Liam's eyes snapped open, chest tight and sweaty, and after a second spent staring at the ceiling in the lava lamp light, he shot up in bed. It's okay. It's okay. I didn't see any angels. It was probably just a regular bad dream. He looked toward the foot of the bed, where Calypso was curled up and sleeping soundly. She usually knows when something's wrong, so this must mean there isn't any danger here. He inhaled slowly, trying to calm himself, but he couldn't quite shake the fear. He turned his head to the left and looked at his closed bedroom door. I'm almost fourteen. I shouldn't be running to my dad in the middle of the night. He immediately threw the covers off, an echo of previous conversations reminding him that he absolutely could and should do exactly that.

Liam went into the hall and crept toward Sam's room, making it to the door and hesitating one more time before letting himself in. "Dad?" he whispered, walking toward where he knew the bed was in the pitch blackness. "Dad?" He reached out, walking carefully until he felt skin touch his fingertips. He gave a couple shakes and—

Sam shot up, grabbing Liam's arm in an iron grip.

"It's just me!"

"Li—oh. Sorry, bud." Sam let go and turned the bedside lamp on. "What's wrong?" He rubbed his eyes.

Liam swallowed. "Um, nothing really. I just, uh… just had a bad dream."

"Angels?" Sam's eyes widened, concern clear on his face.

"No, I just…" Struggling to find words, Liam fidgeted in place.

Sam smiled faintly. "Why don't you stay with me tonight?"

"Thanks." Liam exhaled and rushed around the bed to get in on the other side.

In the meantime, Sam got up and walked over to his dresser, pulling out a t-shirt and putting it on. Liam smiled as he settled under the covers, watching as Sam came back to bed. He knew Sam only put on the shirt for Liam's sake. Because Liam didn't know when he would be able to handle being in a bed and touching bare skin and that wasn't his and when he wouldn't. So Sam just covered his bases.

"Alright," Sam grunted, falling back into bed. "You wanna talk about it?"

Liam shook his head, rolling onto his side and folding one arm under his pillow. He looked at Sam for a few moments, smiled, and closed his eyes. Seconds later, he felt a gentle kiss on his forehead.

"Sleep tight, little man."

Dean exhaled, rubbing his forehead with one hand while the other brought a beer to his lips.

"Dean—"

Swearing, Dean fell to the side, just barely catching the edge of the counter as the barstool clattered to the floor. "Cas!"

"Gabriel is here," the blue-eyed moron said, staring as obliviously as ever. "He's close to locating Michael and Lucifer, and he wants us to be ready."

"Hiya, Dean."

Growling, Dean reached up and rubbed his face. "Awesome." He dropped his hands, spreading them slightly in disbelief. "What more can we be doing? We're up to forty-two angels, and they're training day and night. They're getting a steady dose of archangel Grace, we know the rings work, they have no idea where we are and when we're gonna show up—what else do you want?"

"I want to know if you're ready to do what needs to be done." Gabriel rocked back on his heels, smirking. "Have you thought about what your actions are going to be?"

Dean tried not to think about it even as the words were coming out of his mouth. "Sam's gonna summon Lucifer, pretending he's ready to give up his body. We're gonna let them talk a bit, and then I'm going to show up and pretend I'm trying to talk him out of it. We're gonna argue and shout and whatever else we gotta do to buy time for Michael to notice where we are and what's going on—" he took a breath and pointed at Gabriel, "—and you are sure he's got a vessel and doesn't need to possess one of us for this fight to happen?"

"Definitely." Gabriel nodded sharply.

Dean glanced down and sighed. "I wonder who the poor idiot he's wearing is."

Clearing his throat, Gabriel rolled his shoulders and let his eyes wander everywhere but Dean's face. "Well, it's actually someone you know."

"What?" It came out flat and hard.

"Well, if it makes you feel any better, the kid's dead. Michael's just using the body."

"Kid?" Dean questioned, louder and angrier than before.

"It's, uh, it's your brother, Adam."

Dean blinked, taking a split second to process the words before swearing out loud. "Of course it is." He grabbed his bottle, hiding his reaction in a drink of beer. "So, they've both got vessels. We gotta get them there, and then you—" he pointed to Castiel, "—are using the key to open the Cage, and you—" he pointed to Gabriel, "—are somehow going to get them in that Cage."

Gabriel gave a dismissive smirk, but his shoulders were tense. "That's the idea."

