Ace of Spades

Despite their many questions, the trip from Lawrence is mostly quiet. There's no doubt that the last test brought up the worst memories for both Winchesters, and for the three-hour drive, they just need to digest the experience again and clear their heads.

When they get back, they once again gather around Sam's kitchen table. It seems to be the place where they know they can be alone, the new official headquarters for Team Free Will.

The new – and hopefully last – Amulet does not want to connect to the others, even when forced into the open space of the four-pointed star. It fits in the slot, but it just won't stick.

Castiel reassures them that despite not glowing like the others, it contains the same power as the other pieces do, there's just no visual sign of it.

"Maybe it's due to the missing symbol," Sam suggests.

"So now we have to go look for the right symbol?" Dean sighs, holding his head in his hands, elbows on the table. "When does this end?"

"Could there be a clue in the last test? Some kind of symbol of acceptance of faith?" Castiel thinks out loud.

Dean slams down his hands on the table. "What was that all about anyway? I know you said Chuck wants us to accept his messed up story books, but what if we hadn't been us? Would someone else just have to stand there and watch our mom burn to a crisp?"

"No, I don't think so." Castiel frowns. "I think whoever was there would see a pivotal time in their life. Something that shaped who they are. Basically, the point in life that Chuck would find most important for them. He would want them to acknowledge who Chuck made them."

Dean makes a frustrated sound, letting his arms fall to the table and rests his chin on them, energy completely drained. "Can we please hunt him down and shoot him? I'm so freaking tired of him constantly popping up in our lives."

Castiel opens his mouth to find some words of comfort, but in that moment, he hears a call in his head. He sits up straight. "I have to go. Jack's calling."

Before either Winchester can stop him, there's a flutter of wings and he's gone.

"Shit, that can't be good." Dean gets out of his chair and starts pacing. "What do we do if the Empty has invaded Heaven?"

Sam picks up the newest Amulet. "Maybe Cas should have taken the Amulets so they could have tried fighting the Empty with it."

"But he keeps saying it's not strong enough, and now that stupid last piece won't fit." Dean points accusingly at the woodchip in Sam's hands. "And by the way, I'm not going to let Cas and Jack do this alone. We're going with them."

"And how are we going to get into Heaven? As long as we're alive, we can't go."

Dean stops short. "God damnit! Okay, okay, okay… we need to do something." Dean starts pacing again. "We can't die, not yet. You definitely can't. I'm not letting you." Dean stops again, turning towards Sam. "Well, I guess if we can't go to Heaven… We need the Empty to come to us."

Sam frowns. "I don't think I like the sound of that."

-.-.-.-.-

Sam and Dean are not surprised when Castiel returns, looking a little bit worse for wear, telling them that the Gate won't hold much longer. The angels's graces are depleting, and even Jack is starting to run low on power. Unless they take away all the power that keeps Heaven running, they will soon not be able to keep the Empty out. But doing that will mean that all the souls will no longer have a place to be and will be lost in nothingness.

Castiel doesn't look much better when they tell him about their plan.

But since he doesn't have a better idea, he has to go along with Dean's questionable reasoning: A bad plan is better than no plan.

With no time to waste, they split up. Castiel goes back to Heaven to inform Jack about the plan and get his support, and Sam, Dean and Eileen drive to the bunker to collect everything they will need.

During the drive, Sam and Eileen sits in the back with Baby Dean between them. They talk about what they will do tomorrow, about what to have for dinner. Sam promises to make a big breakfast.

Dean sits in front and does everything to not think about what the odds are for Sam keeping this promise.

-.-.-.-.-

Sam gathers all the hunters currently staying in the bunker in the war room. There turns out to be at least thirty, which surprises Dean. There are multiple faces that he hasn't seen in the time he has been here, but he guesses that most hunters still keep to themselves, even in a safe house.

"Thanks for coming," Sam starts diplomatically. "Uhm, here's the thing. There's an entity called The Empty. It is the oldest being that we know of. Even older than God. And in this moment, it's attacking Heaven. If it succeeds, all the souls in Heaven will be swallowed up and brought to a place where they will relive all their biggest regrets instead of resting happily and peacefully. And we don't know what will happen to the souls that pass, and were supposed to go to Heaven, if Heaven disappears. Maybe they will end up in the Empty as well, or maybe they will just disappear, or be sent to Hell or Purgatory. That is, if the Empty doesn't use all the power of Heaven to swallow them up too.

