Chapter Fifteen: Whatever Helps You Sleep at Night

Two Weeks Later:

It was silent in the room. All the students were glancing around at each other wondering if their new professor was coming at all. It had been fifteen minutes since class was supposed to start, and still, no one had arrived.

Damon sat parked outside the school for far too long contemplating whether this whole idea was a huge mistake. Caroline had made a good argument at first, but now he wasn't so sure. He didn't want this responsibility; he didn't want to get one of these kids in trouble or worse, killed…but on the other hand, maybe his guidance could be useful to them. His mind couldn't help but drift back to Bonnie and something she had said about working at the school.

.

"My first year as a witch was a hot mess. I had no semblance of control; I didn't know what I was doing and people got hurt…people died. If I had a place like this maybe things would be different. Maybe they'd still be here." Her eyes locked on him knowingly. "Do you remember what was your first year like?"

.

He remembered what he thought then. How burdened and resentful he felt after being forced to turn by his own brother. He never asked for that life, and his anger and bitterness turned him into a selfish monster he no longer recognized as himself. Maybe if he hadn't spent decades alone plotting and scheming and burning every bridge he crossed, maybe if he had a support system, roots, a community…maybe he would have been a well-adjusted individual that didn't snap his best friend's neck just because he was in his way.

Minutes later Damon strolled into the classroom whipping off his sunglasses and tossing them on the desk. "Okay kids, listen up." He crossed his arms and coasted his eyes over the room. "I'm Damon. Don't call me Mr. Salvatore, or Professor, Sir or anything like that. Sucking up – no pun intended – will not get you a better grade, and this isn't a class you can cheat your way through." He stated firmly, pacing the floor slowly and observing the group of students. Some looked scared, others intrigued, some indifferent. He could already pick out the ones that had potential. "Rule number one: no textbooks. Everything we do here is hands-on, real-life experiences. Rule number two: I don't like repeating myself, so don't make me say it twice. Rule number three: no killing. Being a vampire doesn't mean you have to be a monster."

He saw the hope in their eyes, and suddenly felt a purpose to fulfill.

…

Dean found himself looking out to a vast sea of nothingness; the ground was barren, cracked and charred and there was no sign of life surrounding him. Every building that once was had been reduced to crumbling debris and the sun was barely a blimp in the dark grey sky. There was a sense of loneliness that overcame him, as if he was the only person in the whole world.

"Terrifying, isn't it?" The voice came from behind him; calm and deep. Dean knew it was Michael, only this time it was his own voice that spoke to him.

"What the hell is this?" Dean rumbled keeping his eyes on the destruction around him.

"This is the future, Dean. I didn't think you'd fully understand what was at stake if you didn't see it for yourself. Your brother and mine plunge this world into chaos. There is not one single human surviving, the demons have full control, and the Angels are all dead." Michael bowed his head. "It's not the future my Father had envisioned."

Dean turned to him in anger. "Then where the hell is he, huh? He's the one pulling all the strings! Why didn't the almighty God do something about it?"

"God may write the story, but he does not choose your path. All he can do is show you the way." Michael linked his hands behind his back. "Free will may be an illusion in the grand scheme of things, but it is one of my Father's greatest gifts; not that you humans deserve it. That was one thing Lucy and I could always agree on." Michael turned a snide glare in Dean's direction. "Earth was wasted on your kind."

Dean looked around him, brows pinched in concern. "There has to be another way to stop this."

"There are many ways. Some are better, some are worse…but there is only one scenario where Bonnie lives." The angel continued enticingly. "Say yes to me, Dean and I will assure you Bonnie will be protected for the rest of her very long life."

"Of course." The older Winchester huffed an ironic laugh, staring down at the ground indignantly. "How convenient for you."

Michael stood in front of him. "This is my duty…just as it's yours. I don't mean to put you in this position out of malice. In fact, I rather admire your tenacity Dean…it's a trait I look forward to inheriting."

"Yeah well, be prepared for a fight, Michael. Because I don't give up that easily."

.

Dean shot out of bed covered in a sheen of sweat and thanked the powers that Bonnie was a heavy sleeper. He slipped out of bed and padded silently to the bathroom, closing the door behind him. The man that looked him back in the mirror was Michael through and through. His glare behind his own eyes was enough to make him reel back in disbelief.

