankind." Sam grinned. "Even Dad would have given us credit on that one."

Time was doing what it was supposed to, softening the memories of John. "At best Johnny would let us have a day off with no training."

"I think he would have been proud." Dean looked out at the pond. He sighed. "Just like Pastor Jim."

"The old man never gave up on us no matter what anyone said," Caleb looked up at the stars. Orion was twinkling down at them. "Never let us give up on ourselves either."

"He saw what was possible in each of us," Sam agreed, unbuttoning his shirt. He had left the jacket in the tent, the wedding being blessed by a comfortable night.

"He still does." They turned at the unexpected voice. Caleb squinted as the shadow of the trees seem to take a shape, the leaves bowing and shaking, forming a human form until he recognized it was Pastor Jim. Boo ran to greet him as if they were old friends.

"Jim?" Caleb and Dean stood, Sam moved quickly to their side.

"Hello, my boys." Jim's voice was softer than Caleb remembered, like wind brushing over the wheat fields.

"My God…" Caleb stepped forward, his mind reeling as he felt the familiar link, realized the pastor was indeed in front of them in a solid, corporeal form. "It's really you."

"Don't looked so surprised, Caleb. I'm always here. I'm always with you." The pastor moved closer to them. He was wearing his fishing clothes, the fly-covered hat perched on his head. "Dean knows that."

"You planning some late night fishing, Skin Horse?" Caleb glanced at his friend, who did not seem shocked. Deuce's eyes were bright, his voice thick, "They should be biting."

"I have plenty of time for fishing these days." The pastor placed a hand on Dean's face; there was a glow in the contact, his smile going to Caleb and Sam. "Tonight is all about family."

Caleb's chest clenched, he took a small step forward, wanting to renew the connection to remove the last image he had of Jim dead by Meg's hand. "I still can't believe it."

"Believe it, my boy." Jim didn't give him a chance to respond, pulling him into a hard embrace, patting his back. "Believe."

Caleb didn't want to let go as he felt enraptured by a sense of peace he could never remember ever having. He reluctantly stepped out of the embrace when he sensed Sam hovering by them. He had to share this precious time, the gift they were being given.

Jim went to The Scholar, grasping him in a warm embrace. "I'm proud of you, Samuel." He pulled back; cupping the back of Sam's neck, again there was a dim light at the spot of contact. "You are growing into the man I hoped you would be."

"Thank you," Sam's voice cracked, barely above a whisper. "I'm trying."

"That's all anyone can ask." Jim stepped back, taking the three of them in. "You have given me so much more than I ever dreamed."

"We'll never forget you," Dean said, licking his lips. "We'll keep making you proud."

"I never doubted it."

Several loud bangs shook the night air. Caleb, Sam and Dean looked to the sky as a myriad of bright colors exploded against the midnight backdrop, outshining the stars. When they looked back after the distraction, Jim was gone, Boo was circling his wake.

The trees were being lit up by the overhead fireworks that Mac had arranged, and Caleb tried to seek out the image of Jim's smiling face once more. "He's gone."

"We got fireworks," Dean said, wiping his face with back of his hand.

"I love fireworks," Sam echoed his brother, sounding husky.

"What guy doesn't?" Caleb pulled his gaze from the sky. "Merlin and his magic."

They closed their ranks as a bright white light cascade down, looking as if it were going to touch the pond with its tendrils. Laughter carried on the air, along with the tingling of wind chimes from the farm.

"Do you think he'll be back?"

"I think anything's possible, Sammy." Dean tossed an arm around his brother's shoulder. "Where there's love, there is always hope. Or didn't you pay attention to Damien's girly speech?"

"Smartass." Caleb grabbed Dean in a headlock. "You really should build a dock out here, Deuce. Maybe put in some lights."

"Because you're going to make this our new hang out spot?" Dean escaped, punching Sam in the shoulder for not helping him. Sam moved with a snort, still watching the fireworks display.

"Maybe."

"You hate the water." Dean met his gaze.

"Things change. People change." That had been a hard lesson for Caleb to accept. He wanted things to stay the same. A glimpse into the future provided reasons to keep his heart open to all possibilities. "It's not always a bad thing."

Dean extended his arm to The Knight with a grin. "Maybe my best friend and my brother will help me."

"This is you we're talking about, Deuce." Caleb returned the fierce grip. "I'd do anything for you."

"Count me in, too," Sam said, his attention diverted from the fireworks by the pending plan. "It would be fun to build something that's going to last awhile."

"Then it's a job for The Triad." Dean lifted Jim's empty bottle of brew in mock salute. "We'll make it one of Damien's one for all and all for one moments."

Caleb grinned. Deep in The Three Musketeers therewas a quote, "all human wisdom is summed up in these two words: Wait and hope." Pastor Jim couldn't have said it better. "When do you want to start?"

SPN*BROTHERHOOD*SPN

the end

a/n: Thanks to many requests, we will be posting a missing scene to this story in a few days.