Chapter 7

Future Dean and Addy stood side by side at the head of the table with Dean and Addy at the end. Cas and Risa, the woman who had given her a dirty look earlier, stood at opposite ends. Future Dean took out the Colt and set it down.

"So that's it?" Risa asked, unimpressed," That's the Colt."

"If anything can kill Lucifer, this is it," future Dean said.

"Great. Have we got anything that can find Lucifer?" she asked, rolling her eyes and then looked to future Addy," Or are we using his slut as bait?"

Her jaw clenched and before Dean had a chance to defend her she spoke up," Risa, look, I'm sorry about what happened to Chris. If I had known there were demons we would have never sent him out that day, but I've got blood of one of my friends on me right now and I blame myself enough. Every little backhanded comment you make at me is just something I've already told myself so guess what? You want someone to blame, blame Lucifer and focus on killing him, not being a bitch to me."

She fell quiet and she turned back to the rest of them," We don't have to find Lucifer. We know where he is. The demon that we caught last week, he was one of the big guy's entourage. He knew."

"So, a demon tells you where Satan's gonna be, and you just believe it?" Risa asked.

"Oh, trust me, he wasn't lying," future Dean replied.

"And you know this how?" she asked.

"Our fearless leader, I'm afraid, is all too well schooled in the art of getting to the truth," Cas spoke up.

Dean and Addy exchanged a look,

"Torture? Oh, so, we're torturing again," Dean said and they exchanged a heated look," No, that's good. Classy."

Cas laughed and future Dean shot him a death glare," What? I like past you."

"Lucifer is here. Now," he said, pointing to a spot on the map spread on the table," I know the block and I know the building."

"Oh, good it's right in the middle of a hot zone," Cas said.

"Crawling with Croats, yeah. You saying my plan is reckless?"

"Are you saying we, uh, walk in straight up the driveway, past all the demons and the Croats, and we shoot the devil?" he asked.

"Yes," he said simply and future Addy stared at him.

"Are you crazy?" she asked," That's not a plan. That's suicide with a pathway. I mean I can hold them off but-"

"You're not coming," he said quickly and she raised her brows.

"The hell I'm not coming," she replied with a scoff.

"He's right," Risa said with a sigh and she turned to her, confused," If Lucifer snatches you this camp is done for. We need you here more than anything else."

"I hate to sound arrogant but none of you can take on a crowd of Croats and the devil without my magic," she said, looking at all of them," You'll die. I know what he can do and he will slaughter you."

"That's why we have her," future Dean said, pointing to past Addy," She's just as powerful as you are."

Her jaw clenched as a knock sounded at the door and Chuck came in, looking frazzled, "Addy, a few of the guys who didn't come back from that mission had girlfriends. They're kind of freaking out right now."

She sighed and looked to Dean," We're not done with this."

She left with Chuck and he turned back to them," So are you two down or what?"

Both of them nodded," We're loaded and on the road by midnight."

Risa and Cas left, leaving the two Dean's and Addy alone.

"Why are you taking us?" Dean asked.

"Zach's looking after you, right?" he replied and looked to Addy," You can do this right?"

She nodded," Whatever it takes."

"No, that's not what I mean. I want to know what's going on," he demanded.

"Yeah, okay. You're coming because I want you to see something. I want you to see our brother," he said and they exchanged a confused look.

"You said he was dead," Addy whispered, the room spinning.

"Sam didn't die in Detroit. He said yes," he replied and her breathing stopped.

"I need air," she replied, rushing out the front door. She heard Dean try to follow after her but future Dean stopped him as the door closed behind her. She walked with no destination for she didn't know how long until she came to a tree. She leaned against it, gasping for air.

"That was my reaction too."

She turned to see future Addy standing behind her," I wanted to break it to you more gently but I didn't know how."

"We didn't speak to him," she whispered, struggling for breath," He needed me and I just let him go."

"Don't do that to yourself," she replied gently.

"Why not?" she demanded," Why shouldn't I blame myself for this?"

"Because you were hurt, Addy. He hurt you. Remember?"

"And it makes it okay," she yelled," That he was alone and vulnerable and he thought his only way out was to say yes to the devil."

"Addy calm down," she said, walking towards her but she backed away.

"No," she yelled, clutching her head," He's all alone right now and I'm with his brother. Oh my God. What am I doing? What am I doing? I'm-"

Suddenly, she collapsed, struggling for breath more than usual. She fell to her knees as her vision spun and she clutched the ground on all fours.

