After everyone left and it was just the two Dean's, past Dean spoke his mind.
"Why are you taking me?" he asked.
"Relax, you will be fine."
"No, that's not what I mean. I want to know what's going on." Future Dean tossed the idea over in his mind and then agreed.
"Okay. You're coming because I want you to see something. I want you to see our brother." Future Dean spoke.
"Sam? I thought he was dead." He said in confusion.
"Sam didn't die in Detroit. He said yes." Dean felt like he was bitch slapped.
"Yes? You mean-"
"That's right. The big yes to the devil. Lucifer's wearing him to the prom." Dean was in such shock. He didn't want to believe it.
"Why would he do that?"
"If only you knew. But now we don't have a choice. It's in him and it's not getting out. And we've got to kill him Dean." Dean looked at his future self. The man was empty. Hollow of any feelings at all. "And you need to see it. The whole damn thing. How bad it gets, so you can do it different."
"What do you mean?" Dean could hardly speak. He rather hear that Sam is dead than to torture himself with thoughts of what his brother is going through.
"Zach said he was going to bring you back right? To 2010?"
"Yeah?"
"Then when you get back home… you say yes." Future Dean ordered. "Do you hear me? Say yes to Michael." Dean was incredulous at what he was hearing.
"That's crazy. If I let him in then Michael fights the devil. The battles going to torch half the planet!" he challenged.
"Look around you man. Half the planet is better than no planet, which is what we have now. If I could do it over again I'd say yes in a heartbeat."
"So then why don't you?"
"I've tried!" Future Dean was beginning to lose his cool. "I've shouted yes until I was blue in the face. The angels aren't listening. They just left. Gave up. It's too late for me but for you-" Dean shook his head not wanting to hear any of this.
"No, there's got to be another way."
"Yeah, that's what I thought. I was cocky. Never actually thought I'd lose. But I was wrong. Dean, I was wrong." He was so serious he could almost cry, but of course he wouldn't. He rarely sheds tears. "I'm begging you. Say yes." Dean watched as his future self finally let his guard down and show some feeling. "But you won't because I didn't. Because that's just not us is it?"
Later that night, at midnight to be exact, the heard took off. Various men, along with Cass, the two Deans and Risa, all equipped with enough ammo to put down a hippo. Cass drove with past Dean. Dean looked at Cass as he popped a couple pills.
"Let me see those." Dean said grabbing the vile of tablets.
"Want some?" Cass offered. Dean looked at the label.
"Amphetamines?"
"It's the perfect antidote to that absinthe." Dean stared at him and chuckled at the difference ten years could make.
"Don't get me wrong Cass. I, uh, I'm happy that the stick is out of your ass, but what's going on? What's with the drugs and the orgies and the love guru crap?" Castiel laughed at the comment. "What's so funny?"
"Dean, I'm not an angel anymore." Castiel revealed.
"What?"
"Yeah, I went mortal."
"What do you mean? How?" Dean was so shocked. Had Castiel fallen?"
"It had something to do with the other angels leaving. When they bailed, my mojo just kind of drained away. Now, you know, I'm practically human. I mean I'm all but useless. Last year, broke my foot, laid up for two months."
"So, you're human. Well, welcome to the club." Dean responded.
"Thanks. Except I used to belong to a much better club. Now I'm powerless, I'm hapless and hopeless. I mean, why the hell not bury myself in women and decadence? Right? It's the end baby! That's what decadence is for. Why not bang a few gongs before the lights go out? But that… that's… that's just how I roll." Castiel said rolling his head and smiling like Stevey Wonder which was proof that the drugs were getting to him.
The gang arrived in the day time. There was destruction everywhere. Cars flipped over, broken windows, just the typical aftermath of complete chaos.
"There. Second floor window. We go in there?" Future Dean took point as usual. The crew knelt behind cars as he looked in through binoculars.
"You sure about this?" Risa asked.
"They'll never see us coming." He reassured them all. "Trust me." He ordered. Dean watched carefully, thinking that something was up with his twin. "Now, weapons check, we're on the move in 5."
"Hey, uh, me." Dean called to his future self. "Can I talk to you for a sec?" The two of them walked away and Dean got right to it. "Tell me what's going on." Future Dean gave him a questioning look.
"What?"
"I know you. You're lying to these people and to me. See, I know your lying expressions. I've seen them in the mirror. Now, there's something you're not telling us." He demanded.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Future Dean denied.
"Really? Because I don't seem to be the only member of your posse with questions, so maybe I will just take my doubts over to them."
"Okay, whoa. Wait." He said before Dean could walk away. "Take a look around you man. This place should be white-hot with Croats. Where are they?" Dean thought about it and realized that making it even this close to the big pearly white gates of the devils three story house was too easy.
"They cleared a path for us." Dean concluded. "So then this is a-"
"A trap. Exactly." His future self cut him off.
"Well, then we can't go through the front."