"And our forces will be ready if Michael or Lucifer call for support." Castiel was speaking to both of them, but his eyes were trained solely on Dean. "If they don't, we will have additional power to use against them directly."

Dean took another drink and exhaled. "Now we just gotta… do it."

"I'd like to let my Grace recharge a little more—maybe a week?—before I try to take on two brothers at once," Gabriel said.

Frowning, Castiel let his gaze wander to the ground. "I suppose we should also say our goodbyes."

Silence settled over the room.

"Yeah. I mean, heh, there's not really anyone I need to say goodbye to that isn't here with me." Dean rubbed the back of his neck. "Bobby's coming tomorrow, and… yeah."

They got quiet again.

"Well." Gabriel clapped his hands together. "Here's hoping we don't all die horrible deaths."

Dean lifted his beer.

"You want me to what?"

Sam buried his face in his hands, the stress of the approaching battle weighing on his shoulders. "Bobby, I know you want to help us. I know you want to be there for the big battle. But there is a very good chance we are all going to die, and I need someone to be with Liam. I don't know what will happen to him if he doesn't have us, and I can't face death until I know he's taken care of." Leaning against the wall in the corridor, he shook his head and tried not to show just how devastated he was. "I… I can't leave knowing he might go back into the system or—or try to raise himself and survive on his own."

Bobby put his hands on his hips and struggled for a moment—probably because he knew Sam was right—before spitting out his answer. "How's about we just don't die?"

"Bobby, come on." Sam tried to keep himself calm, but every day that went by brought them closer to the end. His heart never stopped pounding. His mind never stopped racing. He had no idea what to do or how to deal with the mess they were in—the mess he had made. He was living a nightmare, and his ability to put on a brave face was crumbling.

Bobby considered him for a moment, and then he adjusted his ballcap with a sigh. "I'll take care of him, Sam."

Sam forced a weak smile. "Thank you." He reached up and rubbed his face. "I, um…" He took a shaky breath. "I know you'll take good care of him, and… I want to thank you for always being there for me. I…" He felt his eyes burning, and he knew he had to have been pushed to the edge by now. "I just have so few people in my life who mean something to me, and you're one of the ones who means the most, and…" He exhaled, having no idea what to say.

"It's okay, Sam." Bobby smirked faintly. "I know what you mean. You're one of mine, too, boy."

Sam swallowed. "Thanks, Bobby." He almost turned away, intending to go find Dean, but he stopped short. He looked at Bobby for a moment, and then he lunged forward, throwing his arms around the shorter man's neck.

"Oof." Bobby put his hands on either side of Sam, and then he gave him a slight hug. "Easy there. You're fine."

Sam let go and flashed another smile. "I gotta, uh… I gotta find Dean." Wiping his face, Sam hurried down the hall toward Dean's bedroom. He took a deep breath at the door, trying to collect himself, and then he knocked.

"Access granted!" Dean called from inside.

Lips quirking in the corner, Sam let himself into the room.

"Hey, Sammy." Dean barely looked up from his dresser. "What do you wear when you know it's gonna be your last day on Earth?"

Sam pressed his lips together, watching in silence as Dean held an AC/DC shirt out in front of him. Sam had thought a lot about what he was going to say, and after many hours of rumination, he had decided to say… nothing.

"Sammy?" Dean looked over at him, a mildly concerned look on his face.

Closing the distance, Sam wrapped his arms around Dean and closed his eyes.

"Okay?"

Sam bowed his head, pressing his face against Dean's shoulder just as Dean maneuvered his arms around Sam. Sam took a breath and slowly let it out.

And they stood there. And neither of them said anything. And neither of them moved.

Seconds turned into a minute, which turned into two. Time passed, and they just stood there with their arms around each other.

Silent. Still. Together.

Sam took another breath and lifted his head, blinking away the moisture in his eyes. He dropped his arms and flashed a smile.

Dean smiled back and held up the shirt he had been considering. "Thoughts? Is this a last day on Earth shirt?"

"You do like AC/DC," Sam laughed quietly.

"I figured, y'know, Highway to Hell? And if we don't die, we'll be Back in Black?"

Sam laughed again, rolling his eyes. "Sure, Dean."

Liam startled when Calypso suddenly stood, facing the room over Liam's shoulder with a cautious look on her face. Even though Liam knew the bunker was safe, he still whipped his head around, relief flooding him when he saw Castiel standing there with an unreadable expression.

"Hey, Castiel!" Liam turned in the chair behind his desk, placing his hands on the back. "What's up?"