"The only place that we are safe, is here on Earth. The Empty cannot enter Earth unless it is summoned. At least for now. We don't know if that could change if it takes over all of the realms." Sam looks at Dean for support, and Dean gives him an encouraging nod. "We are not going to sit here and wait for the Empty to break down Heaven. We're going to summon the Empty to our playing field, where we will have the advantage.

"Before I keep going, I want to make it clear that this is most likely a suicide mission. The odds of coming back are slim to none. The only weapon that might be able to kill the Empty is… well, not really working yet.

"But if anyone of you would still want to join us, we would really appreciate the help."

Sam takes a deep breath, looking around at his audience. For a long while, the room is just silent.

"Damn, it took him a long time to ask such a silly question, huh?" Morgan's voice breaks the tension. "Of course we're coming, boss."

The other hunters make affirmative noises. Some walk up to Sam, lightly punching him on the shoulder or clapping him on the back, saying things like 'what did you expect?' and 'sounds like a party, wouldn't miss it'.

Dean proudly looks at his brother as Sam fills everyone in on the details of the plan and gives them the last instructions. Sam has truly built something here, not just a place to stay for the night, but a community and a knowledge center where all these people can become better informed than what they were when their dad put them into the Impala some 40 years ago. Just the fact that these people know about Heaven and Hell is a huge thing.

During these last planning phases, Castiel pops back in to tell them that everything is ready on his side. Most of the hunters are surprised by the angel suddenly popping up in the room, but Castiel doesn't notice and just seeks out Dean after delivering his message.

Once done and all questions have been answered as well as they can, the hunters go to gather their weapons of choice. Dean walks up to Sam, gripping him lightly at the back of his neck, giving him a small shake to wordlessly say how proud he is. Judging by the shy smile Sam gives him back, he gets the meaning. With a small nod, Dean goes to collect his own things, but-

"There he is!"

Dean freezes when he hears that voice. He turns around, and holy crap, that's Garth. And Claire. And Kaia, Jody, and Donna. Before Dean can count all the familiar faces and find an appropriate way to react, Garth has caught him in a suffocating hug.

"You're really here!" Garth sounds like he's crying. Dean awkwardly pads his back.

Over Garth's slim shoulder, Dean sees Claire giving Cas a tight hug. Jeez, Cas died without saying goodbye to her. Dean feels bad for not thinking about that before.

"That's enough, leave some for the rest of us." Jody all but peels Garth off of Dean to give him a hug of her own. "Why didn't you call us when you got back?"

"I didn't call you now," Dean admits with an apologetic laugh.

"I did," Sam says from behind him. "We need all hands on deck." Sam has his arm around Eileen, who is holding Baby Dean. They greet their friends before moving away from the group of people.

Dean feels yet another pang at the thought of pulling Sam away from his wife and son, and he vows that if they go down, he will make sure that Sam is at least the last one standing, giving him the best possible chance to get back home to his family.

Dean is so caught up in his own head that when Jody pulls back and walks away, the slap comes as a surprise.

Claire's eyes are shining, and even though she tries to look angry, there's really nothing but hurt in her eyes. "You asshole! Why didn't you call?" And then she throws herself in his arms. He hugs her back tightly.

"Missed you too, kiddo," Dean whispers into her blond hair.

Donna's hug is even more crushing than Garth's. "Oh, look at you. Looking great for a dead person."

Slowly, the hunters come back to the common areas, carrying duffels or backpacks and visible weapons. There's a sombre mood as they mentally prepare for what's to come.

Not long after, Sam comes back from where he said goodbye to Eileen. He clears his throat before saying: "Alright, I think we're all here. Ready?"

-.-.-.-.-

They walk in formation through the forest, Sam, Castiel and Dean taking the lead as the local guides.

Despite being as quiet as possible, the sound of this many shoes and boots can't be silent. Dean feels like they are being watched, but for now, nothing has jumped them. He guesses that their numbers and weapons make the things that go bump in the night think twice.

"How much further?" A grumpy voice asks from somewhere in the group.

"Shut up," Claire hisses at whoever asked.

Dean and Sam exchange looks, agreeing silently that this is as good a spot as any. Dean raises his shotgun to cover him, as Sam puts down a bowl and looks behind him.

From the motley crew behind them, Rowena walks up next to them. She looks back and forth between them as she asks: "There's no going back once we summon this thing. Are you sure about this, boys?"

Dean and Sam exchange yet another look before turning back to the witch, answering in unison: "No."

She smiles. "Well, just like the good olde days, then."

