April, 13th 2014

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

Beta for this Chapter: Ashqtara

A/N: Hey there my loyal readers :)

HA! I knew that would get you to talk :D. Sorry about that cliffy, really. I didn't mean to put it EXACTLY at the break I was planning on anyway xP. I hope you don't hate me TOO much now ^^". Anyway, thank you for all the reviews! :3 I'm very honored and actually motivated to write on fast now :D

The only thing I need now is more time. As soon as University calms down I'm gonna be able to write more :). So again, it'll stay with the weekends and I'll try to manage every week but no promises xP.

LegendaryArimaspi: Who says they'll come back to life? ;P . Also, this will be explained this chapter, actually! Well mentioned. Explained later xD.

Ky111: *nervous laugh*. Yeeaaaahhh. ^^" ... sorry ._.

Guest: Nope, that's the reason I rewrote the whole thing so I'm not doing it like the rest of the season AT ALL. It's gonna be so much different you actually hardly recognize it x'D. There's one part that's similar...you'll see :)

Falchion: Thanks! I'm always so honored that people actually read my massive blobs of text x'D. And almost all at once. That means so much ;_;. Anyway, somebody else also mentioned that! I never knew x'D. Sorry, I'm a non native speaker ^^. The problem is that I can't go back and change it all because apparently fanfiction deletes all the old files sooooo I'd have to reupload them ^^".

Eclipse Wing: Thank you! It means so much that you like Abby, I know it's really difficult to bring in likable characters into fanfiction when they're not canon ^^". Also, I used "Morgenstern" because I'm German myself and to me it just sounds prettier to be honest x'D. Wow, more detail? Sure! I can edit it in later. I loved writing this scene and I feared there would be too much description and people would get bored xO. No, the blood isn't gone. it's returned to the Season 1 state...:D (which is kind of also the solution to why he's having visions xD). Haha yeah, typos xP. Yeeaaaahhh. Let's. *nervous laughter*.

High Serpent King: Thanks! :3

Girl-of-Action: Is it strange that I actually find this review more humbling than a "i love it"? :D Being threatened because someonen diggs the story is the best thing ever :D. Thanks and I'll try to upload frequently so you don't have to wait long anymore :). Aww god, I'm blushing x_x.

wildanimelover: Adorable, really? Wow. Cool, thanks :D

Sorry. See, so many reviews to answer! Thanks so much for that again x/x

Now please enjoy :3

Chapter 19

And I'm pulled the other way, it's more than I can take
And I'm losing hold of everything

"DEAN! NO!" was the scream he awoke to, his own scream, Sam soon noticed. He shot up and out of bed, not caring that he was dressed in his sleep wear only. Not even noticing how Abby startled awake next to him, he was already half way across the room, panic in his face and in his heart. This couldn't be real. This had to be a bad dream…

No, he could tell apart dream from vision. Yeah, he hadn't had a vision in years but maybe Michael's setback of his demon blood was bringing them back? He sure hoped not…

None of it mattered, though. None of it ever would again if this vision had already happened.

"DEAN! Where are you…Please be here, please still be here…" a gaze around told him it was still early morning, the sunrise teasing with its beauty but it didn't really register, his mind frantically searching for a voice, a presence, anything. If Michael was here he would have heard him, right? Didn't angels have super hearing or something?

"Sam? What happened?" Castiel was the first one to answer his cries by appearing next to him. His eyes were narrowed, head tilted as he met Sam in the middle of the hallway, where he had stumbled around in search for a sign of his brother.

"Michael. Where is he? Where's Dean?" he asked, grabbing the newly repronounced angel's shoulders as tight as he could, half to emphasize his point and half to steady his weak knees.

"He left about…" Castiel looked around to search for a watch. Time had always been difficult for the angel, being immortal probably did that to you.

"I think half an hour ago?"

"No…" Sam felt his knees give in, had to drop onto the sofa at those news. This hadn't been a future vision, then. But it couldn't be…M-Michael had told him Dean was safe with him!

