Title: Consequences of Action

Chapter: 15

~~~~~~~~~~

Sam? Dean came to with only the vague remembrance of the fight between Michael and Lucifer. He saw Sam on the ground before them, a flicker of awareness in his eyes.

“He can’t hear you yet, Dean. I’ll give you time to say goodbye. This will be the last time you can talk to Sam for a long time.”

He felt awareness of his body returning while the heat of the angel remained. Michael didn’t leave him. Why did he stay? What more was there to do? Dean stretched out one hand, touching Sam’s chest, half afraid Sam would disappear like Yoda had in Jedi. “Sam?”

Sam’s lips parted. “Dean.” His voice was weak, a mere strained whisper, so different from the last time he’d heard it. It wasn’t supposed to be like that. Sam was big, strong, not the broken, dying -- his mind hurried over that word, dying -- shell Dean saw now.

“I’m here.” Fix him, he begged Michael. I don’t care what you have to do, just fix him. Make him better.

I can’t reverse the damage Lucifer did.

Bullshit you can’t. I’ve seen what you guys can do. You’re powerful.

Not that powerful, was the almost dry reply. Ask Sam what he wants. Ask him if he wants rest or if he’d rather suffer the rest of his life as less than half a man. There’s a limit to the damage I can reverse. Let Sam go. If you don’t, as he is now, Sam won’t be fully…there. He’ll be just as trapped in a body that doesn’t function right as he was trapped with Lucifer in control. He’ll need constant care. Don’t you remember Raphael’s vessel? I know you saw him. He’ll be a slobbering mess, unable to communicate, just like that man. You’ll have to feed him, bathe him, dress him, all those things his mind cannot direct his body to do, while his mind remains active. He has enough mind at present to tell you, but don’t wait too long or it’ll be too late. I can’t keep him able to speak for long. Break the cycle, Dean. Please. Let him go and live your own life. Take the time to finally grieve for him.

I can’t let him go, not when I‘ve got him back.

You have to. He can’t be fixed. I’ve already done what I can for him.

No.

“I see that.” Sam’s breaths were labored. “Never meant this to happen.”

“I know.” All the old emotions were welling up inside him, the hurt, the pain…the love. You lied to me, he accused Michael. You said I could have anything.

Pick anything but that. Pick healthy, strong babies with Risa. Pick a blessing upon the earth. Pick a future for yourself, but don’t be selfish. Do you really need Sam more than he needs to finally have rest?

“What do I do here, Sam? What do you want me to do? Michael…he says --”

“I’m tired, Dean. I tried to fix it all and I couldn’t.” His eyes rolled back, body going taut. It seemed an eternity before his body relaxed and his eyes once more looked at Dean. A trickle of blood slid from the side of his mouth and down his cheek. Dean took off his button-down shirt and used the tail of it to wipe that blood away. “I was going to make you proud and I screwed it all up.”

They talked in soft voices, discussing the matter at hand. Did Sam want to die? Did he want to make that final goodbye? Along with that was the other question, the one they didn’t talk about yet was there nonetheless. They both knew it was there. Could Dean take the full loss of Sam to death at this point? Could he function from the loss of Sam after just getting him back? He’d been able to deal partially with Sam hosting Lucifer mainly because he could imagine that Sam was still alive and out there in the world, but to have him completely gone?

Already he could feel an emptiness inside him growing, an emptiness that he knew Risa would never be able to fill. True, she made him feel whole, but with Sam and her both, he really was whole for the first time. When he thought of Risa and Sam both there with him, he had a peace he’d never had.

His family made him complete.

You forgive him Lucifer and all of the rest of it?

I love him, Michael. He’s my brother.

Yes. I understand. He heard a sigh. You’re willing to give him that care? To treat him with kindness and gentleness for the rest of his life, knowing he can’t speak or move, but that he is in there?

I am.

There was a long pause and when he spoke, Michael’s voice was sad. Oh Dean…. The two of you make me weep.

