Unexpected Destinies Chapter 8
Title Unexpected Destinies
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: up to and including Exile on Main St., AU from the end of season 5
Warnings: AU
Word Count: 1,236
Summary: "I don't think the Apocalypse is as done as we thought it was."
PAST
The words froze Dean in place for a few seconds before he slowly straightened and turned around to face the angel. "What did you just say?"
"That I don't think the Apocalypse has been completely averted."
"Yeah, I got that, what I meant is why did you say that?"
"There have been a number of strange occurrences that have made me fear things might not have been as finished as we'd hoped, but I've only just gotten enough information to be confident that we may have a real problem."
"What? Why didn't you say anything before?"
"You were already dealing with so much and I didn't want to bother you until I was more certain."
"And now you are?"
"Yes, I'm sorry."
Dean blinked at the last two words. No one had ever apologized to him for delivering bad news before, but Castiel seemed to be genuinely sorry.
"Not your fault."
"I would have liked to have taken care of it without needing to involve you again as you've already done so much and don't deserve to go through this again."
"Neither do you, Cas." Dean wasn't sure how that simple statement managed to touch him so deeply, but it did. "Okay, hit me with it."
"Why would I wish to hit you?"
"Cas," Dean knew the angel knew what he meant.
"You are not being frustrating or stupid right now."
"Very funny, but that reminds me, I still owe you a beat down for that."
"If I attempt to capitulate to Michael, you may attempt to... work me over."
Dean couldn't help it, he laughed. "Okay, if you know that one, then I know you know the other one. You're an educated angel now, Cas."
All traces of humor left Castiel and Dean was tempted to try and take the words back. To keep the conversation light and playful as if there might not be another Apocalypse looming, or the same one. He should have known it was too easy to be true. Sure, he'd lost both of his brothers to Hell as well as Bobby and Cas to a, temporary, death, but in the end that really wasn't all that much considering that they were talking about the Apocalypse and the devil. Not if he was being realistic about it. Hell, the Apocalypse had been predicted and feared over two millennia ago!
But he'd wanted it to be over so badly, both to find a way to save Adam and Sam, and to just be able to stop having to watch more and more innocent people die while he could nothing but watch helplessly.
"I believe it is customary to begin with the good news," Castiel stated.
"There's good news?"
"After a fashion. Your brother, Adam, has returned to Heaven."
"He's back? He's out as well?"
"Yes."
"How?"
"Like Sam and Samuel, Adam seems completely unaware of how he came to be transported from one location to another."
"Is he alright?"
"That is the other bit of good news," Castiel said. "He only has the vaguest memories of what happened to him while he was Michael's vessel and that includes all of his time in the Pit."
"That's a relief," Dean stated before another thought occurred to him. "Hey, wait, does this mean that Sam might not remember much, or even anything, of Hell?"
"I don't know, but I believe it is less likely with him as he had somehow wrestled control away from Lucifer when he fell into the Pit."
"Oh."
And damnit, now he was thinking about Sam in Hell and that was something Dean felt he had already done far too much of lately. Nine weeks of it too much to be exact. The anger helped him push the thoughts aside and focus on the issue at hand. Though, God, he really could use another drink.
"So, what's the bad news?" Dean asked.
"Unusual occurrences all over the globe. Things that shouldn't be happening or which should only happen infrequently are all happening now."
"Things like werewolves transforming on a new moon?"
"Yes, precisely."
"Goddamnit! So I should expect to see more of that kind of thing from now on?"
"I fear that it'll only grow worse, yes," Castiel confirmed solemnly. "It is almost as if something is hailing the return of Lucifer. Again."
"But how? And why? We locked that son of a bitch up tight." A pause. "Didn't we?"
"I'm afraid the cage may not be enough to hold Lucifer for much longer."
"What? Why? It's held him for countless millennia now!"
"Yes, but that was when it was just Lucifer in there, now there's Michael as well and it was never made to hold two angels, let alone two archangels."
"Why didn't you mention this before?"
"I wasn't aware it could be a problem as everything seemed okay when we left Stull Cemetery. When I went back after Sam's resurrection, however, I could feel the disharmony from the cage. It was even worse when I checked it again just now."