The image of Death's hand inside Dean's rib case, crushing something deep inside and the agony he felt flood his vision…god, no. No no no no no this wasn't happening…

Sam didn't even notice Abby appearing next to him either, questioning him. His thoughts were racing, his head was spinning and throbbing like it had after every vision in the past and he massaged it rapidly, trying to think clearly. He had to find a solution. Save Dean. Save Dean…

Before he knew, the living room was full of people. He'd probably woken everybody up by screaming bloody murder. His mind wasn't with them though, panic filled his eyes and chest and he didn't know what to do, what even could be done. Abby's hand on his own didn't even trigger a real sensation, the stroking of his back didn't too or that he was moved to a couch in the living room. It was Bobby's question that got his attention over the ones from any of the others.

"Did you have a vision?" he asked, dread in his voice and slowly, Sam managed to nod. He managed to look at Gabriel, his mind still stumbling. But this was another archangel, maybe he could find him, help him…

"Gabriel. You have to find-"

A flutter of wings and a crash startled all of them. Sam felt himself jump up, ignoring his shaking legs and Cas and Gabriel were right behind him, just as well knowing who this was, what this meant…

And in the hallway, they found who they had been looking for as well as what they had feared. Michael!Dean was leaning on one of Bobby's corridor furniture, he'd probably tried to remain upright and dropped the vase that had been on top of it. The already dry flowers together with the water and the remains of the vase were scattered on the floor. As his gaze followed the water, Sam saw something else…

Blood.

So much blood. Scattered on the floor and there was something with his chest ... he couldn't quite see in the dark of the room, wasn't sure if what he saw was even possible.

"Hey, guys. Sorry, I…" there was a smile on Dean's face but they weren't fooling anybody. Dean was pale and clutching his chest in pain, his hand already covered in his own blood, some of it triggering down his lips to his chin. He couldn't speak any further, sweat on his forehead and his eyes drooping, he collapsed to the floor.

Luckily for all of them, angels were fucking fast when they were in good shape and Cas as well as Gabriel caught either side of their brother, disappearing from sight. Sam heard noises from the bedroom he had just come from and followed them, the others behind him did the same. Abby's hand was again in his but he didn't register it and if he did, it may have anchored him. But there was nothing to anchor, not now.

Dean was spread on the bed and Gabriel was whispering to him, demanding in his tone. Cas just stood there, staring at Dean's chest in pure horror, his face almost as pale as Dean's, bright blue eyes wide. He didn't even breathe. Sam trained his own eyes on his brother's chest and froze in the middle of his movement.

There was a hole in Dean's chest, a deep hole that showed only black inside it, like a worm hole into darkness. There was blood all around it, soaking almost all of Dean's light green shirt, his right hand and partly chin. The hole was already wide enough to fit a walnut through it but it was crumbling around the edges, as if it was spreading, little pieces falling into nothingness.

Gabriel looked up when they came in. The trickster seemed desperate, stealing glances at Dean's chest and the sheets below him every few seconds. Oh god, did he even want to know what damage had been done? There were actual tears in Gabriel's eyes when he spoke. Obviously, Michael wasn't answering him and that in combination with Dean's condition and whatever was happening with his chest was freaking even the archangel out.

"What happened? Who saw him last?" he asked. Abby stepped forward but didn't let go of Sam's hand. By now, he was glad she didn't, he might have already collapsed into himself and that wouldn't help anybody.

"I did. He said he was getting his 'weapon of choice' a-and left, said it'd just be a few minutes…" she swallowed and looked at Dean, worry in her eyes. The huntress didn't even know what exactly was going on but she obviously sensed Sam's distress and that wasn't good. She had probably thought –like all of them did- that Michael here was so powerful, nothing could hurt him and they all wondered where all the blood came from, why he was so weak…

Gabriel nodded.

"Yeah, the sword. But that doesn't explain…"

"It was Death. I mean the horseman. Michael was retrieving the sword but Lucifer was there somehow and they were talking, lots of argument, fighting…a-and Lucifer somehow had Death in chains, controlling him and he forced him to…" Sam couldn't bring it to his lips, not yet. Not ever. "H-he grabbed right into his chest. I-I woke up after that…"

Whatever color had been left in Gabriel's and Cas' face now dropped from it. Gabriel's tears fell and Sam felt his own eyes being wet, they had been the whole time without him even realizing, the tears streaming down his face in rivers, not bothering to whip them away.

