Familiar Visits
Seven Minutes in Heaven

Summary: Dean died more times than anyone else he knew.

Author's Note: Something I would have loved to have seen in the show, or would love to see! :-PI took liberties, go with the timeline and who would be in heaven. I could not write last night after getting home from work and having to go back in less than twelve hours. This was power written before work. Hope you still like.

Dean wasn't sure what had happened but he knew he had been fighting off a demon then blankness. He was about ninety-five percent sure that he just had his neck snapped and was well passed dead. This was confirmed a few seconds later when Castiel appears beside him.

"Dean, you must really work on not dying," he tskked and Dean rolled his eyes like this was something he enjoyed or even attempted to search out.

"Thanks Cass, I'll keep that in mind, it wasn't like it wasn't on my to do list already. Can you send me back Sammy's probably freaking out."

"You have been requested and I believe it is for the best." With that the angel reached out and put an arm on Dean's shoulder and they were gone. Both of them reforming in what Dean assumed was suppose to be the roadhouse. While that was a shock in itself what was more shocking was the people grouped standing around the room. Faces of people Dean missed, that he had failed to safe, his family and friends that had left already. They were all here and dean turned to Castiel.

"Is this some sign or something? Am I not-" he stopped himself unable to finish the sentence. He had assumed that Heaven would send him back, that CASS would send him back. He could hear his breathing pick up as he started to panic and the hand is back on his arm where the mark was.

"Its okay Dean, they just wanted to see you and I was worried with your…sanity so I told them they could have seven minutes with you the next time you die. That was about thirty minutes ago."

"Oh, so I'm gonna-"

"Go back to Sam in six minutes and forty-five seconds. "

'Guess I should-"

"Yes, quickly." With that Dean turned away from the Angel and to his family and friends. His eyes scanning the crowd for one person above all others and wasn't able to see her. "Your mother is not here Dean, I am sorry her and your father are both missing at the moment."

Dean didn't let that distract him as he was pulled into Ellen's arms, Jo wrapping herself around his back. Whispered words of happiness and no hate as he shivered in their arms worried they would hate him for killing both of them. They quickly put him in his place that he didn't do anything to them. He wasn't even out of Ellen's arms before she handed him over to Pastor Jim. Dean blinked for a couple seconds before the tears rolled down his cheek and he went to the hug willing.

"Miss you boy, stay safe, make sure that Sam keeps praying, yah," the religious man stated rubbing Deans's back and he hugged him to his body. Dean wrapped himself around the old man from his childhood, Jim had always had the right word or perfect cookie to make everything seem so much easier.

Caleb followed Jim, then a few of the people Dean failed to save, thanking him for saving their family and killing the creature that had been after them, he was then passed back to Ash who gave him a pat on the back and handed him a cold beer to drink with him, as soon as that was finished Dean found himself in front of Rufus.

"Shut up boy, you tried your best." He grabbed him and pulled him into a rough hug before shrugging it off and walking away from Dean over to Ellen who hugged him and gave him a beer. Pamela was next, a kiss and a blessing of safety and he was moving to the next table that held Adam and his mother.

"I am so sorry, I should have found you before-"

"Dean, you are not your father and do not need to clean up his messes. Thank you for trying to protect us." She told him as she hugged him and he relaxed slightly in her arms and smiled at Adam who just waved from his seat but didn't bother to get up and greet his half brother. Dean couldn't blame him, kinda left him in the pit with the big bads. Dean was having a quick chat with Victor, Frank and Gwen when Cass made his way over. While Dean was starting to feel overwhelmed he wouldn't trade this for anything.

"Dean we have a little under two minutes left, I would suggest to-"

"Pick it up, yeah I got it Cass, thanks." He said with a smile as he shook the gathered hands Frank holding onto his arm and pulling him into his body.

"Angel Cakes and you are interesting."

"Leave it Frank," was the chuckled comment as Dean moved to the next group, a mixture of people he saved and family, all greeting Dean and thanking him or wishing him well. Henry, Deanna, Samuel, Karen; who asked Dean to tell Bobby she was waiting for him, but not anytime soon ya' hear; Andy handing him a puff as he moved down the line that had formed at the Angels words. It felt like a wake in reverse but it was nice even if weird as fuck.

Mark, Christian, other Campbell's that Dean didn't know that well, Daniel, a lot of people he had tried to save, and so many more that Dean hadn't even thought about.

He was starting to feel overwhelmed when he finally reached the end of the line. Shock stopped him dead in his tracks. There stood Jessica, he blinked a few times and she pulled him into a hug. Whispered thanks and words that he would repeat only to Sam later that night and Dean felt the arm on his mark again and knew it was time. A tear ran down his cheek as he pulled away.

"Sorry I couldn't be better for you."

"You are the best already, just keep doing what you do Dean." She wiped the tear and stepped back people grouping together and waving as Castiel and Dean took their leave. Walking out the front door and into a forest as Dean looked around blinking at the change.

"There is one more thing to show you," Castiel informed him and before Dean could protest or agree he felt the sensation of flying. He looked around him and tried to remind himself this was heaven and 'flying' here didn't really matter since he was already dead. It helped let him relax slightly as they moved across the land.

"There were many others that wanted to thank you for what you have done for their friends and family but we do not have the time so I asked them to gather nearby and I would at least exit heaven in this direction.

"Okay I guess, I mean it's a little weird to be here and have all these people around."

"You are well known in Heaven as well as Hell Dean, but here you are celebrated. I do not known why this is still a shock." The two are silent for the rest of the trip before they seem to meld into a new room, this one white and endless. Dean couldn't help but gasp when he realized the crowd went all the way to the back of the room but he couldn't see the back of the room.

"Cass, who are all these people?" Shock and awe taking over his entire being as he looked over possibly millions of souls standing waving at him as they pass overhead.

"These are the people that your actions helped save at some point in their lives, " Castiel answered as they started to fly faster, "as you go back you those that knew of you and was thankful for what you did, those that learnt of you while in heaven, and those from the past that have wanted to meet you for a long time. A few angels are also amoung the group."

Dean couldn't speak as he took it all in, billions of souls stretched out for miles and he blinked and tried to swallow. "Why?" he asked simply and Castiel looked back at Dean and smiled softly to his charge.

"Because you have to ask that question." Dean blinks and they are no longer flying, he is back in his mortal body and Sammy is pacing a few steps behind Castiel and Dean.

"Sammy," he groaned as he pushed off the ground, his brother moving closer as the Angel took a step back. Dean turned and smiled to him thinking thank you to him over and over again. Later he would tell him just how thankful he was.

"Dean, are you okay?"

"Yeah, no Cass kept me safe, but I got some things to tell ya."

END