Rowena raises her hands and starts chanting. The ingredients in the bowl starts stirring and twirling, as if there's an invisible twister forming in the small container. Towards the end of the chant, she nods at Sam who drops a lit zippo into the mix.

In the moment the fire touches the dancing ingredients, they fly up in the air, like burning leaves caught in the wind. Rowena shouts one last word, and the leaves seem to collect in the shape of a speer before they shoot off and disappear into a small spot on the sky.

Everyone raises their weapons, pointing at the spot in the sky. For a long moment, everyone holds their breaths as they wait.

Nothing happens.

"Uh, Rowena, no disrespect, but-" Dean doesn't get to finish that sentence before the skies explode in bubbling, black tentacles. Instead, he changes it to a battle cry. "Hold your ground!"

The blackness surrounds them but for now, it doesn't touch them. There's just this thick, bubbling tar circling them, waiting, and watching them like a hungry predator.

A few seconds later, Castiel and Jack appear in front of them. They hear surprised exclamations among the group, where Jack has teleported angels into their mids.

Even in this gloomy situation, Sam takes a quick second to hug Jack when he walks up to them. "Did it leave Heaven?" Sam yells at Jack, trying to shout over the bubbling sound all around them.

"Yes!" Jack confirms. He holds out his hands, sending out a wave of power to push the Empty further away from them.

Rowena walks up to the young deity. "Good to see you, my boy."

Jack hugs her, like a child greeting his aunt. "Thank you for helping with this!"

Rowena chuckles. "Oh, Jackie dear. We rulers must stick together. Afterall, if Heaven falls, Hell will be next."

Sam and Dean look back on their group, on the odd mixture of humans, demons, and angels, all standing together in this fight against a common enemy.

The Empty suddenly shrieks, a high-pitched, brain curdling sound. Then some of the black goo forms a humanoid shape that walks up in front of them, seemingly focused on Jack.

"That's the shadow," Castiel yells to them.

The Shadow approaches Jack. As if in mockery, it takes the appearance of Castiel, but the wide, humourless grin on its face is nothing like the stoic angel. "Well, well, well. What is this?"

"Welcome to Purgatory," Dean says, trying to keep his voice as amicable as possible.

"Purgatory, huh?" The Shadow looks around. "I've never been here. So many things here, so many new things. Why bring me here?"

"Why would we summon you to Earth?" Sam asks rhetorically. "Why would we risk that you eat up all of humanity, when it's the realm that stands strongest against you?"

"Ah, clever, clever," The Shadow grins impossibly wider. "But it won't help you. I will take Purgatory, then Heaven, then Hell, then everything else."

"Why?" Jack asks.

"Because of you, stupid, stupid, stupid," The Shadow singsongs. "You laid claim on what is mine. Now I lay claim on what is yours."

Dean hates the way the shadow looks at Cas as it mentions 'what is mine', like he's a piece of meat. "Sorry, buddy. This angel is taken," he sneers.

"I had him first," The Shadow argues, like a child.

"Nope, he's been mine for sixteen years." Dean takes Cas's hand, feeling the angel squeeze his hand back.

"It doesn't matter," Jack interferes, "It shouldn't matter. The deal you made with Castiel was unfair, and you know it."

"A deal is a deal," The Shadow sneers. "He knew the conditions, and he agreed. So now, I'm going to hold him to it."

The black goo around them starts to bubble even more, and suddenly, long, black tentacles fires against the group.

There's an instant burst of multiple weapons and powers. Human weapons fire side by side with angelic grace and demonic telekinesis. Rowena wields her magic next to Jack who pulls at his divine power.

The black tentacles are being pushed away from the group, chopped off or blasted away, but it doesn't do much good. Like water, it seeps back to the main lake, regains its shape, and initiates a new attack.

Sam and Dean automatically team up. Dean does his best to keep it at bay with his shotgun, and whatever comes closer than what the shotgun can handle, Sam slashes with his machete.

From around them, they hear the yells of their peers, both battle cries and screams of pain.

At one point, Sam turns around to look at their group, checking on the other hunters. He sees the Empty stab at Morgan, pushing her forcefully to the ground, and she doesn't get back up. A tentacle grabs Claire, but Jody immediately cuts it off, and it slithers back to the tar surrounding them.

While Sam is distracted, a tendril tries to get at Dean, but a flash of grace pushes it back. Dean turns around and sees Naomi among the angels who left the fight in Heaven to complete it here in Purgatory. She's always been fierce but seeing her in a fight give him a new – positive – level of respect for her. They give each other a quick nod of thanks and acknowledgement before continuing the fight.

