March, 2nd 2014

I don't own any of the characters, CW and Eric Kripke do!

Beta for this Chapter: Ashqtara

This one should solve some of the things from last time but also lifts the spirits a bit at the end, I hope ^^.

I'd really love it to hear your opinion about...well, everything, really. Even if it seems unworthy of writing down, write it down anyway :)

A/N: Hey there my loyal readers :)

Now please enjoy :3

Chapter 16

Pray to your God, open your heart
Whatever you do, don't be afraid of the dark
Cover your eyes, the devil inside

Abby's cheeks were covered in tears. Normally, she really wasn't the crying type, not over silly things or unnecessary stuff but this…

Sam Winchester was lying in bed and he was in a condition Abby had never seen anybody be in before. He was sweaty and clammy but trashed around like somebody with full health and strength. His cries of pain and anguish were heart wrenching by themself but his eyes…

His eyes were pure black.

Now the others said it was just an illusion. That Lucifer tried to mess with them, that he was messing with Sam right now. But why could nothing help him? Abby had tried holy water on him, just a bit on his arm. Nothing. Salt. Nothing. There was definitely no demon in there.

Then again, as the others casually (and unnecessarily) reminded her every five minutes, Lucifer wasn't a demon himself. He was a fallen angel. The only thing, and really the only, stronger than him was Michael. Well great, they were fresh out of holy archangels right now, thank you very much.

So what, she had developed a little crush on Sam. Was that forbidden? Not as far as she was concerned. There was this certain…connection, drawing her to Sam Winchester like she hadn't felt drawn to anybody in her whole life. It was difficult to describe. But what Bobby told her now…she hadn't believed to ever hear a story so sad, so…tragic.

What these two brothers had been through…it was really a wonder they were still alive and kicking. Bobby had just started talking because he saw that she cared and that she wanted to help.

"You don't know the whole story." He had dismissed her.

"Then tell me." She had pleaded. Because nobody ever told her anything. And she deeply hated being left out, always had. For the little time she knew Sam and Dean Winchester, she had already guessed that there was some backstory she couldn't grasp there, a hurt so deep nothing could heal it. She had figured that they all had that, many hunters, the sad thing that made them a hunter in the first place. Like with her….no, now was not the time to dwell on that. But, like Bobby told her now, they were really just supporting each other. Maybe their relationship was a little unhealthy, being dependent like that. In this job though…it wasn't that bad to have somebody you could trust to have your back.

Losing your mother so early? Just a few years back the father too? Finding out some asshole demon had force-fed you demon blood as a baby to turn you into a tool? (Demons and their grand theme plans…she could strangle one of them just by the mention of it. From experience.) Could the universe please give these two a break? Of course not. They had to be destined to be angel vessels, too. Destined to fight each other until one of them died, which would ultimately decide the fate of the world.

Pff, destiny. She never liked the sound of that. That there was some grand scheme laid out for all of them and they were unable to change it. Who would like to believe that, really? Who would like to have to think he couldn't do anything to change their future with their very hands?

Nobody, that's it. Not even the angels could want that. Then again, they seemed to be mindless tools anyway, right?

Her gaze wandered over to Sam on the bed. Gabriel was sitting beside him, having a hand on his forehead and tried to recite something in that unknown language she'd never heard of. Sam was lying still now but that didn't mean anything good or better. His muscles were still tense and he was still whimpering now and then, sounds that pulled on your very soul. Bobby was on the other side of the bed and behind him stood Castiel, the stiff angel Abby had never talked a word to. He wasn't that talkative anyway, so that really wasn't that strange. Right now she wondered what his story was. Castiel just seemed…different than Michael or Gabriel.

A scream from Sam cut through the silence and Abby cringed. Same went for Bobby in his wheelchair and Adam by the other bed. The two angels didn't move but Gabriel pressed down, probably keeping Sam from trashing out again. A flash of memory came to her mind. She herself, kicking and screaming, only ten years old. Her emotions out of control from losing her family, the fire, Larry, trying to calm her down desperately….she shook her head to make it all go away. Her mind couldn't wader there now. It was good that she learned to control her emotions like this some time ago. Breathing exercises, thinking of different things…but seeing Sam like this brought back bad memories and certainly made her more than just worry a little.