"Addy," she heard her future self say soothingly, kneeling down beside her," Addy, I need you to calm down. Take deep breaths and clear your mind. Nod if you understand me."

She nodded quickly and did as she told her. She began to calm and she sat back at her legs, staring at her future self who stared at her.

"I can't even hunt right anymore," she whispered as her shoulders hunched, "Is this what Lucifer wants? To ruin everything I am. I have all this power and anger and fear and doubt and worry…I'm just so…"

"Broken," she finished for her and they met eyes," I wish I could tell you that feeling will go away but it'll always be there."

"How do you deal with it?"

She gave her a small smile," The reason I got so attached to Dean and him to me is because despite the rest of our lives going to hell…we were always there for each other. Always and that never changed. I always knew he loved me and it was a long time before I could return it but eventually I did and I always will."

"How'd you get over Sam?"

"There'll always be a spot in my heart for Sam," she said sadly," I love him but I'm not in love with him anymore like you are. You're confused, hurt, and angry with him but I know you're still in love with him and Dean helps you forget…even if it's just for a little while."

"When I go back to 2009 what do I do?" she asked pleadingly," How do I makes sure Sam doesn't say yes without going back to him and without hurting Dean?"

"Just let him know you still care…about both of them."

"And how do I stop Dean from saying yes? He'll want to save the world. He thinks he won't do it now but if it gets bad enough he'll change his mind."

She paused, silent," I wish I knew, Addy. I really do. I've heard him screaming it at the top of his lungs until I had to beg him to stop and I just…really, really wish I knew."

SUPERNATURAL

Chuck came up to Dean and Addy awkwardly.

"So, you're really from 2009?" he asked.

"Yeah, afraid so," Dean replied.

He looked to Addy," Don't take this personally but future you doesn't scare me nearly as much as you do and some free advice. You ever get back there, you hoard toilet paper. You understand me? Hoard it. Hoard it like it's made of gold. 'Cause it is."

He said and Addy nodded slowly," Will do, Chuck."

"Oh, you'll thank me, all right. Mark my words," he said and walked off as they exchanged an amused look.

Future Dean and Addy caught both their eyes and they looked as the couple walked towards each other. They were close enough that they could hear every word. He gently caressed her face and pulled her to him, giving her a deep kiss as she gripped him tight, her hands shaking. They let go of each other and leaned their foreheads together as they held each other's hands.

"I love you," he said quietly.

"And I love you," she whispered," I don't care about Lucifer, the apocalypse, or the rest of this world. You bring everyone back home like you always do and get your ass back to me, Dean Winchester. No matter what it takes you have to come back to me."

"I always come back to you," he said, kissing her forehead," And I'll try my damned hardest to get back this time."

She nodded, holding back tears as he kissed her again," Be strong for me, babe."

"I will," she whispered and reluctantly she let him go," Go save the world."

He kissed her quickly one last time and went to the car, leaving her standing there, folding her arms and then she looked to Addy, giving her a small wave. She waved back and went to the passenger seat of the car she was sharing with future Dean.

"Hey, Addy," her future self called after her and she turned back," It'll work out."

"How do you know?" she called back.

She shrugged with a smile," We're always right. Remember?"

She smiled back and got in the car. She closed the door and he started the car, driving off with Cas, Dean, ad Risa behind them.

SUPERNATURAL

Addy sat with future Dean in silence. She stared out the window, the jeep filled with nothing but quiet.

"You're not quiet now and you weren't quiet five years ago," he said and she looked to him briefly.

"I don't really have much to say," she replied.

"I'm so whipped over you," he admitted," Even back in 2009. I'd never admit it to you right now but…"

"You don't have to say it," she sighed," I know already. I guess it worked out for us though."

"Three years," he said.

"What?" she asked in confusion.

"We've been married three years."

She scoffed," Dean Winchester, you managed to put a ring on me."

He shrugged," We were drunk and there was a priest back at camp. I'd just gotten back from a real bad mission."

"And you just said hey let's tie the knot?"

"Yup."

"And I agreed to that?"

"After riding me like a bicycle you did," he replied and she stared at him in shock. He looked to her and then chuckled.

"So you do laugh?" she asked, raising a brow.

His face sobered," Only around you."

"Careful," she warned playfully," If I didn't know better I'd say you were hitting on me."

He smirked," I'm cheating on my wife with my wife. I don't think that counts."