Castiel stared at him for a long moment, clearly struggling with something, and then he slowly opened his mouth. "I…" His eyes moved to the side and then back the other way, almost like he was trying to read a script. "I just wanted…"

Frowning, Liam tilted his head to the side and waited, knowing it sometimes took a while to get one's words together.

"We… don't know if we're going to survive this." Castiel took a breath, fingers twitching slightly, like he wanted to move his hands but didn't know what to do with them. "I didn't want to… go… without telling you…" He let out a sigh, reaching up and rubbing his forehead. "I… followed Heaven for millennia. I have done things… things I haven't told you about, things I haven't told Sam and Dean about, things I'll never tell anyone about… and somehow, those things weren't enough to make me realize what I was doing was wrong." He looked at Liam with profound gratitude in his eyes. "But you did."

Liam blinked, chewing on his lower lip as he considered what Castiel was saying.

"You have taught me things I… didn't even realize I needed to learn." Castiel stepped closer to the chair, coming up beside it and spreading one of his arms. "I just wanted to say, 'thank you.' For saving me."

Blinking away the burn in his eyes, Liam stood up and wrapped his arms around Castiel's waist, pressing his face into the familiar trench coat. "I don't want to lose you."

Castiel squeezed him. "I know." He put a little space between them, sliding a finger under Liam's chin and tilting it up. "But no matter what happens, you are going to do incredible things." His lips pulled up into a slight smile. "You are a very strong, very smart young man, and you are incredibly adept at surviving. You'll be alright. I know you will." And then he leaned forward and pressed his lips to Liam's forehead.

Liam stared at Castiel's lapel, frozen. "Castiel… you've never kissed me before."

Castiel stayed close, tucking his chin over Liam's head with a gentle sigh. "I know."

"I…" Liam was suddenly overwhelmed with the need to do something he had never done before to show Castiel just how much the angel meant to him, but there wasn't a lot Liam hadn't done to Castiel before. "I love you." Sniffing, Liam pushed himself up onto his tiptoes and got out from under Castiel's chin, planting a kiss on the smooth cheek. "You saved me, too."

Castiel let out a chuckle, and then he crouched down slightly, shifting his arms until he had gotten a good grip on Liam, and then he lifted him into the air. Liam teetered, almost losing his balance, but he grabbed Castiel around the neck and held on tight.

"Being an angel, I'm significantly stronger than your father and uncle." Castiel kept a firm grip on Liam, supporting him from beneath. "You'll never be too old for me to do this."

Assuming you live past next week. But Liam just leaned forward, switching positions with his best friend and putting his chin on Castiel's head. "I love you," he repeated.

Castiel hummed, and for once, he didn't stumble over his reply. "I love you, too."

Dean sucked in another breath, just barely poking his head around the archway to the common room, where Liam was laying on the couch and reading a historical biography for school. Dean clenched his jaw, running a hand through his hair, and he tried for the millionth time to get himself together. He pressed a hand to his chest, trying to rub away the rapid pace, and then he shook himself.

Okay. Here we go. He walked around the corner and into the room, approaching the couch from behind. "Hey, Lee."

Liam glanced up, and even though he immediately smiled, Dean could tell it was hard for him to put on a happy face. "Hey, Dee."

Dean smiled back, walking around the sofa and sitting down just as Liam pulled his legs out of the way. "I just, uh… we're about three days away, and I wanted to, uh, to talk to you quick."

"Okay." Liam placed a bookmark between the pages and set the book aside, sitting up and scooting closer to his uncle. "What did you want to talk about?"

Clearing his throat, Dean grabbed the first car on the train of thought, one he had been tearing apart for a week. "I just… I know when we met… I kinda freaked out a bit. Probably made you feel not so great." He let out a nervous chuckle. "And I think you're old enough and mature enough to understand that… I really was hurt and upset by the fact Sam had adopted you." He scratched at his jeans. "I felt… a lot of things, but I felt like I was being replaced. Like Sam was moving on and getting a new family and didn't need me anymore."

Liam watched and waited in silence, probably thinking of all the times his family had let him stumble through his incoherent feelings.

"And I figured… y'know, this is one more unfair thing I just have to get over. Lots of stuff has happened to me that just… it sucked, and I was never able to do anything about it, so I shrugged my shoulders and moved on." Dean took a shaky breath, trying not to let his eyes water, though he wasn't sure how successful he was being. "I thought you being around was going to be like that. And then I just…" He let out an incredulous laugh. "I fell in love, just like Sam did. I kept realizing, more and more, every day, how much I needed you in my life. Like my family wasn't going to be complete unless you were in it."