"No…father no. This can't be true…P-please tell me you're messing with us, Michael. It has to be a trick, right? Anything but this…" Sam stared, his limps unable to move, his whole body unable to take another step, staring at his brother on the bed, obviously in pain, taking in deep wheezing, painful breaths and clenching the bed sheets underneath him with a death grip. Literally. No…please god no. Not Dean. Not again. H-he couldn't handle this. He had never seen the angels show this much emotion. Both of them were crying now, Cas had a hand over his mouth, still staring at Dean's chest. Gabriel was shaking Michael, grabbing Dean's shoulders and begged for any sign of recognition from his brother.

"He's going to die?" Adam's small voice broke through their trance. Sam felt his knees give in and felt Abby next to him trying to help him stand. She was much stronger than he had made her slim looking body out to be.

Gabriel looked up. "Death is a natural force as well as a horseman. Nobody can survive his touch, not even Michael. H-his grace…" Gabriel couldn't finish, wasn't accepting it yet. Cas was the one to speak up, having stared at the scenario and still continued to do so.

"It's crumbling. D-Dean's soul…" he paused, drawing in a deep breath. "They're bound now. There's no way of separation anymore." Cas seemed so confused, his eyes were darting around Dean's body in search for an answer. "I've never seen a vessel and occupant do that before." He looked up and met Sam's eyes. "It shouldn't even be possible."

"Can't you help him? Anybody? Anything?" Abby asked. She looked around the room, tried to draw any of their faces to her, give her something at least. Her hand was on Sam's shoulder now after Sam had managed to stand on his own again but not even he was meeting her desperate gaze any more. There was silence, grief silence, letting the news sicker in, dragging them down…

The noise of voices and crashes drew their attention. Gabriel sobered some, his face turning to fury.

"Damn those demons. They've been waiting for this all along. I can't hold them all out, there are several really strong ones. We have to get out of here."

"But the house is salted-"

"Doesn't matter, boy. Trust me, they will get in. I'm sorry, Robert. We have to get somewhere anonymous." He looked at Bobby after Adam had tried to reassure them that no demon was getting in. But it was useless, Sam knew. When the demons wanted to get in as desperately as they wanted right now, get to a weakened Michael or Dean, get to him, get to Gabriel and Cas…

The two angels were exchanging glances and Cas nodded. He walked over to Abby, lifting his arm to touch her chest. Confused and offended, she drew back.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" she asked, incredulously. Castiel looked confused upon her protest and Sam began to understand. Of course. Abby was the only one without the sigils.

"Relax. He's just putting protection symbols on your ribs." Abby stared at him now.

"Oh and that's a normal thing to do, yeah?" but she stepped forward, no protest any more, sensing the distress around the room and the desire to leave. Her chest flared with pain when Castiel touched it but it went over quickly and she grabbed Sam's arm for a short moment. After the pain stopped, she opened her mouth to speak. In the same second, several things happened at once.

The door of Bobby's house was kicked open, several men came inside and black smoke could be seen almost throughout the whole hallway. Just before it could reach them, even with that incredible speed, Gabriel beat them to it. They were gone in the split of a second, all of them. And when the humans opened their eyes once more, they found themselves in a completely different room. Gabriel hadn't even touched them to do it, just…snapped his fingers, that angry expression staring the first demon right in the face. But it was gone now, all of it. Sam looked around.

Motel, he noticed immediately, simply form a lifetime of living in them.

The younger Winchester gazed around himself, checking if everybody was there and nobody was left with demons on their asses. Or if demons had followed them. But apparently, Gabriel was simply stronger than them, or faster, and had transported them all safely. He and Cas had Michael between them, carefully putting him down on one of the two beds in the room.

It was quiet, so quiet.

After they got over the initial shock of their situation and Bobby's house being taken, they noticed that Gabriel had managed to bring a few things that could be useful. There was Abby's and Sam's duffel –which had been in the room so that hadn't been difficult- and also Adam's book, which delighted the youngest Winchester but couldn't really bring the mood in general up again.