An archangel couldn't cure Sam. It was that bad, huh? Lucifer, the actual devil, wanted to gain control of Sam's body. Poor Sam. She wished something would happen, anything. Anything to make this stop, this…torture.

For that, she would even pray.

A flutter of wings interrupted her grief-ridden thoughts. In the next second, Dean was next to her in the doorway. A glance was tossed at her and it had a strange tinge to it. Knowing….contemplating. It was giving her a shiver down her spine. Did he know something about her? Oh that couldn't be good. But as soon as the gaze had come, it was gone again and his focus was completely on his brother. He seemed to take in the situation and rushed over to the bed as quick as he could. Which apparently was pretty quick.

Gabriel saw him coming and finally let go of Sam's forehead.

"Brother. It's Lucifer."

"I know." The oldest archangel just answered. Or was it Dean? By now, Abby wasn't even sure anymore. They seemed to have…melted together.

Hands touched shoulders on both sides, felt the forehead, stroked the tearstained cheeks. Yep, definitely Dean in those movements. Brotherly, affectionately, with care and experience.

"Sammy. Hey, can you hear me?"

"Sammy isn't hoommme.." a voice loomed over them. So deep and different than Sams that Abby actually had to clap her mouth so she wouldn't scream. Oh goodness, what was that? Was that….was that Lucifer? Sam's eyes shot open and they were black again. Michael seemed indifferent, as if awaiting that reaction. But there was anger gleaming in his eyes. Yep, he was pissed alright.

"Shut up, Luci." Michael growled. Two fingers of Michael's right hand touched Sam's forehead.

Suddenly, there was a light spreading through Sam, like a wave that passed through him only once, leaving a light trail behind that quickly faded again. Where the trail passed, the muscles relaxed, Sam's face relaxed, the black in the eyes disappeared and they closed under the touch, melting into the other hand at Sam's neck, feeling the familiarity of it.

"D'n…" Sam breathed. It was uttered as a statement as well as a desire, a wish. No more than a whisper, it still brought a smile to all the faces in the room.

"I'm here, buddy. I'm here. Sorry I took so long." His thumb caressed Sam's cheek now and he accepted the wet cloth Bobby handed him wordlessly, stroking the sweat and tears from Sam's forehead and face. Slowly, the younger Winchester opened his eyes, glancing up at his brother.

"Dean I…h-he wanted me to…" he trailed off but Dean shook his head.

"I know. It's okay now. He won't be able to come again." He paused. "I shouldn't have left." He whispered, more to himself than anyone else. His fingers traced Sam's hair like a mother watching over their child, his gaze holding the same love in them. The huntress watching almost had to smile. It was a strange sight but most certainly explained what she had been thinking earlier, when Bobby had explained. Dean was Father and Mother for Sam for almost his whole life. Their bond was deeper than just being brothers. But Dean's words had a more violent reaction on Sam than Abby would have guessed.

"No! Not your fault. Don't need to…feel responsible all the…t-time. 'M just being a burden. Y' Deserve better."

Abby sighed. With the face Dean was making now, she really felt like she wasn't in the place to be here. So reluctantly but more than glad that Sam was fine, she made her way out of the room, followed by the two other angels and Adam, who wheeled Bobby in front of him.

"You sure he's going to be okay now?" Adam asked, his voice a little shaken. The youngest Winchester was a quieter person but sure concerned about his other brothers, despite obviously not knowing them that well. Bobby nodded. He seemed reluctant about all this, with Dean being technically possessed and all but he even mustered a smile.

"As long as Dean's with him, he'll be fine." He said and the older hunter meant it. It hasn't always been easy but together, these two seemed to get through anything, really. That one time when they were forced to be separated…hell. Literally, in this case. He hadn't told Abby about that, wasn't sure if it was his place. She did need to know about the whole Lucifer and Demon Blood business and she seemed to have taken that pretty well so…maybe one day.