Lips twitched into a smile, and Liam sniffed quietly.

"I just want to tell you that…" Dean swallowed, "…as you grow up, you're gonna meet people who are hurt or bothered by you. They're gonna want things to change—they're gonna want you to change—but Lee… don't. The people who are supposed to fall in love with you are gonna fall in love with you." He reached out, brushing some of that dark red hair back away from Liam's eyes. "I just know… what it's like to constantly try to be something for someone, and it's exhausting, and it hurts, and I don't want you to do that to yourself. But… I might not be here to tell you that."

Liam flinched and looked away, reaching up to wipe his eye.

"So, I'm telling you now, kid: you're incredible. You make me happy in ways I can't describe; ways I didn't think was possible for someone with my history and messed up head. You're smart, and kind, and handsome, and loving, and unique, and amazing." Dean slid his hand to Liam's shoulder, giving it a squeeze. "I don't know how things are gonna go at this fight. But if it goes bad… if I don't come home… I wanted to at least tell you what I really think of you. You deserve to know how awesome you are, Lee."

Blue eyes dropped to the cushions, lip quivering, and Dean pulled the teen against his chest. He buried one hand in Liam's hair and used the other to rub circles on the dark red shirt. Lowering his head, Dean pressed his lips to Liam's temple, not really kissing but just leaving them there.

"I love you, kiddo. Always."

Liam nodded against Dean's neck. "I love you, too. Thanks for being my uncle." He wound his arms under Dean's, grabbing the back of his flannel. "Thanks for teaching me things, and talking through things with me, and not laughing at me when I'm being stupid, and…" He sniffed. "Thank you for being my family. My real family."

Dean tried to muster up the strength to smile even though Liam couldn't see his face. "Thanks for being mine."

"You're scared." Liam traced idle patterns on Sam's chest, tired eyes watching his finger move in the dim light of the lava lamp. "I can feel your heart racing."

Sam sighed, squeezing Liam with the arm he had wrapped around him. "Yeah."

Wetting his lips, Liam inched a little closer—if that was even possible—and moved his head against Sam's t-shirt. "Don't be scared."

"I just don't want to leave you." Sam squeezed Liam again, crossing his left arm over his front to join the embrace. "I know… I know I've talked your ear off these past few days. I know we've talked about everything under the sun and about how much we love each other, and…" He took a breath, the inhale lifting Liam's head before dropping it back down. "Maybe this is old-fashioned and sexist, but… your relationship with your dad is different than your relationship with your mom. You want both of them to love you—of course you do—but… at least for me… and I know for Dean… we just wanted our dad to be proud of us. We knew he loved us, even if it didn't always feel like it, but he didn't make a habit of sitting us down and saying…" Struggling with his words for a few moments, Sam gave up and let out another sigh.

Liam bent his knee slightly, placing his leg on top of Sam's.

"I know… or at least I think I know… that you know I love you. I will always love you, no matter what. But if… if things go south tomorrow, and I can't come back to you, I don't want you to spend the rest of your life doubting your choices and… staring up at the sky, begging someone to tell you if you're gonna let me down by making a bad choice." Sam rubbed Liam's upper arm. "I'll always be proud of you, Liam. Because you're doing your best, and I know it might not be perfect, and it might not be what I would choose for you… but it's your best, and I can't ask for any more than that. I don't want any more than that." He combed his fingers through Liam's hair. "Whatever you do, wherever you go, whoever you become… I'm proud of you."

Liam screwed his eyes shut, swallowing the sob that rose in his throat. He wanted Sam to know he was touched, but he didn't want to cry and make Sam feel guilty about the unadulterated panic he was feeling. Don't go! He wanted to scream, but he knew he couldn't ask that. He wet his lips, cautiously opening his mouth, and even though he couldn't get his eyes open without tears streaming down his cheeks, he did manage to keep his voice steady.

"I'm proud of you, too." Liam grabbed a fistful of Sam's shirt. "Even when you opened the Cage… even if you… if you die tomorrow, and you can't stop them, I don't care. You're still a hero—you're still my hero—and I'll always be proud of the person my dad is."

Sam breathed carefully through his nose. "Thanks, Liam."

Forcing a smile, Liam squeezed Sam tightly. "I love you, Dad."

"I love you, too, Liam." Sam sniffed quietly. "More than anyone, more than anything, always and forever."