She smiled and then looked away. They settled back into silence and then after a few moments she said," You told him to say yes to Michael, didn't you?"

"Yeah, I did," he replied," And you should tell me that too."

She shook her head," Even if I'd never cared about you a day in my life I'd tell you that your life should be your own."

He shook his head," You and I both know that's a lie."

"It's not," she said sternly," I've lived my whole life knowing that I had it planned out for me. Even now that prophecy is over my life is still far out of my reach. Do you really think I wouldn't ever jump at the chance to get it back? I'm a slave to the Dark in me and I probably always will be. You have a choice. It may be selfish for me to say it but I wouldn't waste that. Consequences be damned."

He continued to stare at the road," Here I was thinking I was the leader of team free will."

"You are," she said, tilting her head," I can see how in five years it's faded, but you're in a car on the way to kill the devil, Dean. You don't need any archangel to save the world. You got it in you."

"Have you told me that yet?"

She froze," No, I haven't. Did it convince you?"

"No," he said, his jaw tight, "And if you know what's good for me you won't tell me that."

Her mouth opened and closed, trying to find the right words," I don't know what's good for anyone, but I do know that I have a tendency to always be right. So you know what you can go screw yourself with your hopelessness."

He didn't respond and she stared back at the road as they continued driving in silence.

SUPERNATURAL

Addy and Dean followed behind future Dean and the other soldiers through the hot zone, guns in hand. Dean stood protectively behind her and she felt his hand on the small of her back. She looked to see him worried.

"What's wrong?" she asked, leaning towards him as they kept walking.

"Does something about this not feel right to you?" he asked, his voice only loud enough for her to hear.

She met his eyes then," What are you getting at?"

"I don't know," he said with a sigh," Something just doesn't feel right."

"We're in the year 2014 following your future self about to go kill the devil who is in future Sam," she said frankly," Nothing's right here."

"I just…" he paused, looking for words as they came to a stop and the rest of the group went ahead," I need you to be safe."

"I will be," she replied, coming to a stop," I got this."

He searched her eyes and then pulled her in for a kiss, cupping her face as if afraid she'd pull away. He let her go and she stared t him.

"Why?" she asked quietly.

"Because I can," he replied and she looked for words as he searched her eyes.

Instead of answering she began walking again and he followed after her. It wasn't long before they made it to the compound. They hid near some overturned cars near the fence as future Dean reiterated the plan.

"There. Second-floor window. We go in there," he said, pointing up.

The group exchanged wary looks.

"You sure about this?" Risa asked skeptically.

"They'll never see us coming. Trust me. Now, weapons check. We're on the move in five," he reassured and Addy looked at Dean who was giving him a suspicious look.

"What are you about to do?" she whispered to him.

"Stay here," he said to her and then called out to future Dean," Hey, uh, me. Can I talk to you for a sec?"

They went out of sight and Addy took the time to really look around. There were no Croats and no demons. If the Devil was here than he must be really confident. In fact, judging by the lack of threats her protection wasn't needed at all so why was she here. A worried feeling crossed her and she went looking for both Dean's. She found them not too far off with future Dean standing over her Dean, unconscious.

"What the hell?" she exclaimed and he turned to her, surprised.

"I was afraid of this," he said, his jaw clenching as he advanced towards her.

She began to step back," Dean was right. Something is wrong here. You're sending them into a trap, aren't you?"

"So I can kill the devil," he said, standing face to face with her now," I need to stop this. I have to save you from him."

"Do you honestly think I'd be okay with you sacrificing people just to save me, Dean?" she challenged," Do I know what you've become? Do I know what you're willing to do? Do I know about any of this?"

"Addy you are the only good part of me," he said, his voice dark," And I have to protect you no matter the cost."

"This isn't you," she whispered, trying to reason with him," It's not, Dean. Please. Don't do this. Future me…she loves you. She wouldn't want you to do this. Think of her. Think of how much it would hurt her to know this."

He cupped the side of her face and his expression softened. She relaxed as she thought she'd gotten through to him, but instead he blew something from his hand into her face. She unintentionally breathed in the fine powder and coughed as it burned her nose, throat, and lungs. Her vision blurred as she became dizzy.

She lost her balance and he held her up as she attempted to keep her eyes on him.

Gently, he brushed back her hair from her face," Witch hazel powder. I thought you might not understand and I guess I was right."

He kissed her forehead as her eyes closed completely and she slumped in his arm. Gently, her laid her down next to Dean and went off to do what he needed to do to protect her.