"So, basically, it's just a matter of time before the cage bursts open and both Michael and Lucifer are free again and we're right back where we started?"
"Not quite. We have Heaven on our side now."
"You sure about that, Cas? Sure that the moment Michael's back that they won't just turn on you?"
"Yes. As I said before, Dean, most of them didn't know about what was going on or what Zachariah was doing. The attempts to coerce you into saying yes and the deal Zachariah made with Adam to have him be Michael's vessel in particular have angered them. The rules regarding vessels are ancient and sacred as they pertain to Father's gift to allow us to roam the Earth and enjoy its beauty."
"Okay, well that's something at least. Will they help us?"
"Yes, they will, but we have none equal to Lucifer's power."
"What about you? You're an archangel now, aren't you?"
"I am," Castiel's tone of voice didn't change, but Dean almost felt he could see his wings straighten with pride. "But not all archangels are equally powerful and I have no experience fighting with my new abilities."
"We'll have to work on that," Dean replied, mind already thinking of possibilities. "It would be stupid for you to be caught completely off-guard. Is there someone who can help you with that?"
"Xarael, she's been invaluable in getting Heaven reorganized."
"Good."
Well that was one thing they could do, though Dean hoped that Cas never had to face Lucifer. Gabriel had been an archangel and Lucifer had still managed to kill him. The trouble was, he knew Cas and thus knew that the angel would place himself between him and Lucifer if at all possible. Cas had a nasty habit of trying to shield him from archangels and it had never ended well for his angel.
God, the Apocalypse restarted. The full implications of it were only just starting to sink in.
"How long are we talking here, Cas? You know, before the cage bursts?"
"If things continue to progress at their present rate? Two or three months."
"Fuck. I don't suppose there's any chance of just reinforcing the cage or building another one around it?"
"No, Michael built the original one and no one else knows how."
"Of course they don't," Dean muttered.
So what the Hell did they do now?
A.N.: For those of you following this fic on the deancastiel, please note that the next chapter won't be posted there as it doesn't meet the comm requirements. It should be up on Tuesday, so just check back here then.
Chapter 9
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: up to and including Exile on Main St., AU from the end of season 5
Warnings: AU
Word Count: 1,236
Summary: "I don't think the Apocalypse is as done as we thought it was."
PAST
The words froze Dean in place for a few seconds before he slowly straightened and turned around to face the angel. "What did you just say?"
"That I don't think the Apocalypse has been completely averted."
"Yeah, I got that, what I meant is why did you say that?"
"There have been a number of strange occurrences that have made me fear things might not have been as finished as we'd hoped, but I've only just gotten enough information to be confident that we may have a real problem."
"What? Why didn't you say anything before?"
"You were already dealing with so much and I didn't want to bother you until I was more certain."
"And now you are?"
"Yes, I'm sorry."
Dean blinked at the last two words. No one had ever apologized to him for delivering bad news before, but Castiel seemed to be genuinely sorry.
"Not your fault."
"I would have liked to have taken care of it without needing to involve you again as you've already done so much and don't deserve to go through this again."
"Neither do you, Cas." Dean wasn't sure how that simple statement managed to touch him so deeply, but it did. "Okay, hit me with it."
"Why would I wish to hit you?"
"Cas," Dean knew the angel knew what he meant.
"You are not being frustrating or stupid right now."
"Very funny, but that reminds me, I still owe you a beat down for that."
"If I attempt to capitulate to Michael, you may attempt to... work me over."
Dean couldn't help it, he laughed. "Okay, if you know that one, then I know you know the other one. You're an educated angel now, Cas."
All traces of humor left Castiel and Dean was tempted to try and take the words back. To keep the conversation light and playful as if there might not be another Apocalypse looming, or the same one. He should have known it was too easy to be true. Sure, he'd lost both of his brothers to Hell as well as Bobby and Cas to a, temporary, death, but in the end that really wasn't all that much considering that they were talking about the Apocalypse and the devil. Not if he was being realistic about it. Hell, the Apocalypse had been predicted and feared over two millennia ago!
But he'd wanted it to be over so badly, both to find a way to save Adam and Sam, and to just be able to stop having to watch more and more innocent people die while he could nothing but watch helplessly.