"I won't do it, Michael." He whispered to himself. "So you may as well stop trying." He splashed water in his face, and when he looked back in the mirror, he saw his own reflection staring back at him.

"Babe…?" Bonnie's sleepy voice came from behind the door. "Who you talking to in there?"

His eyes closed. "No one, Bon…" he looked in the mirror again. "Just myself."

He lay back in bed next to Bonnie staring at the ceiling, too afraid to fall asleep. He waited until he could hear her even breathing before slipping out of bed and out the door.

…

In the room next door, Hope lay with her arm sprawled across Sam's naked chest, doodling imaginary lines over his muscles. He'd been quiet the last week since they got back from Chuck Shurley's, and she couldn't help but be curious as to what he might have learned.

"You've been quiet lately." She whispered. "Anything you want to tell me?" She looked up at him silently pleading with him to open up to her.

His hand covered her, bringing her knuckles to his lips. "About what?"

Hope sat up, holding the sheet to her chest, and flipping her hair to fall over one bare shoulder. "You and Dean haven't said a word about what happened in Kripke's Hollow. That worries me." She mumbled with a small shrug.

Sam sat up with a sigh, running his fingers through her wavy locks affectionately. He debated on what he should tell her, knowing that she wouldn't like the answer, but also knowing that he trusted her enough to handle the truth. "Chuck said that God's plan for me involves saying yes to Lucifer." He told her candidly. "That in the end I'd find peace."

Hope blinked. "What? He said that?"

"Not in so many words. Actually…he quoted Revelations, I think. Look, I don't really know what I believe but he got me thinking. God wants me to follow my path, play my role…and up until now, I've been fighting it every step of the way and getting nowhere. So, what if the only way to get on the other side of this is to go through it? What if despite all my efforts to prevent this from happening I end up getting someone killed, or getting you killed; I wouldn't be able to live with myself."

Hope blinked away the tears forming and turned her head. "So, what, I'm just supposed to let you die? Let Lucifer take you over and just move on with my life?" The thought pained her more than she wanted to admit.

Sam tipped her chin to look back at him. "Hey, we don't know if that's going to happen. What if saying yes to Lucifer is the only way to stop him?"

"What if it isn't?" she countered in a breathless whisper, two fat tears falling down her cheeks, fear shining in her glassy eyes.

Sam brushed the tears away with the pads of his thumb. It damn near physically hurt to see her cry, especially over him. "I've been fighting for a long time, Hope. Every day, there's something else and there never seems to be an end in sight. There was a time when I thought that we'd never be free of it, and that was okay because we had nothing else to live for…but I do now. You have been the light in a sea of darkness, and I don't want to lose that. So if there's a chance, a glimmer of hope that there's peace on the other side, a future with you…I have to take it. Do you understand?" He asked gently, doing his best to convey what he was feeling.

Through her tears, she smiled prettily and nodded. "I do…I just don't want to lose you, Sam. I've…" she bowed her head. "I've never felt this way about anyone before. It's scary." She finished on a whisper.

She had thought she loved Landon, and maybe she did, but whatever that was felt like a drop in the ocean in comparison to these last few months with Sam. He made her think about things that never seemed to matter before – a family. When she first became a tribrid, she always thought that having children wasn't something her body would be capable of doing, but her father was half vampire and still had her…what if it was possible? Hope's mind would drift from time to time; what would life be like? If there was one thing she knew for certain, it was that Sam would be a great father, but the fear of losing him before it became reality was crippling.

"I know, but I promise you I'm going to do everything in my power to come back to you. Do you trust me?" He asked cradling her face and looking in her eyes.

"Of course. It's Lucifer I don't trust. If he's at the wheel, you won't be able to stop him from what he has planned." She was feeling overwhelmed, and desperately needed some fresh air. "I'm going to get a drink; do you want anything?" she asked slipping out of bed and throwing on Sam's button up.

He watched her worriedly, seeing the tension in her back. "I'm okay, thanks. Hope…we're going to be okay…I promise."

She smiled back at him, but it didn't reach her eyes.