SUPERNATURAL

Addy woke up, gasping for air as she coughed furiously. She sat up slowly to see Dean next to her.

"Dean," she said, shaking him awake," Dean, wake up."

She could hear the sounds of gunfire, screaming, and thunder in the background as Dean opened his eyes.

"Addy," he said in confusion as they stood up.

"We have to go," she said and they ran in the direction of the horrible noises until they came to a garden. A white figure stood over future Dean with his foot on his throat. His eyes landed on them and before either of them could do anything the white figure put his weight down and Addy gasped in horror, Dean pulling her behind him as they heard his neck snap.

The white figure heard her and turned around to them slowly. She nearly collapsed, seeing it was Sam. She knew it wasn't really him and Dean gripped her tight as she fought for control of her emotions.

"Oh. Hello, Dean," he said and looked to Addy with a tender smile that used to make her heart melt but now made her sick," Hello, my dear. Aren't you two a surprise? You've come a long way to see this, haven't you?"

He began walking towards them and Addy stepped from behind Dean, "I won't let you kill him."

"Kill him?" he repeated, looking down at Dean's dead body," Don't you think that would be a little redundant?"

He sighed thoughtfully, looking her up and down as he walked towards them. Dean pulled her back as he said," I'm sorry. It must be painful, speaking to me in this shape. But it had to be him. It had to be."

He reached out to touch Addy shoulder but she backed away, "You don't have to be afraid of me. What do you think I'm going to do?"

"I don't know. Maybe deep-fry the planet?" Dean replied and Lucifer turned to examine a rose. He plucked it and turned back to them. He walked towards Addy and she froze. Dean went to help her but she made him stay away, afraid for him. He broke the rose from its stem and gently tucked it behind her ear, into her hair and then caressed her face. She shivered in disgust and he tilted her face up to him.

"A rose for the most beautiful rose in all the world," he said and she pulled away from him, took the rose and crushed it in her hand, letting the petals fall to the ground as she never broke his gaze," And like the rose, Adriana, you have those prickly thorns."

He smiled wide," That's why I like you. So beautiful yet so damaged and powerful."

"And you want me by your side while you destroy the world," she said quietly.

"Why? Why would I want to destroy this stunning thing? Beautiful in a trillion different ways. The last perfect handiwork of God," he said and neither of them answered as Dean stood beside her," You ever hear the story of how I fell from grace?"

"Oh, good God, you're not gonna tell me a bedtime story, are you? My stomach's almost out of bile," Dean said coldly.

"You know why God cast me down? Because I loved him. More than anything. And then God created..." he paused and smirked at a silent joke," You. The little...hairless apes. And then he asked all of us to bow down before you and 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 at what six billion of you have done to this thing, and how many of you blame me for it."

Addy was silent as she stared at him and she felt sick as she understood his words, almost feeling sympathy for him.

"You're not fooling me, you know that? With this sympathy-for-the-devil crap. I know what you are," Dean challenged," You're the same thing, only bigger. The same brand of cockroach we've been squashing our whole lines. 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 like you, Dean. I get what the other angels see in you. Goodbye. We'll meet again soon," he said and turned to walk away.

"We'll stop you," she called after him and he turned back," None of this will ever happen. We'll find a way to stop you."

He smirked," Adriana you can't. Now that I've killed Dean no doubt your future self will be in despair and much too weak to keep herself hidden any longer. You'll be mine soon enough."

"No, I'll keep fighting," she replied, clenching her jaw," I know I will."

"Do you?" he asked, smiling briefly," Even now I can see this gaping hole in your soul and it's so marvelous. I know you're broken and you need me."

"She will never need you," Dean said, stepping in front of her," And we will win. I swear, I will find a way to kill you. And I won't stop."

"I know you won't. 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 here. I win and that will never change."

"You're wrong," he said.

"See you in five years, Dean," he said and was gone with a clap of thunder.

Suddenly, Zachariah is in front of them and he presses two fingers to both of their foreheads and they're back in the motel room.

They look around with wide eyes, never so happy to see the place.

"Looks like both of you have been through hell," the angel joked.

"Oh, well, if it isn't the ghost of Christmas screw you," Dean said, bracing his hands on the sink behind him as Addy wrapped her arms around herself.

"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," he said, his voice almost kind.

"How do we know that wasn't one of your tricks?" Addy challenged," Some angel shit you just threw us into. I wouldn't put that above you winged douchebags."