"I believe it is customary to begin with the good news," Castiel stated.
"There's good news?"
"After a fashion. Your brother, Adam, has returned to Heaven."
"He's back? He's out as well?"
"Yes."
"How?"
"Like Sam and Samuel, Adam seems completely unaware of how he came to be transported from one location to another."
"Is he alright?"
"That is the other bit of good news," Castiel said. "He only has the vaguest memories of what happened to him while he was Michael's vessel and that includes all of his time in the Pit."
"That's a relief," Dean stated before another thought occurred to him. "Hey, wait, does this mean that Sam might not remember much, or even anything, of Hell?"
"I don't know, but I believe it is less likely with him as he had somehow wrestled control away from Lucifer when he fell into the Pit."
"Oh."
And damnit, now he was thinking about Sam in Hell and that was something Dean felt he had already done far too much of lately. Nine weeks of it too much to be exact. The anger helped him push the thoughts aside and focus on the issue at hand. Though, God, he really could use another drink.
"So, what's the bad news?" Dean asked.
"Unusual occurrences all over the globe. Things that shouldn't be happening or which should only happen infrequently are all happening now."
"Things like werewolves transforming on a new moon?"
"Yes, precisely."
"Goddamnit! So I should expect to see more of that kind of thing from now on?"
"I fear that it'll only grow worse, yes," Castiel confirmed solemnly. "It is almost as if something is hailing the return of Lucifer. Again."
"But how? And why? We locked that son of a bitch up tight." A pause. "Didn't we?"
"I'm afraid the cage may not be enough to hold Lucifer for much longer."
"What? Why? It's held him for countless millennia now!"
"Yes, but that was when it was just Lucifer in there, now there's Michael as well and it was never made to hold two angels, let alone two archangels."
"Why didn't you mention this before?"
"I wasn't aware it could be a problem as everything seemed okay when we left Stull Cemetery. When I went back after Sam's resurrection, however, I could feel the disharmony from the cage. It was even worse when I checked it again just now."
"So, basically, it's just a matter of time before the cage bursts open and both Michael and Lucifer are free again and we're right back where we started?"
"Not quite. We have Heaven on our side now."
"You sure about that, Cas? Sure that the moment Michael's back that they won't just turn on you?"
"Yes. As I said before, Dean, most of them didn't know about what was going on or what Zachariah was doing. The attempts to coerce you into saying yes and the deal Zachariah made with Adam to have him be Michael's vessel in particular have angered them. The rules regarding vessels are ancient and sacred as they pertain to Father's gift to allow us to roam the Earth and enjoy its beauty."
"Okay, well that's something at least. Will they help us?"
"Yes, they will, but we have none equal to Lucifer's power."
"What about you? You're an archangel now, aren't you?"
"I am," Castiel's tone of voice didn't change, but Dean almost felt he could see his wings straighten with pride. "But not all archangels are equally powerful and I have no experience fighting with my new abilities."
"We'll have to work on that," Dean replied, mind already thinking of possibilities. "It would be stupid for you to be caught completely off-guard. Is there someone who can help you with that?"
"Xarael, she's been invaluable in getting Heaven reorganized."
"Good."
Well that was one thing they could do, though Dean hoped that Cas never had to face Lucifer. Gabriel had been an archangel and Lucifer had still managed to kill him. The trouble was, he knew Cas and thus knew that the angel would place himself between him and Lucifer if at all possible. Cas had a nasty habit of trying to shield him from archangels and it had never ended well for his angel.
God, the Apocalypse restarted. The full implications of it were only just starting to sink in.
"How long are we talking here, Cas? You know, before the cage bursts?"
"If things continue to progress at their present rate? Two or three months."
"Fuck. I don't suppose there's any chance of just reinforcing the cage or building another one around it?"
"No, Michael built the original one and no one else knows how."
"Of course they don't," Dean muttered.
So what the Hell did they do now?
A.N.: For those of you following this fic on the deancastiel, please note that the next chapter won't be posted there as it doesn't meet the comm requirements. It should be up on Tuesday, so just check back here then.
Chapter 9