For now, they all had to compensate how much power Lucifer already had over Sam and that they actually really did need Michael. What would have happened if Dean had never said yes?

Bobby shuddered.

Honestly, maybe he didn't even want to know.

~.~.~.~

"What the hell are you talking about? I'll always be responsible for you, little brother. Don't be stupid." Dean countered. Sam wanted to shake his head at him, yell at him. But he was just so grateful that Dean was here, he didn't want to make him go away again. That light that had spread through those tortures he had seen…it was better than anything he had ever felt before. Tears started to fill his eyes again when he opened them and saw Dean, his face, the first time after actually seeing pieces and bits of what his brother had been through in hell.

"Dean, I…" he didn't know how to start, where to begin. The rest of the room didn't even register in his mind right now, just Dean and himself. He didn't even want to think about Michael right now.

"H-he showed me hell. W-what you've been through." Dean's hands and arms suddenly stiffened, his face becoming withdrawn. But Sam didn't want to stop.

"I'm so sorry. I should have done something, Dean. I should have saved you, should have been the one to get you out. I'm sorry. I know you can't even begin to forgive me but I still need to say it, I-"

"Forgive what, Sammy?" the voice that interrupted his ramble was gentle but sad, so sad.

"I don't blame you, for any of it. You shouldn't either. I'm here now and I don't regret any of it." He leaned forward a bit to look into Sam's eyes directly.

"To save your life, I would do it all over again, do you understand me? Don't you ever forget that." He leaned back up and before Sam could even think to respond, Dean grinned.

"Now are we done with this chick flick moment? 'Cause I sure could use something to eat. You with me?" Dean stood and held out a hand for Sam. The younger hunter wanted to protest that he couldn't stand anyway but to his surprise, he felt great. More than great even, better than he had in a long time. Then he looked at his brother, frowning. Everything seemed to have come back to him now.

"Angels don't eat, Dean. You don't need food." He reminded his older brother. Not that he wanted to remind him of the archangel inside him but hey. It was true.

"Yeah maybe but I want to eat. He'll get used to it." Dean winked at his brother.

"Actually, I think eating is one of the perks of being human." A voice interrupted them. At first, Sam thought it was probably Gabriel, giving his casual talk about humans and what he loved about them. But then he turned around and had to suppress a scream.

There, before his very eyes, stood the young body of the John Winchester, smiling at them and shimmering like he was a white glowing ghost.

"Dad? Young dad? What the hell?" Sam looked at Dean (who was strangely enough not reacting at all, even holding in something and trying not to show it) and back and Young!John, then again at his brother, who just grinned at him and then started to laugh.

"His face! I told you Mike, he's gonna freak out." The older hunter tried to catch himself again but failed miserably as Sam's face turned to fury.

"Mike?! As in Michael?! Do you two want me to have a damn heart attack?"

"Funny, that's exactly what I told them, too." Bobby's voice sounded from the kitchen, apparently Michael had already made his way over there, scaring the death out of everybody present. Except maybe Gabriel, who was probably used to shit like this being pulled by…well, himself, mostly.

Sam and Dean as well as ghost-Michael made their way over to the kitchen, where everybody was sitting, giving ghost-Michael curious or vary glances.

"First thing I tried was putting a salt round through his sorry ass. Thought your daddy came to haunt your boys on top of everything. Then I remembered you burned him and the thing went right through, so I was a little…sobered." Gabriel, who was leaning on the counter, chuckled.

"Yeah, that was funny."

"Shut up." Bobby glared at him but there was this half smile on his face and Sam almost had to chuckle himself. Were they actually getting along? This had to be a dream. Was he dreaming? W-was this another Lucifer-induced horror scenario that would go downhill any second. An arm on his shoulder shook him out of his half panic, made him loosen his jaw muscle.

"Hey. Lucifer is not coming back. Michael made sure of it. He says as long as you're with me, you should be fine. That was why he was able to break through, because we left for heaven."

