Author's Note:

Thank you ChickieG, Gustin, and my little anonymous guest for reviewing, I appreciate it :) All three of you seem extremely into the parents thing so there's a bit of a sneak peek you can share with the boys in this chapter ;) Everyone enjoy, reviewing helps me out a lot, I'm a needy little thing

Futurum: Part 1

Castiel felt his heart leap into his throat the moment they arrived, there were a rush of sounds and a mess of images bombarding them instantly. It was all relevant, a memory, a thought, dreams and more. Cas stumbled back as a ghostly figure flew toward him and vapourized before it touched him, all in a split second the sounds of his late lover telling him to run, the broken tone and multiple voices echoing into the area around him. Cas shuddered but remained standing, he could feel strong hands on his shoulders, bracing him and holding him upright. It wasn't Dean, Dean would have held him, hugged him close. Sam would have done the same but a little less intimately; this one had to be Jet. "Thank you," He smiled back at the taller male with some relief evident in his face.

"No problem." Jet shrugged with a soft laugh, "That kinda spooked me too."

They looked around and found themselves alone in the dimly lit world. Everything around them was either lacking light entirely or just shaded incredibly dark, it was like they stood in a hallway but it gave off more of a sense of being outside. There were sounds like a nighttime forest would make, the rush of trees and pattering of little feet through underbrush. But nothing looked that way, no real animal sounds were evident, everything appeared to be metal or machinery though they couldn't hear that at all. Jet snorted out another laugh as they took in the sights. "I guess seeing the future isn't a very bright and sunshine-y concept but they could have at least put up a lamp or two."

Castiel chuckled and started walking, "Come on, I'm betting anything that these corridors will lead us to what Michael was talking about." Jet followed his lead with a simple nod, his fingers tingling at the tips as he looked at the walls.

"What do you think that was all about? The weird ghost thingy… None of that's happening now."

"I think it's just the world's way of saying hello. It's very easily influenced, or so Michael said. It probably got overwhelmed with four new arrivals and shot out some of the stronger memories at us." Castiel hurried through his explanation though Jet knew better than to believe he was totally fine with it.

"You alright?"

"Don't worry, I'll be alright," Cas reassured him casually, it still hurt but it was so dull now. Dean was healing him, carefully, properly, Dean would fix him.

"Cool…" Jet let the word trail off as they walked further, he pursed his lips like he were about to speak but he shut his mouth instead. No need to push it.

Sam looked around as soon as his brain was able to decipher the new world he was seeing, he could hear so many different things at once but the loudest was his own voice echoing. Sam hadn't opened his mouth but he could hear himself loud and clear, screaming at the top of his lungs; "JET!"

Dean took his arm and turned him around to find that Sam wasn't the one actually speaking but they could hear him. "Sam..." Dean was at a loss for words and the name that usually came to his mouth was Sam's when that happened. "What... what was that?"

"I don't know," Sam looked just as disturbed, his skin crawling and his throat bobbing as he swallowed. "I don't like it."

"Considering we're in a world that shows us future events, I don't think I like it either." Dean muttered, a nervousness settling into his gut. What on earth was happening? Or going to happen that Sam would ever have to scream Jet's name like that? It didn't sound like a sexual moment, there was no sign of lust in his tone, Sam's voice was so terrified. Dean knew the sound of his brother's fear, it was etched into his being like a fucking burn mark so why? Why was he hearing it now?

"Let's... keep going." Sam tried to shake off the feeling but it just wouldn't leave him alone, the further they walked through the strange corridors he more he wanted to leave. It was affecting him too easily and he couldn't figure out why, or even what it was. They were quiet for a bit before Dean decided to try and make Sam feel a little more comfortable.

"So it's been a while since we talked, huh?" He started with a soft laugh, the realization coming out of his mouth as soon as it came to mind.

"Kind of, yeah." Sam nodded, the same thought dawning on him. "So... how have you been taking all of this? I mean, we were just living at home not too long ago."

"It's hard to tell time in this weird mess, isn't it?" Dean grinned and shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know, it's interesting. It's terrifying too but at this point I can't imagine living normally, you and Jet are here so the people I'd miss most aren't that far from me. And I'd never trade the time I have with Cas for anything. So I guess I'm pretty good."