~~~~~~~~~~

He’d known what Dean would ask for. It didn’t take a genius to know. Nor did it take a genius to know that Sam wasn’t willing to leave Dean, not again. Michael asked them, over and over and sighed, gently pushing Dean back inside their body. He’d spent most of their conversation sighing in frustration. They wouldn’t listen. They wouldn’t break the cycle they’d been stuck in. He wondered if his Father found all of them to be as frustrating and stubborn as these two. If so, he was starting to genuinely understand why he’d taken an extended vacation. He was also beginning to understand Gabriel’s fondness for alcoholic beverages.

“Very well. If you both fully understand the consequences of this decision --”

Sam’s chuckle ended in a wet cough that racked his body. “I think I understand about consequences, Michael. I’ve had years of them. Your brother gave me my own personal hell and laughed the entire time. Believe me, watching Dean live his life around me won’t be nearly as bad as all of that was. It’ll be a pleasant rest itself compared to all that Lucifer made me see.”

I’ll take care of him. It’s not the first time, Michael. I know it’ll be difficult. I don’t expect otherwise. I tried to let him go before and look what happened.

“You’re agreed?”

“Yes,” Sam answered.

We are, was Dean’s reply.

Michael stretched out one hand and made Sam sleep. Soon, he’d take Sam to a safe place and finish all that he and Dean had yet to do. “I think I like you, Dean. For a human you’re bearable.”

Gee thanks.

“I meant that as a compliment.”

You guys need to learn how to give a compliment. Cas could give you lessons.

“Ahh, yes. Castiel. You realize that he’s not devoid of consequences himself? He, too, must face his actions.”

I’m sure he’s aware of it. I think he, like Sam, could tell you a lot about consequences.

“Could he?”

Look where his actions took him. He became human, lost his powers, his identity. He had to reinvent himself to survive.

Michael glanced at the heavens. “Well, Dean, about that…. There are a few things you need to know about Castiel’s journey. Allow me to start at the beginning.”

He told Dean all he knew, starting with that very first posting that Castiel didn’t as yet remember and working forward. It was a long tale.

~~~~~~~~~~

Chuck was bent over, his head cradled in his arms as he finished crying for that scene he’d written. Death scenes overwhelmed him, even more so once he knew they were real. He’d weep for the people and for those who’d loved them.

Chuck.

He sat up, wiping his eyes. “What?” There was a petulant tone to his voice that he didn’t try to cover. It wasn’t fair that he had to witness such scenes.

Pick up your pen.

“Why? Is there even more? Is Risa dying next? Or maybe Dean himself? How about that? What else could there be? Cas dying maybe? Is this a Greek tragedy, with all but me dead in the end?”

You’ve some revisions to make, now listen carefully.

As the voice went on, Chuck frowned, snatching up papers and scratching out sections. After a long while, he shook his head. “You’ve got to be kidding me. I thought Sam was dead. They decided…. I saw him die. I watched Dean cradle him in his arms as he took his last breath.”

He could hear the smile in the reply. Those boys have free will in spades, both of them.

“And more lives than a cat,” he muttered, beginning to revise those pages he’d worked on.

~~~~~~~~~~

Urgency swept Gabriel as he made the journey to Castiel’s cabin. He saw Castiel and Zachariah fighting and touched down, continuing to siphon Zachariah’s powers in steady degrees. It was only fair and just, in his opinion, to give Castiel a fighting chance and make the two equal. Zachariah had had an edge up for far too long. He was an insufferable smug windbag that needed taken down a few pegs. It had been with pleasure that Gabriel took away Zach’s ability to travel back and forth in time -- a hunch he’d had that Zach might try to influence events in the past.

He wondered if Zachariah would be shocked to know how well he was emulating humans in his behavior, since Zach was one of the more disdainful angels on the subject of humanity.

Gabriel observed the scene a moment, barely the half blink of the human eyelid. He saw Castiel punch Zach and Zach return the gesture. They were nicely matched, neither with an edge power-wise, though Gabriel thought Castiel might have the Dean Winchester seal of approval in hand-to-hand combat by now. It had been enough time for him to learn such human techniques. He was holding his own and Zachariah was growing more frantic and erratic in his fighting as he realized his powers had been limited. Zachy-boy was starting to panic.

His glance turned to his right.