"I'm sorry, Sam. I didn't think he would immediately try to get to you again. Then again, I should have known. I do know my little brother better than anyone still around." Michael chimed in, or his ghost-John-Winchester-projection or whatever. His smile was bitter now and he could see why. There was another person on the planet who knew their little brother better than anybody and that person was the body the archangel was possessing even in this very moment. Yeah, that was a little ironic. The silence that fell over the room was a little awkward, following that comment, nobody really knew how to respond to that.

"So. What's with the ghost thing? He does look a bit like dad, doesn't he?" Adam questioned, probably to break the silence. Sam realized that Adam had been really quiet the whole time. Wait, was it morning? How long had he been out?

"It is, actually. But it's just a projection, see?" Dean stepped forward and threw his arm right through Ghost-John's upper body. The ghost nodded, indifferent to the arm sticking through him.

"That is correct. I thought and Dean agreed that it was weird for all of you to be talking to both of us at the same time and never really being sure who spoke so I figured this could help. I'm talking through their dad's body, which is a former vessel of mine and he's using his own." Michael spoke to Adam, clearly wanting to properly answer his question. The youngest Winchester nodded slowly but still didn't seem convinced.

"But why dad?" he drilled further, looking at Sam as if he knew the answer. The middle Winchester just shrugged and drew the corners of his mouth down, really not knowing how to answer that. It was a good question. Before their eyes, Michael transformed to Dean, who had now withdrawn the arm from inside him.

"I could stay like this. But I thought that would be a bit confusing." Both Dean and Michael grinned and Sam had to admit, that was a tiny bit confusing. Adam nodded, obviously agreeing and Michael quickly turned back, just a flicker of light before there was younger John Winchester again, standing a little different but looking just as young and handsome as Sam remembered from their trip to the past.

"Anyway." Michael continued, opening his arms and speaking to the whole room like that.

"I returned order in heaven, they should be up to date on everything and they will all follow us. I'm sure Lucifer had his spies so I can be certain he now knows I'm down to earth as well."

"Oh, he knows." Sam interrupted, half whispering but Dean as well as Michael still heard. Dean lifted an eyebrow, his 'you gonna be okay'-look. Yes, Sam also knew all about Dean, okay? It wasn't just the other way around. Sam nodded to reassure his brother. He himself wasn't that sure but Dean didn't need to know that, right?

"I also announced the return of two of our greatest warriors." The archangel grinned and looked at the two remaining angels in the room. Both of them almost dropped what they were doing. Castiel had been staring at his coffee mug, probably fascinated how the drink seemed to give him more energy than he had. Gabriel almost slipped from his hold on the kitchen counter and his hand slipped a little.

"What?" they both asked incredulously. Especially Cas, who dropped the mug to the floor, giving the question a great side effect with it chattering upon contact with the ground. Bobby gave a grunt.

"Hey, pay attention to what you drop, I'm not exactly storing these in thousands in the basement." But he didn't really protest, just give a grumpy remark alla Bobby. Sam had to suppress a chuckle. But nothing was better than Cas' expression. While Gabriel seemed rather just stunned, Cas looked utterly disbelieving, like he couldn't believe what he just heard.

"But I thought you…I…I disobeyed." Was his weak retort. It was Michael's turn to laugh again. He just shook his head.

"Yeah, you did. To protect your charges. I wasn't sure at first but I think Dean tore me quite a new one on that topic." He smiled warmly and Dean nodded.

"Yup. Told him how you…supported us through everything." He hesitated on that word and Sam knew what he was talking about. After all, Cas had also tried to hold him back from saying yes to Michael. But that had probably been the reason why Michael had ignored him upon their last meeting in the living room and before that in the ware house.

Cas hung his head but nodded and Michael headed towards his two brothers. Dean followed him in the same step. It reminded Sam painfully that his brother was still in the hands of the archangel. But was that really such a bad thing? No, stop thinking that way, Sam. You know how every time you think things turn out good, they will turn bad.