Sam steps back up to Dean. "We need to do something!"

Dean knows. He had kind of hoped that their weapons would have some kind of effect on the creature, but it's like punching water.

At that moment, someone steps up behind Dean and puts a hand on his shoulder. He turns around, shotgun ready, only to find Sophia looking at him.

Dean is about to shout at her, but she beats him to it. "Later! Go, get that damn Amulet working!" With that, Sophia walks up in front of them, sending a shockwave towards the tentacles trying to reach them, pushing them far enough back to create a bit of time and space for them.

"Come on!" Dean yells at Jack, Castiel, Rowena and Sam, gesturing at them to retreat to the middle of their group, surrounded by fighters from all realms.

"We need your help!" Sam takes out the Amulets, four pieces still connected and one loose, showing them to the small group. "We need to find out how to connect the final piece!" Sam yells over the sounds of fighting around them.

Rowena shoots a lightning behind her, keeping the Empty away from one of her subordinates. "Couldn't you have figured it out before!?"

"You think we didn't try?" Dean asks angrily.

As soon as Castiel had left them in Sam's kitchen, they had started working on this plan to bring together the powers from as many realms as possible. They needed everything they had to make this damn Amulet work, or as much power as possible to try to fight the Empty without it. But without Jack and Castiel, they had been at a disadvantage in figuring this thing out, and they didn't have time to go to Rowena, because they had to gather the hunters, sending Castiel instead.

"For some reason, this piece isn't glowing, and it doesn't have a symbol. But it's supposed to represent the Gospel of Winchester," Sam explains. "Any ideas what the symbol for that could be? The others are represented by a human with wings, a winged lion, a winged ox, and an eagle."

"Do you have a winged animal too?" Jack asks, with a surprising childish glee, even in these circumstances.

"Besides Cas here?" Dean squeezes Cas affectionally around the waist and sends him a wink. "No, we don't."

Castiel rolls his eyes. "This is not the time for jokes nor flirtations, Dean."

Sam stares intensely at Dean. "It must be something that symbolises us, right? A symbol for hunters? Or do you think Chuck would have used a symbol for Michael and Lucifer? Just to piss us off?"

"Wouldn't surprise me," Dean grumbles.

A demon comes crashing into the group, thrown by a tentacle, making Sam and Rowena tumble over. Dean turns towards the enemy and fires his shotgun. It leaves small dents in the blackness, and the tentacles seem to recoil a bit, not in pain, but in what seems like annoyance. "We need a genius idea by now!"

Castiel sends a wave of grace at the tentacles, pushing them away again. While Sam and Rowena get back on their feet, Dean picks up the Amulet pieces that Sam dropped when shoved to the ground.

"Alright boys," Rowena interrupts. "There must be some kind of clue in the trials you went through. I know you think it was Chuck pulling your leg, but this is still supposed to be a weapon against the Empty. So what is missing from this thing to fight the damn Empty?"

"You're right!" Sam exclaims. "The tests were about Chuck, but also the Empty. All the things we have been tested for, is something that the Empty doesn't know about. Loyalty, devotion, being honourable and pure. What is missing?"

Sam and Dean look at each other. This is their Gospel, their Amulet. What do they have that the Empty doesn't? Something powerful enough to fight something as ancient as the Empty?

A heartbeat of silence, and then Dean digs out his pocket knife. "I've got it."

"Dean, we can't just-" But before Sam can stop him, Dean has already started carving into the small wooden piece. "Damnit, you know it might destroy the whole weapon if we get this wrong, don't you?"

"I don't care. You hear me? I don't care what Chuck had in mind. He wants us to accept our destiny? Fine! This damn piece of wood is our Gospel. It's our story. Our symbol." Dean puts down the knife and picks up the other four pieces. He looks at the circle of people collected around him as he brings the fifth piece towards the gap in the star. "One thing the Empty doesn't know and doesn't have: Family."

The Amulets shine, and the final and fifth piece is magnetically pulled together with the rest of them, igniting upon impact.

Dean has carved their trademark W in the fifth Amulet, and now it shines brightly with the other Amulets.

All the symbols are alight, glowing with divine power, and a wave of energy shoots out from the blue star. The black tentacles immediately retreat with a shriek.

The Empty sends a responding, angry shockwave towards the group, pushing away everyone who stands between it and the Winchesters.