Jo Harvelle was dying, her and the child both. She was bleeding out from the injury the jealous girl had inflicted. Her eyes began to close, body relaxing.

He listened to instructions only he could hear. “Jo Harvelle, it’s your lucky day,” he whispered. “Welcome back to the land of the living.” Moving to her, he crouched down, giving the waiting Reaper a shake of his head and stretching a hand out. He healed her and waited for what he suspected she’d do upon realizing she could act.

~~~~~~~~~~

Jo gasped, eyes opening. The pain, the blood…. It was all gone. I’m alive, she thought. What the hell? I’m alive! She sat up, focusing in on Cas and the angel, her first concern for Castiel’s safety. They were holding nothing back, fighting as dirty as she’d ever seen, from poking at eyes, to ear pulling and groin hits along with punches and kicks. Scrambling to her knees, Jo turned to the man beside her. “You’re an angel?”

“I am.” He nodded. “Gabriel.”

“Do something! Help Cas!”

He directed an apologetic stare her way. “Not my call, Jo.”

“Then give me your knife. I know you have one.” She could see the hilt at his side, her fingers itching to grab it.

“Um…no. You think I’m stupid enough to give anyone my knife?”

“His back’s exposed! Give it!” She held out her hand. “Oh, come on! Don’t be a dick!”

Gabriel opened his mouth to say something, but Jo couldn’t wait to argue with him. Castiel and Zachariah tumbled to the ground. Dread snaked along her skin. Zachariah had the upper hand, grasping Castiel’s hands, turning the point of the knife to Cas in steady degrees. Jo reached out and took Gabriel’s knife.

He didn’t stop her or even seem surprised.

She got up, stumbling a little, moving towards the two on the ground. Another couple inches and Cas would be gone. She understood that much about the recent changes inside him.

He was trying to turn the knife back, teeth bared, the strain showing on his face.

Jo brought Gabriel’s knife down onto Zachariah’s back as hard as she could, fully expecting nothing to happen despite Castiel’s previous assurances that a human could kill an angel, but the resulting flash of light tumbled her to the ground beside Cas. For a moment, both were terribly still, but then Cas groaned and shoved the body off of him. She saw he’d succeeded in turning the knife, probably at the last second, maybe even when Gabriel’s knife had penetrated Zachariah’s back.

Cas sat up, scooted to her, one hand dragging down her and back up, as though he couldn’t believe she was really there. “You’re alive. How? You were dying….” His kiss tasted like dust and blood.

Jo pulled back and sat up as well, touching his face. The only evidence remaining that he’d been hurt were the trails of dried blood on his skin. “I must have a guardian angel.”

“Yes, that must be it.” Gabriel stepped over to them and bent, tugging his knife from Zachariah. “You asked for a future, Castiel, one with her. You prayed for it. Guess someone was listening.”

“You?”

Gabriel sheathed his knife with a snort. “No.”

“Michael?”

“Think a little higher, Castiel.” He rolled his eyes and leaned over to Jo. “And he’s supposed to be smart? You sure you want him, because you and I…. Thought we had a bit of a connection there when you came back….” Cocking a brow, he smirked. “No? If you’re sure…. My part in this was to mess with Zachy-boy. I didn’t make the decision to bring Jo back from the brink. In fact, I thought she was toast, my friend. Nothing like waiting for the last second for a reprieve. Your prayers were heard and answered. Think about what that means.” He cocked a brow at them and disappeared.

“Your prayers?” Jo brushed Castiel’s hair from his brow. He was muddy, bloody, sweaty and she couldn’t care less. He was alive.

“Earlier today. I prayed that we’d have that happy ending together.” Wonder flickered in his eyes. “He heard me. Jo, he heard me. I’d given up hope….”

Jo kissed him.

~~~~~~~~~~

Risa woke to Dean sitting on the bedside, staring at her, only the longer she stared back, she realized it wasn’t Dean with her. The stare was too cool to be Dean. He’d never looked at her that way. Even when they’d been at odds, there’d been a kind of heat in his gaze. “I want my husband back,” she whispered. “You can’t keep him. Please don’t keep him.”