…

The next afternoon, Sam walked back into the motel room with a bag of groceries to see Hope intently reading a thick leatherbound book. He and Dean had been out most of the day working a run of the mill salt and burn while Bonnie and Hope continued their research. "Light reading?" he asked jested with a smile, but she was too focused to notice. She seemed stressed which was rare for her. Maybe it was all the challenges she faced on a regular basis, but Hope was never one to let the little things affect her. "Everything okay?"

"Have you ever read the bible Sam?" She darted a glance at him over the book.

He huffed a laugh. "Admittedly no."

"Neither had I until now. If my father were alive, he'd probably kill me." She chuckled. "But the more I read, the more that what's happening starts to make sense." She placed the book down beside her and pulled her knees up to her chest.

Sam dropped the bags on the counter of the kitchenette with a frown coming to sit beside her, kissing the crown of her head in greeting on his way down. "What do you mean?"

"Cain and Abel, Isaac and Ishmael, Esau and Jacob…you have to admit that God has a thing about betrayal between brothers." Hope answered forebodingly, biting down on her lips. "Makes me wonder what he has in store for you two."

He rubbed his thumb over her knee comfortingly. He was impressed by her thoroughness. "You really have been doing your research. Look Hope, whatever it is, we'll get through it. We always do. What else did you find out?"

She released a heavy sigh and pulled another book towards her and flipping it open to an earmarked page. "I've been racking my brain looking for anything that can kill Lucifer. For the most part, there's nothing, but then I read a passage of something called the flame of death being the only weapon strong enough to strike him down. Apparently, the Arch Angel Michael used it on him in the War in Heaven, banishing him to Hell." She turned the book to face Sam, showing a painting of the two angels in battle. "It's a sword."

Sam was in awe of the photo. "Hope, this is good! This is the first real lead we've got. Thank you." He glanced up to see the look on her face. "Why do I get a feeling like there's more you aren't tell me."

"Only Michael can wield it, Sam…" she stared at him for a long time. "Don't you see where this is going? If Michael is to use this sword…he needs a vessel. Any guesses on who that might be?" She asked him knowingly with sadness in her tone. All day the puzzle pieces were coming together, and the more she found out the more she believed it to be true. She could see the wheels turning in his head, and the deep frown that furrowed his brows as he understood what she was saying. Sam was rising to his feet now, pacing the floor and running his hands through his hair. "Think about it; the tale of two brothers, his secrets, the way he's been acting lately…Sam, everything is pointing to Dean being Michael's vessel."

The Winchester shook his head in denial, continuing his pacing. "No…no, that can't be right. He'd tell me."

Hope scooted forward on the bed to sit on the edge. "Just like you told him? I could be wrong, but I don't think I am." She paused. "He asked me about the elixir." The comment earned a sharp glance in her direction. "It was last night, after everyone went to bed. When I went to get a drink from the vending machine, I found him out at the car looking like he hadn't slept in days. He asked me if I thought it might help." She admitted lowly.

"Why didn't you tell me?" he snapped.

"I'm telling you now." She responded plainly. "But I had to be sure before I jumped to any conclusions."

"Well did you give him any?" He questioned urgently.

She nodded. "Not as much as I've been giving you, but enough to get through the night."

"Do you think Bonnie knows?" he asked curiously.

She shook her head. "I haven't told her anything yet; she's been out all day. She wanted to load up on supplies from the magic store in town. And I doubt Dean told her…it's not something she'd keep from me. Which makes we wonder why he's keeping it from her." Hope theorized to herself. "Did Chuck say anything else? Anything that we don't already know?"

Sam paused, thinking intently for a moment before leveling her with a grim stare. "He said that Bonnie played a key role in the Apocalypse. That we don't get through it without her. What do you think that means?"

Hope rose to her feet, wiping her palms on her jeans. "I don't know, but something tells me Dean does."

…

AN: Sorry for the long wait! I wrote and rearranged this chapter a couple times before I felt good enough about it to post. I hope you enjoy and as always, I'd love to hear what you think. We are getting to the nitty gritty soon and I've been doing a lot planning ahead for it 😊 Thanks for reading - Vanessa