"Oh, we're not." Future Dean revealed his true plans. "They are." Dean couldn't believe what a jackass this guy was. "They're the decoys. You and me, we're going through the back."
"You mean you're going to feed your friends into a meat grinder? Cass too? You're going to use their deaths as a diversion." Future Dean could only look away from the judging eyes piercing him. "Oh, man something is broken in you. You're making decisions that I would never make. I wouldn't sacrifice my friends!"
"You're right. You wouldn't. It's one of the main reasons we're in this mess actually."
"These people count on you and trust you."
"They trust me to kill the devil and save the world. And that's exactly what I'm going to do."
"No, not like this you're not. I'm not going to let you." Dean threatened. Next thing he knew, he was knocked out and awoke to gunfire.
"Hey! Asshole!"
"Now, that's the wife I know and love." Lucifer spoke.
"What's going on? As the queen don't you think I should know?" He smiled at me and I immediately felt relief that I didn't recognize Sam in that body at all.
"What's going on, is that I'm going to put on my best suit, and you will put on your best dress, so we can celebrate."
"Celebrate what?" I spat out. He came up to me and brushed my cheek with his rough hand. I flinched away from his touch that only made me cold and queasy.
"Why, celebrate the death of your brother in law of course. Dean is going to attack, and I will kill him." He must have seen the alarm in my eyes. "Now don't go getting any bright ideas. You wouldn't want me to have to kill you and raise Sophie all by my lonesome, now would you."
"Don't threaten me." I said slowly through gritted teeth. He watched at me curiously.
"There is something different about you today. You have that old fire about you that I thought dwindled out over time. What changed my dear?"
"I had a dream that Dean said yes and Michael wiped the floor with you all the way to hell and I got just so turned on by it." Again Lucifer gave me that evil smile and then unexpectedly, he slapped me across the face. At that moment I wasn't thinking whether it was a dumb idea or not. I focused on him and what he's done to my family and sent a jolt of energy flying at him which sent him flying into the wall. Next thing I knew, I was pinned by my neck up against the wall, with my feet dangling off the floor. He held me there and watched me struggle and then he let out a sigh and dropped me.
"Sharnel, get up and get dressed. Sophia dressed as well. I want my family to be there for my victory." And with that he walked into the bedroom. I coughed trying to get back the air he stole from me and I got up and looked out the window. I saw Dean with a group of others looking up. He was looking through binoculars. I decided that this was what I saw in my premonition. I waved at him frantically and pointed to the room that Lucifer was in, trying to let him know that he was here and to abort mission. Then I heard Lucifer call my name, and I jumped away from the window, praying he didn't know that I warned Dean. "It's time." He said once I entered the room. Get Sophie and come to the backyard." He stalked passed me. I wasn't going to even move but then I heard the first set of gunshots. I ran to Sophie's room. My poor little girl was hiding under her bed, caught in extreme terror.
"Sophie?" she crawled from under the bed and then ran into my arms.
"Mommy. What's happening?"
"It's going to be okay. Just stay here and lock your door okay? I will be right back." I left the room and then headed for the back yard. I had a feeling that that's where Dean would be.
Dean came to and didn't hesitate to jump up like the true soldier he was. He ran to the front and heard the commotion of gunshots and then went around back to find his future asshole. Thunder was roaring although there was no rain. He came around and saw to his disbelief, his brother standing over future Dean. With a simple twist of Sam's foot on Dean's neck, his future self was dead. He certainly did not go out with a bang. Then Sam, or should I say Lucifer, turned to face Dean. Sam was wearing an all white tuxedo, which was weird seeing how he was the devil.
"Oh. Hello Dean." He spoke nonchalantly. Dean could feel a chill as he heard satin speak although he would never admit it. "Aren't you a surprise?" I finally made it out the back door and Dean was so confused to see me running out of the house.
"Dean! Don't hurt him Sam!" I yelled. Lucifer turned to look at me and looked down at the dead Dean. I gasped and then stared at the other Dean in confusion. Another roar of thunder, and Lucifer popped up behind Dean. "You've come a long way to see this, haven't you?" Dean jumped and backed up by my side.
"What the hell Shar?" Dean mumbled to me.
"Long story. Very long horrible story Dean."
"Well, go ahead. Kill me." My eyes popped out with Dean's words.
"Dean, death bad, life good!" I squeaked.
"Kill you?" Lucifer looked at former Dean's lifeless body. "Don't you think that would be a little redundant? I'm sorry. It must be painful speaking to me in this shape."
"That shape has a name." I murmured.
"It had to be your brother." He continued. "It had to be." He took steps towards us and tried to put his hand on Dean's shoulder. Dean moved away and I rubbed his arm to calm him. "You don't have to be afraid of me Dean. What do you think I'm going to do?"
"I don't know. Maybe deep fry the planet."
"Why? Why would I want to destroy this stunning thing? Beautiful in a trillion different ways. The last perfect handiwork of God? You ever hear the story of how I fell from grace?"