"Even though you're supposed to be some legendary epic hero guy?" Sam raised an eyebrow at his brother, a playful smile on his lips.

"Trying not to think about that, really."

Sam's smile dropped slowly and he moved around to see Dean's face a bit better. "Scared?"

"Well, yeah. Wouldn't you be? It's huge, Sam. The whole universe, all of these words, are depending on me and Cas."

"Cas and I."

"Shut it," Dean hit his little brother in the arm, "But seriously, it's a lot of pressure. I don't know what I'd do without you and Jet with me, it's such a big help."

"Don't we get in the way?" Sam looked ahead again, thinking of all the times he'd tripped up or had to be rescued, "I feel like I'm nothing more than everyone's damsel in distress. Cas looks at me like a little brother, you do, Jet did - Jet even swore that if he came along on this trip I was his responsibility."

"You'll always be my responsibility," Dean placed a hand on Sam's shoulder and stopped his pace to share a look, "Doesn't matter what happens, Sammy, I'm always gonna be the one to take care of you."

"Gonna have to let Jet take over at some point, Dean." Sam smiled appreciatively, moving to give his big brother a hug. They pressed their cheeks together briefly before letting go again.

"Speaking of, you happy?"

"Yeah," Sam nodded, thinking back on it. "Jet's always been there when I needed him, and that's usually only when you aren't around but still. You know him, Dean, he's been your best friend since kindergarten, I don't have to explain him to you."

"He's been your friend since I was in kindergarten too, Sammy." Dean smiled, picking up the pace again, "But yeah I know him, I think he's the only one I'll let get away with the shit he does with you." He trailed off, his mind repeating the sound of Sam's scream just moments before, "He's also the only one I trust to stay with you. I mean if you were with a chick it'd be different but-"

"How would that be different? Women can be just as ruthless as men, Dean. I mean hell, they're probably scarier when it comes to emotional pain."

"Shut up, you know what I mean." Dean shoved him.

"I kinda don't, actually." Sam rubbed his arm, not wanting to remind Dean his strength could be a little much. "But you're protective so I figure that's it."

"Basically. It's different when you're the dominant one."

"You saw Jet, who says I'm not now?"

"I also know Jet." Dean reminded him and Sam nodded, physical position didn't make as much of a difference as he liked to pretend. Topping Jet was good but Sam couldn't help but wonder what it'd be like the other way, he could barely get the image out of his head already. Jet hadn't been in the dominant position at the end but he was still in full control, what would it be like to let him take everything? Sam felt a tingle in his back and limbs, it was an experiment he wanted to take part in when he got the chance.

They were quiet again, Sam pursed his lips together and looked at Dean again, "You happy?"

"Hell yeah," Dean laughed, apparently he'd been itching to talk about it. "Cas doesn't think he's much of anything in the bedroom but damn that boy can move."

"He's ancient, Dean."

"He's a kid at heart, Sam."

Sam chuckled and nodded, "He can be, I guess. Still a bit of a stick in the mud, you'll have to loosen him up some more."

"The pressure of all this world ending crap has gotten to him, he's been in it for centuries, like you said he's ancient. I'm already feeling it, imagine thinking you were entirely alone." Dean shook his head and ran his hand through his hair, his tongue pressed to the inside of his cheek as he tried to put himself in those shoes. "So yeah, I'll have to shake him out a little bit."

Neither of them wanted to say it first but the thoughts were eating at Sam like there was no tomorrow. "How do you feel about mom and dad?"

Dean didn't trip up or hesitate he just shrugged, "I hope they're alive, I hope they're okay. But mostly I hope they have a good fucking reason for leaving us like that."

Sam smiled, that sounded like the reaction he'd been expecting and the same one that he'd been struggling with. "I'm so glad to hear you say that." he laughed in relief, looking down with a smile.

"Really?"

"Yeah, I wasn't sure if I was allowed to be mad, you know?" He shrugged and looked ahead at what appeared to be a room they were coming up to. "I thought you'd get mad at me for not being overjoyed at the prospect of seeing them but... I couldn't stop thinking about it, what if they weren't forced out or hurt but left us? Why wouldn't they come back? I'm just glad you're on the same page."