The archangel had his hand over Dean's chest, trying to do something, anything. His tears had vanished and determination had set in. Obviously, he still wanted to do something, anything, to save his brother.

Sam felt the same, of course. For the first time, he really could see that angels weren't all that different. Maybe they were ancient and immortal and powerful but they were still brothers. And especially the oldest of them, the archangels, seemed to have been very close once. Finally, after several minutes of them all either pacing or simply dropping down somewhere, Gabriel's hand sank.

"There's nothing….I can't…" he hesitated, drawing in a breath. Sam's tears had stopped for now, they were burning and dry, he wasn't really holding in on intention, it was just…numbness. He hadn't moved ever since they got here, carefully watching Gabriel's movements in hope something could be done. But the hurt in Gabriel was obvious, if it didn't show in his face, it did in his posture and almost seemed to radiate from him.

"I can practically feel it crumbling. It's only because Michael is the eldest of us that he's still alive and it's taking so long. If he'd touched me or Castiel even, we would already be-" he couldn't say it. Sam didn't even want to think it. If Dean's soul died with Michael, touched by Death…was there an afterlife for that? Did angels have an afterlife? He felt like asking, felt curious but didn't want to make the angels think about that, didn't want to even bring it up. Because this couldn't be real, he had to be dreaming….right?

"I feel it too. The angels are crying." Castiel whispered. It was a miracle Sam heard him at all.

"You can hear them? All of them?" Abby asked. There were tears in her eyes too but she mouthed questions anyway, hand still in Sam's, needing the support and giving it to Sam all she could. Cas nodded at her.

"Yeah. The whole host is…Michael is our leader. The host is our collective energy, what drives us. Michael is so much part of it, has been for all of eternity…I can feel it weaken as we speak. If Michael passes, I don't know…" he looked up and Sam had never seen that much sorrow in those blue eyes, not even when Cas had realized he was falling.

"I don't know if heaven can survive this."

Sam felt his knees finally give in for good. He didn't know who had had the mind to think for him but a chair was below him before he could have a depressing meeting with the floor.

"B-but this can't be…this isn't supposed to happen!" Sam whispered, then felt himself grow louder. He wanted to cower in on himself, wanted to cry, didn't want to see anybody for days and months and at the same time he wanted to hold onto his brother like nothing else he'd ever wanted. Last time Dean died...no, no, he couldn't think about this, wouldn't! This shouldn't be happening!

He felt rage building, this rage that was bottled up inside him for such a long time now. He had often suspected the demon blood to be the reason for it but dismissed it as irrational. It wasn't as uncontrollable as the day of Lucifer's rising but it was crippling nonetheless, his grief and desperation upon the current events only making it stronger.

"This isn't supposed to fucking happen! Michael is supposed to be almighty, he's supposed to be strong and he's supposed to bring down Lucifer, not the other way around! What the hell happened to the fucking apocalypse? What the hell happened to his promise of…of giving Dean back to me as soon as this war was over?" he felt his voice break, his legs had made him stand up and he was pacing, raging, not being able to accept the situation, not wanting to. His gaze was avoiding the person on the bed, sweating, bleeding out all over the sheets, the most important person in his life had a fucking hole in his fucking chest and nobody would make it go away and nobody did anything to prevent it and he was so mad, so goddamn furious…

"Sam." Bobby called out. He was suddenly in front of him, hand on his shoulder, having to reach up a little bit but determined nonetheless. "Sam, we'll search for a way. But you can't blame anybody for this, it's nobody's fault but Lucifer's. And it ain't yours, either." He assured the younger brother. Sam still breathed heavily but let Bobby's words sicker into his brain slowly, then sat down on the chair again, feeling the anger subside and the dread pushing him down. He was doing an awful lot of sitting up and down today.

There was silence in the room for a few solid minutes. Nobody dared say anything because there just was nothing to say or do. They were stuck. Helpless. Hopeless even. Gabriel sat beside the bed and just stared at the slowly growing wound. Castiel was by the window, staring outside like a guard but constantly had his eyes wander over to the occupied bed. For a few seconds, he disappeared, maybe checking out the situation in heaven or anywhere else and when he returned, Sam immediately jumped to the opportunity of a distraction.