"The time for tricks is over," he replied without his usual malice towards her and then looked to Dean," Give yourself to Michael. Say yes and we can strike. Before Lucifer gets to Sam and Adriana. Before billions die."

Dean walked away from them and Addy followed after him," Dean, no. We'll find away. You don't need some angel to do this. You-"

Dean turned back to them and said simply," Nah."

Addy smiled as he pulled her to him and Zachariah said," 'Nah'? You telling me you haven't learned your lesson?"

"Oh, I've learned a lesson, all right," he said, his arm around her waist as he looked at her and then to the stunned angel," Just not the one you wanted to teach."

"Well, I'll just have to teach it again!"he threatened," Because I got you and your little slut now, boy, and I'm never letting you-"

Before he could finish the tow found themselves on a road. They turned to see Cas.

"That's pretty nice timing, Cas," Dean said.

"We had an appointment," he replied and Addy smiled, embracing him tightly.

"You are the best," she said, letting him go," Oh and by the way please don't ever change."

"How did Zachariah find you?"

"Long story. Let's just stay away from Jehovah's Witnesses from now on, okay?" Dean replied and Addy gave him a small smile as he looked at her," You are always right."

The two embraced and as they pulled away she looked at him with pleading eyes," Call him."

He nodded as he pulled out his phone," I know."

SUPERNATURAL

Addy sits on the trunk of the Impala as Dean leans beside her. They were parked near a bridge, waiting for Sam. He glances at her and turned around ,standing in front of her. Slowly, she looked at him.

"I know that you staying with me and Sam is gonna be…complicated," he said.

"I can handle it," she said quickly," Both of you need me. I know that now…and I need you guys too. I just have to be careful."

He smirked," What you don't think you can handle yourself around me?"

She looked down, a blush creeping up her cheeks, "Something like that."

"Don't worry princess I'll still be around," he said with a wink.

"But so will Sam," she replied, hopping down from the car," I'm not exactly keen on the fact that both of you...you know. I can't be with either of you if I want to help both of you. So no more flirting, no more bed sharing, no more any of it. I don't want to jeopardize anything."

His face sobered," I don't regret it."

"Me neither," she replied honestly and he pulled her to him, their bodies left with no space between them.

"Everything else in that future Zachariah sent us to was hell but you and me…that was the best thing I'd ever seen. You can't deny that we're good together."

She smiled sadly," Yeah, we are, but that was then and this is now. It's just not the right time for us."

"And when will be?" he asked sadly.

She searched his eyes," One step at a time."

"This is not the last time I'll kiss you, Addy Turner," he said and pressed his lips to hers, pouring all he had into it. She let him, feeling his passion and wishing it didn't have to end. Slowly, they let each other go and she moved away from him.

In the distance, a car turned the corner and came down the road towards them. It came to a stop once it was close and Sam stepped out. He gave Addy a small smile which she returned as he walked towards them.

"Hi," he said to her.

"Hey, Sasquatch," she replied," It's good to see you."

"You too," he replied and Dean walked towards them. He pulled out the demon knife and handed it to his brother who took it reluctantly.

"If you're serious and you want back in you should hang on to this. I'm sure you're rusty," he said and he was unable to meet Dean's eyes," Look, man, I'm sorry. I don't know. I'm .whatever I need to be. But I was wrong."

"What made you change your mind?" Sam asked, glancing at Addy who looked down at the ground.

"Long story. The point is...maybe we are each other's Achilles heel. Maybe they'll find a way to use us against each other, I don't know. I just know we're all we've got. More than that. We keep each other human," Dean said.

"Thank you. Really. Thank you. I won't let you down," Sam reassured him and he looked to Addy," I know you're still not my biggest fan right now and I can't tell you how sorry I am. For all of it."

She took a deep breath, staring him in the eye," I know you are and I need you to understand that even though there is no us anymore…you're still important to me, Sam. You and Dean."

He nodded," I understand."

"Okay," she said with a tight lipped smile," So now we make our own future."

"Guess we have no choice," Sam replied.

"We'll always have a choice," she replied, looking between them," It's kind of the point of team free will."

"Addy," Sam said and she noted his grave look," Lucifer appeared to me in your form and he told me you have a part to play in this too."

She looked down," I do."

"What is it?" he asked reluctantly.

"Lucifer wants to rule the world and he wants someone by his side, "she replied, meeting his worried gaze.

"As what?" he dared ask.

She swallowed and said," As his queen."