November, 1st 2015

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

Beta for this Chapter: -

A/N: Hey there my loyal readers :)

Soooo! This time it didn't that THAT long at least...haha. 2 months is still long though, I know. But I'll make you this promise right now: I will update more frequently becauuuuse I will be joining NaNoWriMo and I already decided to finish this story while doing so. Today's chapter was part of my first NaNo day so it's not that long but I trust you to conclude what the cliffhanger will bring you! ;D ;D

Enjoy~ :3

Chapter 24

The cycle repeated
As explosions broke in the sky
All that I needed
Was the one thing I couldn't find

Sam found himself in the motel room again, clutching Abby's as well as his brother's hand. He opened his eyes to find Dean staring at him. His own cheeks were adorned with tear tracks. It was just too painful each time he saw his mother, especially this time, knowing she did this all despite the fact that she knew of her future death while agreeing to it. It was just…unfair.

"How can you just be so calm about this?" he asked his older brother. Though he was not quite sure how much of his brother was really before him right now. "Michael, you manipulated our mother. Dean, that is something you would never stand for! So why are you just accepting it?" he asked, suddenly mad and standing up from the bed. Dean just sighed and leaned back against the wall.

"He didn't lie, Sam. It was dangerous for her to know of the future. And Mom chose to drink the essence, Michael didn't force her. It's not something that's really affecting me in any way, it's just…giving me support, like he said." Dean shrugged, smiling at his little brother.

„How could you know that? It could be just as bad as demon blood, it's what I thought in the beginning too, that it was just a little help on my way to getting you back. What if it's not like that? How can you be sure?"

"Because it healed me, Sam. Back when Michael first sneaked in, he didn't have power over my body yet, that was just the angel blood. And it's repelling to Vampires, isn't that the best argument ever?" the grin was far too typical for Dean so Sam believed it was him speaking. He sighed, massaged his temples and sank back down on the bed. Abby had her arms folded, apparently not quite knowing what to say so after a glance to her, Sam continued.

"And what, you're suddenly just okay with Mom dying?" his words sounded more vile than he meant to but it had appeared to him like this. Dean was so calm and collected after news like these. How could he? Wasn't he the one constantly wanting to avenge Mom? But he regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth. Dean's face scrunched into an angry expression and he sat up straight, leaning far too close into Sam's face far too fast.

"NO! Of course I'm not okay with that! How could you even say that!" he had to pause and collect himself, Sam felt the suddenly high noted shriek that had appeared fade away. Wow. Don't make Dean angry, okay.

"It's just…if I learned one thing from time traveling, Sam, it's that you can't just change everything like you want it to happen. There are always consequences. Mom's in heaven now and I know for a fact that she's doing just fine."

"And since when have you decided that heaven's a good thing? The last time we were there we fought so hard you threw my amulet away. Remember that? Remember what a big disappointment that place was?" Sam didn't even notice that Abby had left the room to enter the bathroom. Their argument had become personal and nobody could hold it against her for wanting out of there for a second. Dean's eyes had become slits and he pressed his lips together.

"Yeah, I remember that very clearly, Sam. But that was just the road to heaven, didn't you listen? At the end of that road there's your personal heaven. Every soul there has one."

"But they're all alone in there and as we saw with Ash, that can be pretty boring!"

"Michael agreed to change some things. Mom's with Dad now. Visits between heavens are being organized as we speak. Heaven can't spare that much manpower right now, there is a war after all. But if we win this, things are going to be far more pleasant up there, believe me." Dean smiled now and Sam seemed to relax a little.

"Really? They're together?" he asked, his voice cracking like he was 10 years younger at least. Dean nodded again, his smile never fading.

"Listen, Sam. I know you don't trust Michael even now and that you think he's the reason for many bad things that happened to us." His big brother was suddenly serious, standing up and pacing the room but stopping to look at Sam again.

"But you're wrong. I mean, he made some mistakes, the angels all made some mistakes. But Michael explained, it was all just in perspective of losing their father and with him their guidance. Michael sees what he did wrong now and I think he's really trying. I have something that might convince you." Dean reached into his jacket while Sam had still folded his arms and lifted his eyebrows, not quite sure if to believe his brother or think it was the angel talking, trying to convince him, to sweet talk him. Even though so many things happened that could convince him otherwise, he was still not sure if he could fully trust angels. There were just too many things making him mistrustful and when it came to Dean he wasn't ready to give in until completely sure.

But there it was. The one thing that convinced him. It wasn't some holy item or something that was in any way special other than that it was special to them. In Dean's hand, dangling from his fingers was…

Sam's amulet.

It just hung there as if it had never landed in that bin in that motel so long ago. Really, it hadn't been that long but Sam had missed it around his brother's neck ever since then. It had always been a symbol of their bond and when Dean dropped it, Sam had felt his world crumbling. But here it was, just dangling back and forth. Sam's green eyes widened and he stood up as if in trance.