"Can they find us?" Sam asked, suddenly becoming aware that Dean and Michael weren't only dying but what it meant. That legions of demons had been waiting for this moment and were probably out there looking for them. Partying their heads off with apparent victory.

"No, we're warded. All of you have sigils and Gabriel and I hid our presence. Michael…" he interrupted, there was a crack in his voice. Sam had never heard Castiel's voice crack like that but it did now and it was crushing his heart all over again. "Michael is fading fast, even the angels can feel it getting too weak to make out. Heaven's in full panic. They're all over earth, searching, some falling….like suicide." His voice was barely audible at the end, just above a whisper. Gabriel nodded, face still staring at the hole but his voice so level it was almost flowing over with suppressed emotion.

"Raphael is trying to make order. He's the only archangel left upstairs and he's trying to fix things. Doesn't know I'm here, too. Or doesn't want to acknowledge it. Don't blame him…damn, not even his thunderstorms can expect to run heaven on his own." Gabriel stroked his cheek while speaking as if he was caressing stubble that wasn't there. The angel had adapted to human behavior long ago, after all. "The host is crumbling. I never thought about it like that but Michael was so connected with it…"

Of course. Castiel said some of the angels were falling… Falling meant losing their grace and with that the pain probably spreading through the host right now. Sam didn't exactly understand how the heavenly power system worked but he could only imagine…Michael being the center, their prince, spreading his unimaginable suffering through him unknowingly…

Again, silence.

All of them were contemplating that information, their thoughts on it floating through the room, unspoken and useless, just as their efforts to fix things would be.

Suddenly, Sam wanted out of here. He couldn't stand the silence and the grieving any more. So he looked up, took a good look at the blank faces and drew in a long breath.

"Where's the car?" he asked into the silence. He wouldn't put it past Gabriel to have left it at Bobby's house. After all, their lives were more important than the vehicle. If Dean was awake though, he'd beg to differ. Things like that –things important to his older brother- were all of a sudden really important to the younger Winchester.

"Outside." Gabriel answered, to Sam's satisfaction. The hunter immediately shot from his chair, emotions pressed together so they wouldn't spill in the middle of the foreign motel room. He walked to the door and slammed it behind him. Almost running over to the car after spotting it close to their room in the parking lot, he opened the unlocked door and sank into the passenger seat with a deep sigh. The leather smothered around his features and the familiar scent filled his nostrils. He had wanted to go here to collect himself, to be able to think clearly. But the scent of the car and Dean's after shave all just made it that much more difficult to think at all, to get that image of the open chest and all the blood out of his swirling mind.

And just like that, Sam finally let go. Let the sobs past his throat and drew the knees to his chest, all the tears he had soaking his worn out jeans without ever stopping…

But now it's too late, it's taking over me, it feels so supernatural
And I'm pulled the other way, it's more than I can take
And I'm losing hold of everything
And no matter how I try you know I can't deny
'Cause you feel so…

supernatural

~Daughtry, Supernatural

...Yeah. I know, I'm cruel and I'm sorry. But when you hit rock bottom, there's nowhere to go but up, right? So have high hopes for next chapter :)

I feel so evil...after uploading last chapter, you were all saying "now Sam can wake up and prevent it from happening" and I was all like "oh. I didn't even consider that happening, actually." and felt awful ^^". Hehe...yeah.

I like the idea of the Angels really being close or having been close once so it now resurfaces with Lucifer's reappearance. I imagine Michael being really dormant and bossy for some time, harsh in the face of having to take over his father's role and Gabriel ditching heaven when he couldn't even really talk to his brothers anymore, those mindless machines following orders (which they hadn't all been before that).

Anyway! This chapter has 3,666 words. I thought that was funny...or ironic. AND THERE'S A SONG CALLED SUPERNATURAL?! It was just so fitting. Also ironic...Okay, Kasumi out.

What do you think? PLEASE tell me what you think, I'd really appreciate it! :3