Brand new story! When I watched 'The Sacrifice' (last episode of season 8) I was a bit disappointed that Sam didn't shut the Gates of Hell, and Crowley didn't become a human...So I wrote an alternative ending, and I think I toppled over quite a few dominoes. :D ENJOY!

...

Dean clenched the phone tighter in his hands, he could hear Kevin's muffled voice coming from it. Castiel and Naomi stood in front of him. Dean checked his watch, the eight hours were nearly up, the gates of hell would be shut in less than half an hour. Dean wanted to go to Sam's side as he shut the gates, he could imagine the scared look in Sam's eyes if he had to do this alone.

'Our mission,' argued Naomi, 'was to protect what God created. I don't know when we forgot that. I want nothing more than to see you shut the Gates of Hell,' She turned to face Dean, 'but I told you that you could trust me. If Sam completes those trials, he is going to die.'

'What the hell are you talking about?' Dean yelled in a hoarse voice.

'I saw it in Metatron's head. It was always God's intention…the ultimate sacrifice. As for you, Castiel, I beg of you, stop this path. Metatron has been neutralised. If you want back in, truly, I will listen.'

With a flutter of wings, she vanished.

'Hey right now, talk to me,' Dean shouted down the phone, 'Is she lying?

'I don't know!' Kevin screamed back. Dean could hear him rustling papers around.

'Well find out!' He turned back to Castiel 'Take me to him…Take me to him NOW!'

Castiel reached out and grabbed Dean's shoulders. 'Dean, please. You must have known that this was going to happen. I know Sam did. He wants to do this Dean. Sacrificing one life, only one life in order to shut the gates of hell forever, is a small price to pay…even if it is Sam's life.'

'What? Are you serious man? You want me to knowingly let my brother die, when I have the power to stop it?' Dean looked disbelieving.

'Yes Dean. I need your help. The lives of every angel in heaven depend on it. Don't you see,' He implored, looking straight into Dean's eyes, 'Sam knows what's at stake here, and he's willing to do it anyway. He is doing the brave thing here Dean, don't take that away from him just because you're scared of living without him. I can't do this without you.'

Dean nodded his head drooped down onto his chest. 'You're right. Of course you're right.' He clapped Castiel on the back, 'I'm one selfish bastard aren't I.'

'Don't be hard on yourself Dean, And besides, the track record of both you and Sam coming back from the dead if pretty high. Dying doesn't seem to stick with you too.'

Dean cracked a smile and looked up. 'Well I suppose selling souls will be out of the question.'

'Now, we must hurry. We cannot lose any more time.'

'Wait, Cas. I will do this for you, but you need to do something for me.'

'Name it Dean.'

'Kill Metatron.'

'What! Dean, are you crazy.'

'I believed Naomi. She may have been queen bitch in the past, but this is different. We are talking about every angel in heaven falling like Lucifer. We can't risk it.'

Castiel bit his lip in anger.

'I'm not coming with you unless you at least check. Don't go in guns blazing. Ok?'

'OK, ok. We don't have time for this.' Castiel handed Dean an angel blade, 'if you have a shot…take it. I trust your judgment.' He put his hand on Dean's shoulder, and the disappeared.

...

'Exorcizamus te omnis immundus spiritus, hanc amimam redintegra, lustra.' Sam threw the book he was reading from down on to the table and turned towards Crowley. He was bruised, bloody and broken, sweat covering his face. Sam took the knife in his right hand and sliced his palm. An orange light shone from the cut. Sam's body shook as he walked towards Crowley's chair, his face went ashen white as he felt the last bits of life slowly seep away. 'Crowley, are you ready?' He whispered, leaning on the arm of his chair.

'Yes.' He replied simply, tilting his head back, a tear trickling down his cheek.

Sam took a small key out of his pocket and unlocked the chains around Crowley's neck and hands. Sam knew Crowley would not try to run.

'See you on the other side.' Sam grimaced, and pressed his bloody hand to Crowley's mouth.

Both men lit up. Both glowing a pale orange. Crowley's eyes flashed, as though the demon inside of him was dying. He screamed a hoarse scream, gripping the arms of his chair tightly, the slack shackles on his neck cutting into him as a rived around in the chair.

Sam, fell to his knees, shouting in pain as the orange light got brighter. He convulsed on the floor, gripping his head in his hands. His body suddenly went ridged, the light filled the room, then travelled to fill the entire sky outside the church. There was a sound like a gunshot and Sam's body exploded in a shower of fire.

...

Castiel and Dean appeared in a white office. Naomi lay slumped over her desk, blood pooled round her head.

'She told you I lied didn't she,' Metatron appeared behind Castiel, pointing an angel blade at his throat. 'You should have listened to the bitch.' He smiled wickedly and turned his attention to Dean, 'A trip to heaven? Well isn't that exotic…ah ah ah. Not one more step, or I'll cut Castiel here like a birthday cake.' He grabbed Castiel by the collar of his coat and pulled him in front of him. 'You know, it was a shame I had to kill Naomi, I know how much she hated you Castiel, It would have been handy to have her at my side.' He shrugged, 'oh well.'

Castiel looked intently at Dean, trying to catch his attention. He caught his eye and looked down at where he knew the blade was hidden under his coat. Dean understood and slowly began to inch his hand towards his inside pocket.

'Now, I'm just going to tie down Cas here…no funny business.' He shot at Dean

'Like you expect me to stand here and do nothing, you douche.'