"What- How did you …?" he couldn't finish his sentences. His fingers stretched to the amulet, finally touching it, probing if it was really there and not just an illusion the angel cast on him. But it was, he felt the familiar edges against his fingers. He remembered the times he had worn it himself back when Dean was in hell, every second, his own fingers were lingering on it, constantly reminding him of what his brother probably went through and how desperately he wanted to bring him back. In the end, it had been the angels succeeding in that task, not him.

Dean didn't answer at first. He just enjoyed that Sam looked so overwhelmed and happy.

"I went back to the hotel and traced it from there. Michael agreed that we need it –and not only for the search for God but for personal reasons." He grinned and suddenly, Sam was hugging him fiercely, arms around him and smiling against his neck and even if Dean had already been pretty content with Michael's presence inside him, the true happiness was setting in just in this moment, with Sam apparently convinced that his brother was indeed still with him.

"I promise, I won't leave again." He whispered in Sam's unruly and far too long hair, lifting a hand to stroke through it and close his green eyes. His face was adorned with a smile of his own and for the moment, Michael completely disappeared from his mind, giving Dean the space he needed (as far as he could give that when they were sharing a mind to begin with). Sam nodded but didn't want to say anything. He knew the battle was coming, he knew it was dangerous to give out promises like this. But it didn't matter. It felt good to hear it from Dean, it felt good to be assured that he wouldn't lose his brother again to this. He didn't think he'd get through one more time of that, not after everything that happened.

"Thanks.", he finally whispered, letting go of his brother, still smiling.

"Wow. That was very touching, guys."

Both of them flinched and whirled around to the bathroom door. There stood Abby, a grin plastered on her own face. None of them had thought about how she was still here. Sam felt his cheeks heating up and looked down. From the corner of his eyes he saw how Dean shook his head in amusement and then turned back to Sam.

"Do you want to have it?" he asked, gesturing the amulet in his direction. With widened eyes Sam shook his head.

"No! I want you to wear it of course, it was a present, remember?" he grinned again and Dean joined in, happily slipping the strangely intact leather chain around his broad neck.

"Sorry, didn't want to interrupt any brotherly…bonding." Abby smiled. She pointed at the amulet. "Nice necklace."

"Thanks. It was a present Sam gave me when we were little. It's a long story."

"Very long.", Sam agreed, nodding. Abby smiled and sat down on bed near the bathroom door, nodding.

"I see. So, how long till the big fight?", she went right back to business, looking at Dean questioningly. The angel slash hunter raised an eyebrow in thought.

"Not long. I can sense Lucifer gathering his armies, growing in number and causing havoc all over the world." He paused, huffing. "I have send several angels to fend him off but it's getting difficult as their numbers increase. We should join the battle soon."

"I agree. We're ready.", Sam joined in. He smiled at his older brother, now more confident than before. Knowing that his brother wasn't lost or burned up from the inside was lifting an immense weight off his shoulders.

"Good! Then let's gear up." Abby smiled, waving for Sam to follow her out the door. He nodded and turned back to his brother one more time."

"Don't forget to call Lisa, Dean." He half teased half reminded him. Dean's face was surprised but he nodded.

"Right. I probably should." A small smile crossed his lips and he fumbled in his jeans for his phone. After the click of the door announced that the others were gone and prepared everybody for battle, Dean lifted the phone to his ear.

"Hello? This is Lisa speaking."

"Hey, it … it's Dean." Why was he stuttering?

"Dean! You're okay! Calling really isn't your strong suit, is it? I heard so much stuff on the news and it's just been chaos, like you said…is everything alright?"

"It will be, Lisa. I hope you're staying inside?" he asked. He really didn't want to trap her or set rules for how she lived but…it was the Apocalypse and the angels could better keep them save if they stayed in one place. Of course he already knew that she was indeed staying inside but he didn't want to freak her out with his extensive knowledge. Plus, he wanted to hear it from her, find out what she felt. Man, what was up with him?

"We are, yes. I think of all the neighbors, we're probably the ones that're stocked the best for the Apocalypse. The angels have brought in tons of stuff and set up barriers. There were several attempts to get inside but they warded them all off fairly easily." There was an awkward pause. "Sorry, I'm still new to this monster talk." She admitted with a nervous laugh.

"It's okay. Trust me, the angels will keep you and Ben safe."

"I'm not so worried about us, Dean. I feel more like….we have a privilege here that shouldn't belong just to us. What about all the other people in this town, in all the other towns? In the whole world? Will they be safe? How many humans will lose their lives in this while we're shielded?" there was a short pause and Dean closed his eyes. That was indeed a difficult topic.