“I won’t keep him, Risa. We’ve a few more things to do and then he’ll be home to you.” He touched her hand, took it, studied the rings on her finger. “Did you know he paid for these? The shop was deserted, but he took the money he had, figured in sales tax even, and paid thin air. Laid the bills in the register, wrote out a receipt and all while his team stood watch outside. He could have simply walked out with them. The owner and all employees were dead. No one would have known if he’d taken them. But he wanted your marriage to be honest from the start, so he paid for your rings.”

She snatched her hand back and sat up, gaze flicking to the couch. “Um…there’s a man on my couch wearing a white suit.”

“Yes. Leave him be. Dean will explain when he returns to you.”

“What if he wakes up?”

“He won’t.”

“How --”

Michael was gone, leaving Risa with the stranger. Getting up, she went to him. He appeared to be sleeping, eyes moving behind closed lids. With a cautious hand, she touched his shoulder. He didn’t wake. Risa covered him with a blanket, pulled up a chair and began to watch him.

~~~~~~~~~~

After reassuring each other that they were definitely alive and well, Jo and Castiel got up from the ground and looked at Kylie and Vanessa. Vanessa had no wounds on her, while Kylie was almost unrecognizable. Jo shuddered, remembering the ferocity with which Vanessa had stabbed at Kylie, her stomach churning from the sight of those gashes.

“Kylie tried to get in her way,” she told Cas, wrapping her arms around him and laying her head on his chest. “She stepped between us and tried to talk her down.”

“Ky was young, but she had a good heart under it all. She’d make instant opinions that changed when she found facts.” His arms tightened around her. “We should get some people here to take care of them.” He took the instantly into the cabin, sitting her on the couch and asking her to wait for him to come back. “You’re okay here alone? I won’t leave you alone if you need me with you right now. Those two can wait awhile yet.”

“As long as that angel, whatever his name was --”

“Zachariah.”

“As long as he’s gone, I think I’m okay.”

Jo waited, hearing the sounds of people outside and thinking about what Vanessa had said. Cas was back before she’d had much time to consider all of the brief conversation, but one point stuck out at her. “Cas, what do you think of Natalie?”

“She’s sweet. Intelligent. Easy-going.” He shrugged. “Why?”

She told him what Van had said.

“Then we should see her. I don’t think she’d have willingly helped Van try to kill you.”

As Jo and Castiel stepped into the main lodge, Natalie turned from putting books on the shelves, her smile wide, but falling flat as she watched them approach her. “What happened? Are you okay?” There was concern and curiosity in her eyes.

Jo marched right up to her, going for the direct approach. “You told that bitch Vanessa I drink sweet tea.”

She shook her head frowning. “No, I never --”

“She said you were the one who told her, made a point of saying your name.”

“Jo, what happened? Did Van do something?” Either she was genuinely puzzled or one hell of an actress.

“For starters, that obsessive cow nearly killed me.”

Natalie’s shock from that frank statement couldn’t be faked. Her face paled. “How? What did she do?”

“She claimed she wanted to talk with Jo and gave her drugged tea,” Cas told her, slipping an arm about Jo’s waist and drawing her back a few steps.

“No, I never told her anything. I hadn’t talked to her in weeks. I mean, she was getting strange. Only Kylie would really talk to her and she was worried.” She drew in a long breath. “Wait. Wait, wait…. The only time I remember mentioning tea at all was when Claire and I were planning a baby shower for you.” She licked her lips. “That was supposed to be a surprise. Pretend you don’t know about the shower, okay? Claire’s worked really hard to come up with something nice for you.”

“Natalie,” Cas prodded. “Vanessa?”

She nodded. “Yeah, um…we were sitting in the dining hall and it was pretty busy. Claire was writing down food and drink options as we thought of them. I remembered the sweet tea because that batch you made awhile back was really good and I don’t usually like sweet tea. Makes me gag. Anyway, Vanessa could have been listening and I wouldn’t have even known. There were a lot of people around.”

Jo looked up at Cas for confirmation.

His head dipped a fraction in a nod. “She’s telling the truth. Vanessa lied to you.”

“Shocker,” Nat muttered. “She lied a lot. But are you okay? Are you both okay?”

It was Castiel who answered. “We are now.”