"WHAT IS THAT!?" The Shadow screams, still wearing Castiel's face but the voice sounds more like a lion's roar, deep and echoing.

Jack steps up in front of his family, placing himself between them and the Shadow. "The divine power of multiple universes."

"WHY DOES IT HURT?"

Jack looks back at the blue star, pulsing in Dean's hand. He lets his powers reach out and sense the energy from the collected Amulet. Despite its overwhelming energy that could potentially destroy Purgatory and everything in it, he also feels something else.

"Life," Jack smiles. "It's life, and hope, and dreams, and people. So many people who loved and cared for other people."

Jack no longer looks at either the Shadow or the star. He looks at his family. His three adoptive fathers and auntie. He looks at the angels, demons and humans who stand together to save their worlds. "Families, from dozens of universes."

Jack turns back to the Shadow and walks closer. "We have been fighting for weeks. I have begged you for a truce, for a way to live peacefully. Look at this. Despite all our differences, we all stand here, together, from three different realms, because we know that we all depend on each other."

"SO WHAT!?" The ground shakes with the Shadow's scream.

"I want you to be part of us."

"What?" Dean exclaims. "Jack, we're here to take this mother down, not invite it for Sunday dinner!"

"Yes, Jackie dear, for once I agree with Dean!" Rowena urges.

"No," Castiel interferes. "Jack is right. If we can find a peaceful solution, we should."

Jack looks back at them with a smile. "This star contains the energy to destroy multiple universes. All the power that Chuck used and then collected. But I don't think he expected the energy from those universes to be collected too. All those people, and their dreams. And their families." He turns back to the Empty. "I think that's why it's hurting you. This star includes a new kind of energy. An energy that didn't exist when you were created. Because you were alone."

"I like being alone!" The Shadow roars, but it seems to be crumbling a bit.

"That's okay too." Jack's demeanour takes on an edge. "Then go back to the Empty, alone, and stay there. And know that if you ever enter these realms again, we will stand together to fight you. Know, that we are not alone."

The shadow lets out a deafening roar.

The blue star responds with another shockwave. As if sensing the threat to all the people around it, it pushes said threat away.

The Shadow grabs at its head as if the wave is forcing its way through its mind and being. The faux Castiel falls to his knees, the black tar boiling all around. Finally, he shrieks: "FINE!" The tentacles retract. "I'll leave."

"And you'll leave Cas alone!" Dean steps forward, holding up the star as a warning.

The Shadow growls, looking up with pure hatred at Dean as he stands above it. "Alright."

The black goo bubbles. It seems to fold in on itself, before it retracts, until it's all collected inside the Shadow.

Jack decides to make a last peace offering, walking up to the Shadow. "If you ever change your mind, and wants to be part of our collaboration, come talk to me."

The shadow cocks its head, seemingly not sure if Jack is seriously still offering peace. It doesn't answer, but gives a small huff, before it disappears into nothing.

There's a moment of complete silence.

Then cheers break out, especially among the humans. But there's also solemn spots, where friends have fallen or are lying injured.

Sam immediately goes into boss-mode. "Who needs help? Gather the wounded!"

Rowena, on the other hand, has to keep her demons from attacking the angels and humans, now that the bigger threat is gone. Luckily, her high-pitched voice cuts through everything and keeps them in line.

Dean turns towards Castiel and Jack. With a disbelieving laugh, he says: "Can't believe you just did that, kid."

Jack, almighty God who just banished the Empty, looks almost chastised. "Are you disappointed?"

Dean hates that he has this effect on Jack. Even if they have their disagreements, it doesn't mean that he doesn't love and support the kid. Dean pulls him into a tight hug. "No, Jack. Never. You're just a better man than me, kiddo."

"I am who I am, thanks to you guys," Jack says against Dean's chest, and Dean tightens his hold on him.

Dean swallows heavily before letting go. "Now, go. Take care of these angels of yours."

Jack skedaddles with a smile.

Castiel walks over with beaming eyes and a wide smile. "That was nice."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Dean pulls him in for a kiss. When they pull back, he gently runs a finger down Cas's cheek. "Seeing that thing wearing your face. I didn't like that."

Castiel smiles and places another small kiss on Dean's lips. "From now on, you'll only see this face on me."

Dean smiles. With an arm around Cas's waist, they walk into the group of people and creatures to see if they can help anyone.

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A/N: Want to see an illustration of the Amulet in this chapter (And previous chapters)? Find the story at AO3