Liam pressed his cheek against Sam's chest. "Always and forever."

You have to let go sometime. Sam clenched his jaw, keeping his arms wound around Liam's body, just as he had been for the last five minutes. Liam didn't resist, content to stay against Sam's chest as long as possible, but Sam knew they had to get going. It was time to set the plan in motion.

"I love you, buddy." Sam gave his son one last squeeze, and then he finally dropped his arms. He forced a smile and nudged Liam on the cheek. "You're gonna be alright."

Sniffing, Liam tried to put on a brave face, but a few tears still escaped his eyes. "Love you, Dad. Text me when you can."

"I will." Sam gave another smile and turned to leave but stopped short and gave Liam another hug. He didn't say anything—he had honestly run out of things to say—and as he let Liam go for what really was the last time, he crouched down and gave Calypso a pat on the head. "Keep an eye on him for me, okay?"

Blinking, she meowed up at him, pushing her head against his hand.

Sam took a steadying breath and slowly got to his feet. He nodded to Bobby, who had already gotten a lengthy hug of his own, and then he turned toward the Impala, where Castiel and Dean were already waiting. Everyone had said their goodbyes. Everyone had taken care of their unfinished business.

Grimacing, Sam trudged over to the car, walking around the front to get in the passenger side. He dropped into the seat without really processing how he got there, and he didn't bother with his seatbelt. He just sat there, staring through the windshield, wanting nothing more than to look at Liam one last time but simultaneously knowing if he did that, he would snap.

Maybe we'll survive this. Maybe I'll come back, and we can finally put all this stuff behind us. Sam blinked, and he felt like he should have been rubbing his forehead or something, because he really was stressed, but he just sat there. We've done some pretty impossible things before. Maybe… maybe this won't turn out as bad as I think it will.

Sam focused on breathing, vaguely aware of Dean starting Baby and pulling away from the bunker. Sam closed his eyes, tilting his head back, and he tried to swallow around the lump in his throat and the stabbing, searing pain in his chest.

"Sammy?"

"This is the most painful thing I've ever done in my life, Dean." Sam shook his head, not daring to open his eyes. "And I have done some horrible things. But none of them made me feel like this."

Dean was silent for a moment. "Maybe… maybe you can stay with Liam. Me and Cas can take care of Lucifer and—"

"I'm not letting you do this alone, and even if I were willing to do that, I'm Lucifer's vessel. You're not gonna get him to show up unless you give him something he wants, and I'm the thing he wants the most." Sam wet his lips, amazed by how difficult it was to breathe when he knew there was nothing physically wrong with him. "And if we don't stop them, no one will, and if no one stops them, the world ends. That includes Liam's world."

No one said anything for several seconds, and then Sam felt a hand on his shoulder. He assumed it was Dean at first, but then he realized it could have been Castiel. It didn't really matter, though. He didn't care. He needed the support.

"We're in this together, at least." It was Dean. "I know it still sucks, but… I'm here."

Sam nodded, inhaling through his nose. "Thanks, Dean. Thanks, Cas." He paused, but no one said anything, and the silence was just allowing his thoughts to run rampant. "Can you put something on the radio?"

"Yeah." Dean's hand dropped from his shoulder, and a moment later, the familiar sound of classic rock came through the speakers.

Sam listened to the song—Sharp Dressed Man by ZZTop—and tried not to think about anything. Gabriel had told them Lucifer was in Lawrence, Kansas, and had been for a while, though he wasn't sure if there was any specific reason. Regardless, they had about three and a half hours to get there. Three and a half hours of thinking about everything they were walking into. Three and a half hours to futilely attempt to prepare themselves for the worst when they knew such a thing wasn't possible.

Here we go, I guess.

"I've heard it said… that people come into our lives… for a reason, bringing something we must learn…"

Liam stared at the ceiling, lying on his back on the couch with his fingers interlaced on top of his stomach, headphones resting in his ears. He knew Bobby was in the kitchen, making something for dinner, but he couldn't find it in himself to be hungry.

"…and we are led to those who help us most to grow, if we let them, and we help them in return… well, I don't know if I believe that's true, but I know I'm who I am today because I knew you."

He blinked slowly, picturing broad shoulders in a dark brown jacket, barely illuminated by the moonlight coming in the window. Hands fisting the shirt of the creature on the floor, and then a head of swooping hair looking around for an escape route.

"It well may be… that we will never meet again… in this lifetime, so let me say before we part, so much of me is made of what I learned from you… you'll be with me… like a handprint on my heart."