"Hell yeah I am," Dean clapped his brother on the back, also feeling a wash of relief that Sam wasn't going to chew him out for it. "The pain we went through without them was enough make me angry. It's different if they couldn't come back, I can't wait to see them, I want to see them but-"

"-you don't know what you'll do if they did it on purpose?"

"Exactly."

The brothers nodded to one another as they entered the new room, a stadium sized thing with stands and a giant sphere float in the center. Sam's mouth slowly slipped open as he took it in, a good word to describe his face was 'awe.' Dean on the other hand pushed his lips up in a 'not bad' kind of expression, nodding his head as he rolled his head back and forth to see it all. There were several other entrances lining the place and he knew immediately that Castiel and Jet would emerge from one of them.

"Let's go take a look at the big ball," Dean trotted down the stairs leading to the base of the center sphere, motioning for Sam to follow him.

They had to tilt their heads back to look at the thing, it was big and glowing softly like a pulse in the dimly lit world. "Is this the thing that'll show us future events?" Sam asked, squinting a bit as he tilted his head further back to look at it.

"Probably," Dean reached forward and touched it, the moment his fingers made contact the surface of the ball rippled and it flashed a bright white. The brothers covered their faces for protection as the sounds of many different realities filtered through at the same time until one settled. The light of the sphere died down and a scene played out in real time before them.

Dean stood in front of large mess of rubble, his breathing heavy and his body bleeding all over. He stumbled a little and stepped back, looking over to where Castiel stood holding onto Sam. Sam was on his knees, his face soaked with tears, pain carved into his face like it'd been done with a real knife. "Is he okay?" Dean called, over and Castiel nodded quietly.

And then the rubble moved, a hand pushing out of it and pulling the rest of the body along. The clothes were familiar, tattered and dirty but they were definitely the same jeans and shirts that Jet always wore.

Dean and Sam looked at one another, neither of them knew what the hell they were seeing, how far in the future, what world it was, nothing. "What the fuck?" Dean was the first to say it.

"I don't know," Sam looked back to the image of Jet clawing his way out of the debris.

"That hurts my feelings, Dean." Jet's voice, it sounded like him, but his expression and how he held himself were so wrong.

"Don't talk to me like we're friends," Dean pointed an accusatory finger at the other, he was shaking. "What are you?"

"I'm Jet."

"Dean!" Sam shouted from the sideline, pulling forward but not able to get away from Castiel, "Dean please don't hurt him! I can't lose him again, Dean please!"

And then it cut out.

Sam's heart pounded against his chest like a jackhammer, he looked at Dean with wild eyes, hoping his brother had an answer, "Again? I can't lose him again? What the hell was that?"

Dean shook his head, "I still don't know." His heart ached just seeing it, what was going to happen to his best friend? Why were they fighting? Too many questions. "You touch it."

Sam shook his head this time, "No, I can't... I don't want to know any more about that."

"No one's saying it'll be the same thing, Sammy." Dean reassured him, "Please? We need to know what this thing has to show us."

Sam bit his lip but nodded, his fingers tentatively tapped at the sphere's surface, the same garbled noises rolling through as different timelines sifted out. The first thing they heard was a voice they didn't quite recognize.

"Dean? Is that you?"

An older man stood at Dean's back, dark hair with a few grey patches here and there, old and tired eyes. Dean turned around and his face lit up, "Dad?"

Sam's eyes were already burning, tears at the rim as he looked to his big brother, Dean's face matched the look his image had been wearing. "Dad's alive? Is that our dad?" Sam knew Dean didn't have the answer but he had to ask.

"He's wearing a priest's uniform." Dean muttered shakily, his hand lifting to point it out. Sam's gaze snapped back, Dean was right.

"Dad how... you're a high priest?" Dean gawked and looked up at John's tortured but smiling face, "Is that why you didn't come home? Where's mom?"

"I am a high priest, and you finally caught up." John went to give Dean a hug, squeezing his eldest son as tight as he could. "I'll explain more later, right now we need to find your mom and your partner and get out of here."