"Oh, good God, you're not going to tell us a bed time story, are you? My stomach's almost out of bile."
"Dean!" I scolded him. Let's not piss off the devil. We already saw what he can do. The dude snapped the boy's neck with his freaking foot. I'm not overreacting at all.
"You know why God cast me down? Because I loved him more than anything. Then he created… you. The little hairless apes and then he asked us to bow down before you. To love you more than him. And I said father, I can't. I said these human beings are flawed, murderous. And for that… God had Michael cast me into hell. Now tell me. Does the punishment fit the crime? Especially when I was right. Look what 6 billion of you have done to this thing. And how many of you blame me for it?
"You're not fooling me." Dean spoke. His eyes were watery to the point where he looked like he was going to cry. I was so shocked. I didn't think he had those kind of emotions. "With this sympathy for the devil crap. I know what you are."
"What am I?" I stood there thinking that this guy is going to say the wrong thing and get us all killed.
"You're the same thing, only bigger. The same brand of cockroach I've been squashing me whole life. An ugly, evil, belly to the ground supernatural piece of crap. The only difference between them and you is the size of your ego." I looked at Lucifer. His face was void of human emotions. He just wore that evil smile on his face. Yup. Thanks Dean. Now we die. We stood there hand in hand, scared shitless for what was really five seconds, but felt like hours, waiting for him to blow.
"I like you Dean." He finally spoke. "I get what the other angels see in you. Goodbye." Dean and I braced ourselves to meet our maker. "We'll meet again soon." I had a sigh of relief when he turned to walk away and then this idiot.
"You better kill me now!" Dean yelled. I looked at him in disbelief. Was he crazy? Is that it?
"Pardon?" Lucifer turned to face us again.
You better kill me now or I swear I will find a way to kill you. And I won't stop."
"I know you won't." Lucifer answered with a long stride towards us that sent a chill up my spine. "I know you won't say yes to Michael either and I know you won't kill Sam. Whatever you do, you will always end up here. Whatever choices you make, whatever details you alter, we will always end up…" he trailed off looking at future Dean's dead body and continued. "here." Dean couldn't hold it back any longer as one long tear made its way down his cheek. "I win. So I win."
"You're wrong." Dean's voice was a little over a whisper.
"See you in five years Dean." Then with another roll of thunder he was gone. Dean and I could only look at each other and embrace in a hug as we processed what just happened. But over his shoulder I saw a balding white man behind him.
"Dean, lookout!" He turned and then the man put his fingers on Dean's head, just like Castiel had done once before, and Dean was gone.
"Where is he?" I demanded.
"Hi. We haven't formally met. I'm Zachariah." I stared at the hand that he left hanging for me to shake. "Don't worry. Dean is back home in 2010. Perfectly safe."
"I know who you are. I did a little research while I was here. You want Dean to say yes to Michael so that Lucifer and Michael could torch the place." I accused. He shrugged.
"Eh. It sounds bad when you put it like that."
"Go to hell."
"Get Dean to say yes, and Lucifer goes back to hell." I laughed humorlessly.
"And in what year do you expect him to say yes?"
"Look missy. You're all about the greater good? Take a look around. This is why you're here. Everyone found something out on this trip, now go home and change it. For the greater good." Then there was a shining white light.
Dean woke up in his previous hotel room and lucky him, the first thing he see's is a big ugly angel.
"Well, if it isn't the ghost of Christmas-screw you." Dean shot out.
"Enough. Dean, enough. You saw it right? You saw what happens? You're the only person who can prove the devil wrong. Just say yes." Zach said.
"How do I know that this thing isn't one of your tricks? Huh? Some angel hocus-pocus?"
"Because you didn't go alone. Dylan and Sharnel were there too and I didn't put them there. Ask them. The time for tricks is over. Give yourself to Michael. Say yes and we can strike before Lucifer get's to Sam. Before billions die." Dean walked past the bastard as he honestly thought it over. The pros and the cons.
"Nah." He said. He went with his gut instincts that said he could stop Lucifer some other way, even though a part of him was seriously going to say yes.
"Nah?" Zach said getting more and more heated. "You telling me you haven't learned your lesson?"
"Oh, I've learned a lesson all right. Just not the one you wanted to teach."
"Well, I'll just have to teach it again!" Zachariah said in fury. "I've got you now boy and I'm never letting you-" Suddenly, he was alone in the room. "Son of a bitch." Zach whispered. Dean appeared outside with Cass and us girls waiting for him.
"Thanks. Cass don't ever change." Dean looked at us. The three witches that he was supposed to hate. He march over and surprised us with a big group hug. "No matter how things turn out, we have to stick together." He whispered. We all couldn't agree more. Too bad one person was missing from the family.
Yes they are now back in 2010 finally. I have chapter 15 written and i just need to do a little final editing and then i will post it up. As always, reviews would be lovely. Until next time...Pheebz