'That's exactly what I expect you to do Dean. I know how much you care for your pet angel. He winked and turned his back to tie Castiel to a chair. Dean didn't take any time to hesitate, he drew the blade out and threw it at Metatron's back. He turned and caught it effortlessly in his hand, he was surprisingly agile for an old guy.

'Did you really think I didn't see that coming Dean? I'm the story teller, I write this story, and in it…you die.' He advanced forward with a blade in each hand. Dean backed up hitting the wall behind him.

Metatron suddenly stopped, mouth open to reveal a while light. He screamed aswhite light burst from his body. He fell face first onto the floor at Dean's feet, a blade sticking out the back of his head. Dean looked up to see Castiel hunched over, one hand tied to the chair, the other still raised from the throw.

'Good shot.' Dean panted.

'Thank you Dean.' He untied his wrist and got to his feet.

'Cas, could you please now take me to Sam? It might not be too late.' The look of pleading in his eyes was had to say no to.

Castiel walked over to him, 'Ok Dean, if that is what you truly wish?'

'It is.'

'I will come to you when I have seen what mess Metatron has left heaven in. I may still be able to revive Naomi. The instrument in her head may not have been enough to kill her, only neutralise her.' He raised his hand and pressed his fingers to his forehead. Dean vanished.

...

Crowley awoke, head against the floor and feet in the air. His chair had been knocked backwards by the power of the light Sam had emitted. He knocked off the chains that were still loose around his wrists and neck. He pulled himself into a sitting position, and crawled on his hands and knees over to where Sam was lying. He pulled his head up on to his lap. 'Come on Moose, don't die on me.' He gently shook Sam's body, then put to fingers to his neck, attempting to find a pulse. Crowley searched his neck hurriedly, searching in vain to find a pulse he knew he would never find. He bowed his head, tears falling from his eyes onto Sam's face. 'I'm so sorry Sam. I'm not worth dying for. Please.' He shook Sam again, falling into a sob.

There was creaking behind him, and he looked round to see Dean. He stood staring at the bazaar scene in front of him, Sam lying in Crowley's arms.

'Dean.' Croaked Crowley. 'I don't think he made it.' Dean, snapping out of his shock, ran to Sam's side. Grabbing him from Crowley's lap and into his own. He too began shaking Sam, searching frantically for a pulse. When he found none, he bowed his head and wailed.

'I am so sorry Dean.' Crowley got to his feet, brushing debris of his jacket. 'I'll be outside, ok?' He put his hand of Dean's shoulder and squeezed it before manoeuvring himself round the fallen bits of ceiling, and out of the doors.

'Sam. I…I'm sorry. I could have saved you. I could have stopped this. You were so brave. So brave Sammy.' Dean stroked his face, wiping off trickles of blood from round his eyes.

Dean propped Sam up and swung him over his shoulder. He staggered, Sam dangling lifelessly over his shoulder, outside to his Impala where Crowley was patiently waiting. Crowley opened the back door of the car, and Dean gently lay him on the back seat.

'What are you still doing here?' Dean growled once the door was closed.

'I…I haven't got anywhere else to go.' Crowley answered in a small voice.

'So you thought you'd stick around me did you?' He turned his back and leant against the bonnet of the car. 'So he did it then. How's it feel to be mortal like the rest of us?' Dean asked conversationally.

'I can't describe it. There is so much screaming in my head I can't concentrate. Like there are people on the inside of my skull, banging their fists to get out. Like white hot knifes jabbing me in the gut. I know this is what I deserve.'

'Ha, to right you do, dick.'

'You don't have to insult me Dean. I know how you feel towards me. And I cannot ever expect you to forgive me for everything I have done, but I will try. Alright?' Dean looked round to see Crowley's hopeful face, gleaming with sweat and blood looking up at him.

'I really wouldn't count on it. So are the Gate of Hell shut now? I didn't feel anything.'

'I don't know. I was knock out when Sam…Exploded.' Dean furrowed his brow at Crowley. 'Well, not exploded. He filled with this orange light, and the light exploded. It was like fire. Then when I woke up, Sam was…' He trailed off.

'So do you think it happened when you were unconscious?'

'I don't know. I would have thought that actually shutting the Gates of Hell would take longer than a few minutes. There must be thousand demons on earth…Do we wait?...Hang on , what was that?'

The earth began to rumble under their feet. The windows of the church rattled in their frames, cracking ad smashing into pieces. Black smoke filled the air, swirling in ribbons around their heads.

'GET IN THE CAR!' Yelled Dean, pushing himself off the car and running to the driver's seat. Crowley copied him, pulling open the passenger door and throwing himself inside. The doors slammed, and were instantly hit with the smoke. The sky was so black it turned opaque. The car shuddered, moving uncomfortably side to side. The black smoke swirled faster and faster, spiralling tighter and tighter above the church like a tornado. It rose higher as more black smoke joined it. As the last tails of smoke joined the spiral. Every demon on earth span together about the church. It began to flash orange, like lightning, and flew down into the ground, crashing through the church, and it was gone.

Dean, followed by Crowley got out of the car. The church had been completely destroyed, wiped from the face of the earth. All that remained was a ring of blacked ash, glowing amber, heat waves rising from it.

'Fuck me.' Whispered Crowley. 'That could have been me!'

'You're one lucky son of a bitch. That's all I'm saying.' Dean replied.

Metatron laughed as got off the floor of Naomi's office. 'Did they really think they could kill me? The scribe of God? The man who knew God's deepest darkest secrets? Who are they kidding?' He pulled the blade out of the back of his head and disappeared.

...

Please Review if you liked it! Tell me what you think :D Much much more to come I promise!