"You guys get separated too?" Dean asked after a moment of letting everything sink in, clearly he'd wanted to say more.

"Damn portals, am I right?"

"Yeah."

Dean and Sam stood in silence as the images ended again, neither of them knew what to say. They hadn't really gotten much information other than their dad and their mom had become priests. "What... does that mean?" Sam muttered after several minutes.

"I don't know," Dean said again, it seemed to be the only thing he did know, that he didn't know anything. "It could mean that they couldn't come back to our world because they had the fate of the universe on their shoulders, it could mean that they knew I was one of the world's last hopes, that something would be after me... You think they were keeping us safe all this time?"

"Uh," Sam looked at him disapprovingly, "Then why did that demoni get into me in the first place? They're either doing a shitty job of it or something happened recently."

"Huh... good point." Dean scratched the tip of his nose thoughtfully, "Does it work more than once?" He tested it by touching it again, the same scene flashed in front of him but this time reached forward to touch it too, see what would happen. Maybe to make it stop. The scene shifted, same time and place but from where Sam was sitting.

"Cas... please let me go." He sobbed, uselessly pulling at the arm Castiel held in place.

"I'm sorry, sweetie, I can't do that." Cas spoke softly, his voice shaking just enough to be audible. "Let Dean handle this."

"Cas it's my fault, it's my fault he was there, let me go to him-"

"No!" Castiel snapped, kneeling at his side, "He was there because he chose to be, not because you wanted to come with. Stop blaming yourself and think, it's not safe and he wouldn't want you to do this."

"Is he okay?"

Castiel looked up and nodded, his eyes starting to widen as the rubble moved. "Shit..."

Sam pulled forward, "He's alive." Castiel still held him in place but Sam tried to get away.

"What are you?"

"I'm Jet."

Sam couldn't take it, "Dean! Dean please don't hurt him! I can't lose him again, Dean please!"

Sam covered his mouth with his hand and stood there for several seconds, he didn't want to see it, especially not from where he had been- would be standing. "We can't let that happen, Dean." He whispered, "Please..."

"I'll keep him as safe as I can, Sammy." Dean gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

There were distant footsteps and they both looked up to see Castiel and Jet appear in an upper corridor. "Hey!" Jet called with a wave and Sam couldn't keep himself still. He bolted to the stairs and took them two at a time, rushing to meet his boyfriend. Castiel and Jet shared a quick exchange before the taller of the two rushed down to meet Sam half way. Sam collided with him like a freight train, knocking him backward onto his butt on the staircase, his arms wrapping around the younger instinctively. "Hey, Sam what happened?" He asked gently, not daring to let go.

Sam buried his face into Jet's chest and held on as tightly as he could, "Don't go, please don't go." he sobbed incoherently. Castiel hurried to their side and knelt down, brushing his fingers over Sam's hair sweetly, glancing at Jet who had no idea what to say.

"I'm not going anywhere, Sam." Jet leaned down and kissed the top of Sam's head. He glanced down at the sphere and furrowed his brow, "What did you see?"

"I don't know, but it wasn't you." Sam mumbled.

Cas pet through his hair a few times, not wanting to leave his side in that kind of state. "Whatever we see here can be changed, Sam." He whispered soothing, coaxing the younger Winchester's head up from Jet's torso, "Okay?"

"What I saw... it doesn't have to happen?"

"No, like reading the journal we can alter timelines just by knowing something. Whatever it is you saw we'll figure it out and avoid it, okay?"

Sam nodded and wiped his face, "Thanks, Cas."

"No problem, sweetie." Cas smiled and rose to his feet, walking down to meet Dean again. "What happened?"

"I'll show you in a minute," Dean shook his head, "Something bad happens to Jet, I don't get it but maybe it's a demoni? Didn't quite look like Sam did though..."

Castiel nodded and looked back to where Jet was cupping Sam's cheeks, speaking calmly and sweetly, easing Sam's worries. "It must've been scary."

"Well in the vision Sam said 'I can't lose him again,' so before whatever we saw happens we lose Jet. I'm gonna keep a closer eye on him." Dean watched too, sighing lightly as Jet pulled Sam into a hug.