They left the lodge, walking slowly back to their cabin. The clearing was empty of bodies when they got back, for which Jo was glad. She hugged herself, beginning to feel chilled. “I’m going to take a shower,” she told him, “wash the day away.”

Cas watched her a long moment, hands sliding up and down her arms before gently squeezing her elbows and releasing her. “I’ll go tell Claire what happened, reassure her. I’ll try not to be long.”

She took a long shower, glad she had no aches and pains from the attack and very glad to be alive. The realization that she’d been seconds from death made her shake and Jo leaned against the shower wall, gulping in breaths of hot, steamy air until the trembling of her legs made her feel like she was going to collapse. Slowly, she slid down to sit, wrapping her arms about her knees and letting the water warm her. When the water began to turn cold, she got back to her feet and turned off the water, then left the shower.

Jo combed out her hair, braided it and pulled on a pair of pajama pants and a t-shirt. She’d just draped the towel over a chair to dry, when she felt a presence behind her and whirled, her heart beating fast for a few seconds.

Dean was behind her, only it wasn’t Dean. Jo could see the difference in the way he looked at her. It was the same way Castiel had once looked at every human around him, as though he sought to understand humanity. His arms hung loosely at his sides and his head was cocked a fraction to the left. His eyes narrowed.

“You are with child.”

The wording was odd coming from Dean’s lips and Jo put her hands on her belly. “Yes. Are you Michael,” she asked.

“Yes.” He blinked, coming to her, towering over her. He placed one hand on hers. She smelled the scent of warm sunlight on earth with a hint of freshly mowed grass. “Interesting. The child reacts to me.”

It had? Jo hadn’t felt anything.

“That would be the heritage from Castiel’s side. We recognize our own, you see.” He removed his hand.

“He was human when it happened.”

His brows rose. It was strange to look at him and know he wasn’t Dean, that he was so far from Dean she’d never mistake one for the other. “Who told you that?”

“Cas.”

“Castiel may have had his powers removed, but powers alone don’t an angel make. The supernatural changes to Jimmy Novak’s body remained intact. Your child isn’t fully human.”

Her lips parted and Jo edged back from him. She wasn’t entirely comfortable with him standing so close. In her mind was a vague memory of Dean once telling her about Castiel having personal space issues. Now Dean, as Michael, was having them too.

“Your child will have an extraordinary life,” he told her. “He’ll lead people, gather them to him, and bring prosperity to a world that is in desperate need of that. He will be wise and he’ll be a joy to you and to Castiel.” Michael watched her a long moment. She had the feeling he was seeing far more than he was offering to tell her.

“I’m having a boy?”

“Yes. Healthy and strong.” He clasped his hands together, index fingers pointing at her. “Under normal circumstances, it would be Gabriel telling you this. I’m no messenger, but as long as I’m the one present….”

“Is there more?”

“Your son will prophesy, and he and his wife will have many children. The vessel line will be all the stronger for their union. The child of a filled vessel and the child of an empty one united, ensuring many potential vessels in the future.”

“You already know who he’ll marry?”

Michael smiled, a gesture quite different from Dean’s easy grin. “I’ve been given a peek, yes. He’ll know her all of his life and she will be treasured by him from the time he is old enough to care.”

Jo thought about what he said. The child of a filled vessel -- hers and Castiel’s. The child of an empty vessel -- Dean and Risa perhaps? She opened her mouth to ask and found him answering.

“Yes, Jo. Your guess is correct. I ask that you keep all of this information to yourself. Dean knows about Risa’s expectant state and nothing more. Risa doesn’t know of her state as yet.” He shrugged. “I could see that you needed an assurance of the future.”

“The future can be changed.”

One hand stretched out, the fingers stroking her cheek as though he was curious what her skin felt like, ignoring her statement. “Gabriel did a good job of healing your wounds, but I sense some lingering anxiety in your body. Rest will ease that.” His fingertips raised, sliding up, past her temple and onto her forehead. “Sleep, Jo, and rest well knowing you are protected.”

She slid into unconsciousness, waking a long while later on the bed. Someone had tucked her under the covers. She wondered if it was him.