"Do you accept my offer? I'm willing to return you both to your heavenly duties and forgive whatever sin was in your past. I know it's partly my own fault for both of you. I know you never wanted to just leave and that you couldn't stand the fighting, which I was the main part of. And I know you just wanted to protect your charges from the wrong influences and that I was one of those influences." Both angels stared at their older brother. Finally, Gabriel didn't seem to be able to stand it anymore.

"Not that I'm complaining but…what in father's name happened to you, Michael?" he took a deep breath. "You've never been this…at peace. Or maybe even…"

"Complete? I know. It's a long story, believe me. But let me just say something to you, my brothers. Something I haven't even told the other angels. When I was touching down to meet Dean, there was a voice, in my head. Telling me to keep silent, hide, and just watch for a while until the time came to reveal myself."

"A voice? In your head? Who could even…" Gabriel asked. A voice in the head of the highest archangel. Suddenly, the trickster's face fell, his eyes widening in realization, face pale.

"Father?" Castiel breathed, almost not believing it. "Was it father?" he asked again, taking a step towards his oldest brother. This revelation seemed to have drawn him in more than anything since he returned to them. Michael's smile was telling.

"I'm almost certain. Maybe he didn't fully give up on us after all. There is still hope left, Castiel. That time just watching from the sidelines opened my eyes. I know you tried to find him. Will you come back into my service and resume the search in an official manner?" Michael asked. The ghost form now stepped directly beside Dean and the hunter nodded at the oldest archangel. Apparently, to give Castiel his grace back, Michael had to take full control. So the next moment, Dean's eyes glowed white again and he stepped forward to a Cas that now bowed down with such gratitude in his eyes, Sam almost thought he saw tears there.

"Of course. I…thank you so much." He just let the words flow from his lips as Michael gently touched his forehead, fingers glowing and the point of contact spreading through Cas like a lifeline, seeming to cure everything that had been wrong with Cas previously, his stance adjusted, he seemed to just drop the pain from his body and breathed in deeply, his eyes glowing an even deeper blue before dimming down again. A genuine smile crept to the angel's face and the shadow behind him indicated strong and healthy wings. Well, at least someone is happy, Sam thought to himself.

"Something's different." Castiel narrowed his gaze and looked down upon himself, stroking his messy trench coat. They should ask Bobby to wash that thing. Michael nodded.

"I raised you to the level of Seraphim, Castiel. You are now assigned the extensive task of watching over humankind, I think they need far more help than we thought they would." He winked at the newly risen Seraphim and Cas seemed as a loss of words, just repeatedly bowing to his older brother and now fully grinning at Dean (which was kinda Michael at the moment) as well as Sam.

Gabriel didn't need the touch, apparently. Then again, he didn't really fall. But there was a hug between the two of them and the picture still seemed a little off in Sam's head but it wasn't as bad as last time around. They really seemed to have missed each other and that was somehow touching.

Michael turned, looking at all the others in the room.

"I'm not finished with the gift giving yet, actually." He stated. And that was the moment Sam was almost certain he might actually get to like the guy.

Could they really be so lucky and have this much power on their side? Just go into that war and actually have a chance? At the Apocalypse? It seemed extremely unreal to Sam and he hoped that disaster wouldn't soon follow as it always somehow did…

~.~.~.~

I was born of the womb of a poisonous spell
Beaten and broken and chased from the lair
But I rise up above it, high up above it and see
I was hung from the tree made of tongues of the weak
The branches were bones of liars and thieves
Rise up above it, high up above and see

Pray to your God, open your heart
Whatever you do, don't be afraid of the dark
Cover your eyes, the devil inside
One night of the hunter

One day I will get revenge
One night to remember
One day it'll all just end,

Oh

~Night of the Hunter, 30 Seconds to Mars

Yup, Michael is in Santa mode :D. Don't worry, this isn't going to make everything too easy, I'll make it complicated enough to begin with ^^.

And yeah, god. Maybe? Will all be explained later, promise! ;P What do you think of my Michael-Dean projection thing?

What do you think? PLEASE tell me, all reviews are love :3

*Does Sammy's Puppy Dog eyes*