The patience. The gentle contact. The soft voice and clear explanations of the way the world was supposed to work; the way the world had never worked for Liam. The laugh. The smile. The fire and passion behind every encounter where Liam needed to be protected or defended in some way. The calm. The steady. The kindness. The pure, unadulterated, unconditional, unfathomable love.

"Who can say if I've been changed for the better? I do believe I have been changed for the better… and because I knew you… because I knew you… because I knew you, I have been changed… for good…"

"Hey, Liam!" Sam waved at the camera. "I'm really hoping we're gonna spend Christmas together, but it's in less than a week, so we might wind up asking Castiel to bring you some of your gifts. If that's what happened, then we wanted to say—"

"Hello!" Dean butted in and waved at the camera, extremely up close.

"Dean!" Sam shoved Dean out of the way and repositioned the camera so it could see both of them. "Like Dean said, we wanted to say hello. We miss you like crazy, and we're not gonna give up until we're all together again."

"You bet'cha." Dean grinned. "But until then, Merry Christmas!" His smile grew a little sadder. "We love you, kiddo. Always. Just hang in there, okay?"

"Love you, little man." Sam blew a kiss to the camera, and then the footage froze.

Liam sniffed, but he didn't bother to wipe his eyes, letting the saline blur his vision before trailing down his cheeks. He slid his finger across the screen, rewinding the video for the fiftieth time. Briefly, he wondered if digital videos degraded the more you watched them like regular videos did.

"Liam? You in here?"

Liam nodded and then realized Bobby couldn't see him. "Yeah." He sniffed again, pausing the video. "I'm here."

Footsteps sounded nearby, and the end of the couch sank a few seconds later. Several moments passed in silence, and then Bobby sighed. "You wanna talk, or you wanna just sit here?"

Liam stared at the frozen faces of his father and uncle, another blink sending fresh tears down his face. He stared for another minute and then slowly opened his mouth. "I used to expect bad things to happen to me. I thought I deserved it. Every day was just… a waiting game. Holding my breath. Tense." He held his mouth open, struggling to find words. "But at least I was ready for it. I thought I was ready for this. I…" He stopped again. "If they don't come back, what's the point?"

"What do you mean?" Bobby asked, shifting on the couch.

"I mean…" Liam took in Sam's hazel eyes and Dean's smile. "When I was in the system, I kept holding on because I thought I might go home again. When Heaven had me, I didn't give up because I knew Sam and Dean would never stop looking for me, and maybe one day they would succeed. But… if they don't come back… Sam and Dean and Castiel… if they're gone for good, and there's no way to get them back…" He closed his eyes. "What am I supposed to hold onto?"

Bobby didn't say anything right away, and then he let out a sigh that was just as defeated as Liam felt. "Kid… you can't think about anything as really being the end. When I lost Karen, I thought… I thought that was it. I was never gonna be happy again. I was never going to have a family again. But if I had given up back then, if I had let that be the end, I never would've met Sam and Dean. I never would have met you." He put his hand on Liam's lower leg, giving it a squeeze. "I know… I know losing them would feel like the end. But it's not. It's the end of a chapter, not of the whole book. And they would want you to keep writing."

"What if I can't?" Liam choked out a sob. "What if it's too hard?"

"Well, kid, it's not like you have to get up the next day and start your new life. Take time, grieve, process… talk to your therapist, figuring out how to make it from one day to the next… do what you can, when you can. Sometimes you don't get to see the steps you're taking until they're already behind you."

Liam shuddered, forcing his eyes open and finding his screen had fallen asleep. He woke it up and tried not to break down at the sight of Sam and Dean smiling at him. "Don't leave," he whispered, unsure if he was talking to the men on the screen or Bobby.

"I'm right here, kiddo."

Liam reached out and hit play.

"Hey, Liam!" Sam waved at the camera. "I'm really hoping we're gonna spend Christmas together, but it's in less than a week…"

Author's Note: I know it was kind of short, but I didn't want to dip into the actual battle, and I didn't want to beat a dead horse. Like, it's sad. Hey, it's sad. Did I mention it's sad? Oh, and don't forget, it's sad.

I know it's been a really long time since I updated, and I'm trying to get better at that (and that's why I've started only publishing things once I have multiple chapters done and can post consistently). I hope you can forgive me!

If you want to keep up with the different things I'm working on, check out my tumblr or my website for updates. I'd really appreciate the support! You can also find me on Facebook.