~~~~~~~~~~

Castiel felt Michael behind him on the path long before Michael spoke. He stopped walking but didn’t turn, an action he thought clearly conveyed his feelings about Michael to him.

“You impregnated Jo Harvelle. You went into her without protective measures and a child was conceived.”

Tipping his head back, he stared at the white fluffy clouds dotting the bright blue of the sky. “You believe me unaware of that fact?”

“No. I’m stating a fact in clear, concise language that cannot be twisted into anything else. It’s a true thing. You did go into her without protective measures and she did conceive.”

Now he turned. “What did you promise to Dean to get his agreement?”

“Anything he wanted, within reason, of course.”

He gestured with one hand, a glimmer of disgust sliding through him. Seeing Michael in Dean’s body angered him. Even when Dean had yelled his acceptance that first time, back when Michael hadn’t answered, Castiel had hated that he’d done it. He’d hated that Dean had felt backed into that corner and that particular action. “Was he aware that you get to decide what’s within reason?”

Shaking his head, Michael replied, “You’ve become so jaded and cynical, Castiel.”

“You know my name?” Why was he surprised by that? Because he didn’t think Michael actually knew the names of many. Least of all the common soldiers.

“Of course I know your name. You’re the curious one, the scholar, the one with the potential for,” he motioned along Castiel, “this. The inquisitive one searching for answers. The faithful one until Zachariah began meddling with your powers and you learned about humanity the hard way.”

“There’s an easy way? Pray tell what that would be?”

Michael ignored the tone and the words. “I know who you are. And as for Dean’s wishes, there were only a few predetermined ones I was not allowed to consider, such as bringing anyone long dead back from death. The dead are in their graves and they shall not be disturbed until the final day has truly come.”

“What did you grant?” Michael didn’t have to tell him. He could be mysterious and ignore the question.

“Safety for his wife and unborn child.”

“Risa’s pregnant?”

“She doesn’t as yet know. She only conceived a little over a week ago, before Dean accepted me. Their daughter will be beautiful. The best of both of them.”

“You used it as leverage,” he guessed. “Told him and played on his feelings for family.”

“Perhaps.” His head dipped in a shallow nod. “But Dean was already wishing Risa’s safety. I couldn’t not tell him what I knew. His own child should be protected as well as his wife or is that not reasonable? Would you not have done the same?”

He looked away. “It’s not reasonable the way you got to it.”

Michael stepped closer. “Am I to assume that your scorn for what I am indicates an unwillingness to ‘strap the angel wings back on’ as Dean would say?”

“I’ve made a life here. Why would I wish to return after all that has happened? I have Jo and a baby on the way. I can’t leave her to raise our child by herself. I won’t leave her. I made a vow to her, Michael. I intend to keep it.”

In idle moments, he’d thought about what he’d do given this very chance. Heaven or earth? While he longed for heaven and everything he missed and had been, he had responsibilities on earth, a life he’d made out of necessity. Castiel had a purpose here. He was going to be a father. That carried quite a hefty responsibility with it.

“She wouldn’t be alone. Jimmy Novak could remain here. You know Jimmy would care for her and the child as his own. He’d love her and be grateful for a second chance at a life. Dean, Risa, Claire and others would remain here to aid her.”

“And have Dean call me a dead-beat dad? Uh…no. If you want me to leave, you’ll have to drag me.”

“You surprise me, Castiel. Choosing earth and a human life? You and Gabriel are two of a kind and I don’t believe I can ever truly understand either of you.”

“It’s probably easier not to try.”

Michael was silent for a moment. “Such pain we caused you. I apologize on behalf of all of your brethren for inflicting that pain upon you.”

“You apologize? Right. Of course you do. What if I don’t accept it?”

“It is still given.”

Castiel sighed. “Sure. Take my powers and go. I choose to remain here. I’ve made a human life here and I’ll live every day of it.”

“You misinterpret my presence. I’m not here to take those powers that have returned to you.”

He stared at Michael. “Excuse me?”