"You're far too good for me.", Dean finally concluded. He sighed and changed his phone to the other ear. "I want to protect all of them too but it's just not possible. I'm already sending as many angels out as I can but we have to concentrate on Lucifer's forces and he can multiply his numbers so quickly.." he paused, realizing that he had maybe said a little much. Lisa was quiet and it was his time to laugh nervously. "Sorry. That was a bit much. I..I will instruct the angels to watch over your neighbors as well."

"Thank you. And it's alright, I will have to try and get used to this kind of talk." Dean could hear the smile in her voice and it made him smile as well. "But what do you mean, you send the angels? Are you commanding them now?" she asked, there was pure curiosity in her voice, no disgust of any sort. How could he be so lucky to find somebody who actually accepted this weird side of him this fast?

"I…yeah, I do. I kind of…took in the commander angel, Michael." He confessed.

"WHAT?! Wasn't he the one that the angels were looking for and the reason why they trapped Ben?"

"Yes."

"Are you okay? Will he leave when this is over?"

"Don't worry, I'll be fine. He's actually not that bad."

"Okay…" she sounded suspicious but seemed to trust his judgement. "just ... promise to be careful, okay? You'll probably be at the front lines so just promise to come back in one piece okay?" Dean nodded, remembered that she couldn't see that and laughed quietly.

"Yes. I promise."

"Good. Ben just found out you're his father, I don't want him to lose that again, okay?" Dean smiled warmly now. He still couldn't believe that Ben was actually his son. He had a son goddamnit!

"Okay."

"He wants to talk to you by the way, he's running around me for a few minutes now." And she handed over the phone to her son. No, their son.

It was strange, talking like this. Their phone call lasted for several more minutes, right until the moment where Castiel suddenly appeared in the room and collapsed on the bed, clutching his stomach.

"Michael. It's Lucifer, he's…" the angel coughed and Dean quickly ended his talk, panic searing through him as well as Michael at the sight of Castiel clutching his rapidly bleeding abdomen. Even as Castiel spoke, Michael felt it. That presence was impossible to ignore…

"He's here."

.

.

You told me yes
You held me high
And I believed when you told that lie
I played that soldier, you played king
And struck me down when I kissed that ring
You lost that right to hold that crown
I built you up but you let me down
So when you fall, I'll take my turn
And fan the flames as your blazes burn

And you were there at the turn

Waiting to let me know

~ Burn it Down, Linkin Park

Sorry for skipping the rest of the talk there but it was getting just a little too sappy for me haha. Yay, Cliffy. Don't be mad yet though, here comes the final showdown! Bet you didn't expect Luci to just show up, didya? (tbh me neither but my Muse went away from me there. Oh well. I'll role with it).

So yeah. This is shorter than most of my chapters but it has neccessary elements. I wanted Sam to finally accept Dean's choice and that Dean wasn't going to leave him by becoming Michael!Dean. And I wanted the Samulet back! I Hope you liked that I did that haha. Also, I wanted Dean to have a phonecall with Lisa before the showdown too. I know Abby is kinda useless in this chapter...she'll make up for it next time :)

Now for Review answers!

Ky111: I did indeed think that Dean had a demon sickness! Glad I didn't need to directly say it for it to be clear^^. And yes, I always felt like Dean was hit by her death especially hard. I loved every scene he got with her, even the fake memories in heaven. This chapter should set some things straight there too ^^

LucediDio: Oh mein Gott, du hast so Recht. Eine FF fertig zu stellen ist manchmal so beschissen schwierig... Aber ich hab es versprochen, also werde ich es auch zu Ende führen :) Hoffe du bleibst dabei! Immer schön, nen deutsches Kommentar dazwischen zu haben :3

Guest: As you wish! ;P No really, I promise, it will be more quickly now :)

And unexpected Party: Yeah..I think the Supernatural fandom is just traumatised by all the drama the show ads and throws in. Just...there are limits to it, guys. I hope you like this chapter too :)

Girl-of-Action: No, believe me, Michael has not given up on God himself! I'll tackle that topic later. He just doesn't believe that the "big plan" is the 100% right thing to do anymore and at least questions if it is (and that's a big prograss for the most powerful archangel I gather). But thank you! :3

Evanescence2189: Well..there you have it! She's back XD. Just on the phone but better than nothing. I didn't even plan to have her be out of it this long but it just didn't fit...she is after all, still a civilian and she can't be in the fight directly. Yet. Who knows, maybe she'll learn to pick up some stuff later ;P

Ashfire28: Thanks! I'm glad you broke your habit to review ^^. Yeah, I found it a shame to not continue that plotline too, I think Dean gets less attention on the show sometimes, Sam always has the emo storylines focused on him and Dean is just always the savior. I wanted him to have a cool storyline like this too so I wrote this. I'm glad you like it, thanks :)

Everyone else: Thank you so much for all the compliments :3

AS ALWAYS: I'll look forward to every single review, no matter how short :)