“Zachariah’s punishment upon you was spiteful and not sanctioned. That judgment was negated. Not even Lucifer’s powers were stripped from him when he was imprisoned, Castiel. He was merely bound to keep him from using them freely.” To Castiel’s eyes, Michael seemed uncomfortable. “For awhile, until all judgments are given to the angelic ranks for the Apocalypse incident, you and Gabriel will have the distinction of being the only upper level operatives on earth.”

Castiel shook his head. He was understanding Dean’s frustration with angels far better now than he ever had before. No matter what he said, it was like Michael wasn’t even hearing him. “Were you not listening to me, Michael? I said I choose earth, not --”

“Not heaven, yes, but heaven chooses you.”

“I refuse.” Somewhere in the back of his mind, he recalled having similar conversations with Dean about heaven’s plans, with Cas himself taking Michael’s position. He suspected Dean would find this amusing.

“You’re an angel, Castiel, whether you like it or not. You cannot refuse.” His voice was angry. “It’s who and what you are, but not all you are. You have a free will too, the evidence of that is ample. You chose your path. You chose to follow Dean Winchester and you chose, ultimately, to take a human wife. You chose the path, now take your consequences. Like I said, you and Gabriel -- the two who understand humanity the best and chose the humans -- will remain on earth. Walk away all you like. It does no good. You’re an angel. Your powers remain. You’ll find a couple more returning in the next weeks. You’re returning to your original state and I assure you, it wasn’t my decision. You’re needed here. Deal with it.”

“Suck it up? Is that what you’re telling me?”

“Yes.”

“Nice. Inspirational. Original state? How is this my original state? Jimmy can surface. I’ve never been able before to let him surface for as long as I can, not to mention how easily we can talk. Nor did I feel these feelings when I was in Anna’s --”

“That wasn’t your original state, Castiel.”

“I’m hardly an upper level operative. I’m a disposable grunt --”

“You were originally part of a special unit sent to watch humanity closely.” The sentence was said in a quiet voice. “That makes it your natural state. The vessel being able to surface and communicate with you, the feelings remaining. All in order to more easily interact with humans, which was the purpose --”

He shook his head. “No. They all were cut off and died after being wantonly disobedient. I’m not old enough to be one of them.”

“You’re resistant to remembering.” Michael crossed his arms. “Interesting. I believe this subject will need to be discussed after you’ve time to consider the truth of it.”

“There is no truth to it. You’re lying to me.”

“Do I lie, Castiel?”

“When it serves your purpose and your purpose is….” He shook his head and shrugged, feeling extremely irrational and not caring one bit. “I don’t you know what your purpose is and I don’t really care, but if you’re not here to take my powers, then leave.”

Michael took a few steps back. “Very well. Think about what I said, Castiel. If you wish to discuss it further, you know how to contact me. Or….” His lips twitched. “Better yet, call for Gabriel. He’ll be pleased to discuss it with you. The lost unit is a favorite subject of his these days since he read up on you.” He moved to one of the lawn chairs and sat. “I’m leaving Dean now. Please stay with him until he wakes fully. As your vessel knows, it can be…disorienting at first.” Michael closed his eyes and with a flash of bright light, he was gone from earth, leaving Castiel alone with a groggy Dean.

~~~~~~~~~~

It took Risa a moment to realize that the man on her couch was looking back at her. She watched him raise up on his forearms, frown, and lick his lips several times, as though they were dry.

“Who are you,” he asked.

“Risa Winchester. Dean’s wife.” She wasn’t sure why she said her full name. It seemed right to do so however.

His frown smoothed out. “Wife? How long?”

“Not quite a year, but we knew each other awhile before.”

He sat up the rest of the way, the beginning of a smile tugging his lips. “Hi, Risa. Can’t tell you how happy I am to meet you. I’m Sam. I’m Dean’s brother.”

~~~~~~~~~~

Dean honestly hadn’t expected to come out alive and well at the other end of the fight with Lucifer. Nor had he expected to be left in perfect health as Michael had promised. He’d expected to be a mindless mess or even dead.

I’ve kept my promise to you, Dean. You’re well and your wife and child are unharmed. You have your family. Would you admit now that some of us aren’t the negative names you’ve called us?

I can. You and Cas are okay.

Don’t forget Gabriel.

Gabriel’s a --

Prankster. Always joking. Always playing tricks, but that tendency did help you and Castiel both. He helped, as did Raphael. You and I were hardly alone. My family aided your family.

Maybe some of you have some good moments.

Well, I suppose I’ll take that. Dean heard humor in the reply. Goodbye, Dean. I hope we don’t meet again in your lifetime. Still…. I would be amenable to contact if you’d care to call on me in the future.

Don’t hold your breath.

Michael laughed. I won’t. Goodbye.

Well, at least one of you knows how to say that word.

There was no reply and he felt a drawing sensation as the heat and power of Michael slipped from him like the tide rushing out to sea. He felt cold, chilled, and shivered, opening his eyes. He saw blue sky above him, felt the breeze, smelled the scents of cooking food and of nature, and thought the world had never been so alive for him. Everything seemed brighter, louder, and simply…more. Dean squeezed his hands into fists and released them. He was back in control and it felt good.

Castiel was standing beside his chair, frowning. He looked a little worse for the wear, his hair more tousled than usual and a large grass stain on his shirt.

Dean smiled. “Hey, Cas. We did it, man. Lucifer’s back in prison.”

“At what cost to you?”

Why wasn’t he happy? This was great news. “Cas. It’s done. The Apocalypse is over.”

“You said yes to Michael. How many times did we talk about him and that? How many times did we talk about the Colt and how there had to be another way? You didn’t need to let him in.”

“I had to. You know I did. We weren’t going to find that gun and Michael said it wouldn’t have worked anyway. At the point we were at, it really was that or the end. Trust me, Cas. It was the only way. Earth was a ticking time bomb.”

“They knew you’d agree, too. From the time Risa arrived, they knew you’d agree. It was engineered, Dean! It was just like all the other attempts to get you to agree.”

“I said yes before, Cas. I said it while Risa was here and then today --”

“Last week. You were gone a week.”

Really? It hadn’t felt like more than a few minutes. “Point is, it’s over. Does it really matter how it happened? I’m the same as I was before I agreed. He promised me that and he delivered. I didn’t expect he would. Hell, I thought I’d be a drooling mess you’d all have to take care of, but I was willing to do that if I could just finish it and save you all from dying at Lucifer’s hands. Michael cleaned up the mess his family made and now we get to clean up the earth. We get to put the pieces back together, rebuild civilization.”

“Whatever.” Castiel turned and strode away.

Dean sat for a moment, wondering on Castiel’s attitude and deciding to wait awhile before trying to talk to him again. He’d let him think about what had happened. He got up and made his way to his own cabin, unsurprised when Risa ran from the cabin to him, her embrace almost frantic, her kiss possessive.

“Hey, it’s okay. I’m back.” He tried to lead her into their cabin and she resisted. “What?”

“Do you know,” she asked.

“Know? Oh, about the guy our couch? Yeah.” He slid his hand up her hip and back down. “That’s Sam. My brother. He’s going to need some care. Okay, a lot of care. Don’t think I’m going to leave you to do all of it. I mean it, Risa. He’s my responsibility. I’ll do it all. Feeding, dressing, bathing.” He was puzzled by her expressions as he spoke. Surprise and a bit of humor growing in her eyes, her lips turning up in a grin.

“Feeding, dressing, and bathing? That’s going to be something of a challenge if you plan to do that for him.”

“I realize that.” Her amusement grew until Dean wondered just what was so funny about Sam’s situation. He wouldn’t have thought her to be insensitive before. “Risa --”

“I think you’d better come inside, Dean. We’ve got a lot to talk about.”

He followed her inside. Dean stopped just inside the door, having trouble believing what his eyes were seeing.

Sam was awake. Not only that, but he was standing, turning and smiling at Dean. He’d taken off the white jacket, untucked his shirt, and now put his hands in his pockets. “Hey Dean.”

“You’re awake. How are you awake? Michael said he couldn’t fix you. It wasn’t in his power to do that.”

“There’s only one more powerful than Michael, Dean.”

“Why would he do that? Why --”

“I don’t know, but I’m not complaining. I get to live, not just watch you live. I get to live. I get to….”

Dean hugged his brother for the first time in years.