Chapter Text
Please, keep in mind I started this story after watching only the first episode of the 15th season. Everything that happens after is pure speculation. But there might be a few SPOILERS along the way. This story takes place after time, after Jack came back to life, after the Winchesters faced God and won. Now the world is safe from all the familiar big bads, Hell's gates are closed and Castiel's deal with the Empty resolved. All that is left is to fix Heaven, and seeing as Jack is the new God now, the new light of the world, he is up there, with Castiel by his side, working to fix Heaven up and possibly create more angels. With nothing else left to do, Sam and Dean are once again on the road, going back to basics and enjoying the simplicity of the regular hunts. Hey, the world will always need a bit of saving right?
Miami, Florida
"Yes, Jack is doing well. We were able to persuade some of the angels on Earth to join us in Heaven to help maintain it. They know well, if it was to fall, it would affect the angels on Earth as well." Castiel's voice was heard over the speaker. Sam held the phone between him and Dean while Dean drove.
"That's great Cass. – Sam said – with the numbers up, you think you and Jack could come for a visit soon?" There was some nostalgia in his voice that clearly said he was missing them both. Dean just cleared his throat, but said nothing. After he pulled the gun on the kid, he and Cass weren't as close friends as they once were. Something between them broke, and neither had the time to try and fix it.
There was a moment of silence on Castiel's part, as if he was waiting for someone else to say something, but when no words came, he replied "I doubt it will be possible. A few angels left looking for more of our brothers and sisters, not just seraphs, but reapers and cupids as well. – there was a small sigh that escaped Castiel before he continued – Things were really bad. We made it just in time. If it were to fall, there would be no way of restoring it, and all the souls would either remain on Earth to become vengeful spirits or end up in Hell to become demons. I am hoping we will soon find a way to create more angels or at least something else to help power up the Heavens."
Sam glanced over at Dean, hoping he would say something, and his expression saddened a bit when Dean didn't react, keeping his eyes on the road the entire time.
"Ok, well, if you need us, if there is any way we could help, call, ok?" Sam offered help for the millionth time, but they all knew there was nothing in the lore about this, and since they were human, there wasn't really anything they could do.
"Thank you, Sam. I will... - Cass paused again, but continued more quickly than the last time - I will be up in Heaven, so I won't have any service on my phone, but the prayers still work, so... Yeah, you know. Goodbye, Sam."
"Bye, Cass." Sam said sadly ending the call, and after glancing at his brother, he shook his head. Dean was being really stubborn about this, and Sam didn't even really know what this was anymore. But he knew his brother; he knew that Dean just needed a bit of time to come to his senses. That, or a life and death situation, an apocalypse on the horizon, but by looks of it, thankfully there won't be one any time soon.
Moments later, Dean pulled into a parking lot of a small store and got out of the car. Sam followed, deciding he needed air. They both just finished a vampire hunt in Dodge Island and were driving back to their motel, it was a long drive. Miami was a big, expensive town. Sam took a deep breath and leaned against the Impala, wishing he could start a conversation with his brother about him and Cass.
"You need anything?" Dean asked walking around the car, heading for the store. It was getting late, and they were hungry. Luckily, the hunt went smooth with minimal blood spatter, so they didn't need to hide all the way to the motel, or worse, change their clothes on the middle of the road.
"Aside from a shower and a bed? No, not really." Sam said, even though he felt his stomach growled at him. He was more tired than hungry anyway.
"I'll get you one of those power bars you like so much." Dean shouted as he walked away, the ever present need to make sure Sam is ok resurfaced like it always does after a hunt. Sam first, Dean second. Sam just nodded at that and looked away towards the ocean.
A few seconds later he flinched, as he felt a pinch in his shoulder, his 'God-given' scar acting up. He turned to where Dean went, but instead of him, he saw a blond woman going pass him, hugging her groceries in her arms. She was cute and smiled at him shyly as she walked by, hiding her piercing blue eyes behind long eyelashes. He smiled back politely,staying in the spot looking after her walking away and he huffed a smile to himself.
Sam felt old. He was thirty-six and Dean was pushing forty and it was sad and amazing at the same time. Considering all the things they have been through, considering how many times they died, they were still here, still kicking and still doing what they've always done. It seemed like a few lifetimes have passed since Sam felt like a normal human being, back at Stanford, back with Jess.
He raised his head high, blinking away the tears. He hadn't thought about her in so long, and she deserved to be thought about, to be remembered. He made a mental note to go and visit her grave after this hunt. He took a deep breath and hung his head low, closing his eyes.
After he yelled at Sam he was going to get him one of those granola bars or whatever, (Dean would never understand why not just take a Snickers), Dean walked pass a nice little bike, a Honda bike, Transalp XL600V, a metallic black beauty. Dean admired her for a moment as he walked past it, and then went inside the store.
He brushed past a brunette, and could help but check her out as she propt to reach something of a higher shelf. Dean picked up two water bottles and a six pack and circled back to the pastries. He set his hand on the last packed pie and felt a small jolt of electricity. His eyes snapped at the pie, then on the hand that also tried to pick it up, and then on the woman whose hand it was. His gaze met a dark set of brown eyes glaring at him. He reached for the pie again at the same time the brunette did, and as they both set their hands on it, a silent staring contest began.
Who is gonna get the last pie?
Her eyes darted him as his did the same, both holding on to the package tightly, both like two tigers circling one another, expecting the other to make a move. But then the sneaky little devil she was, the brunette nudged the six pack he was barely holding along with water bottles, hugging them with his left hand and it made him flinch, not wanting to drop any of it.
Taking advantage of this momentary distraction, she yanked her hand and managed to pull up the package, winning the battle over the last pie. She smirked at him, an amused smile and winked at him before turning around to go to the register. Slight anger washed over him as he watched her walk away, and then it went away with a sigh.
Dean felt tired. Something with him felt off, ever since that graveyard, ever since he learned Chuck was playing with them. A lot of things fell apart then. He couldn't look at Jack after that, embarrassed to the core for letting himself be manipulated into pointing the gun at the kid. It was so obvious the kid was trying; he even let himself be locked in that damn box.
Cass was just trying to show him that, to show him how wrong he was, but he was so stubborn, so angry then, so much anger built up and... He hated himself for everything that happened and he just couldn't let it go. He knew he should, he knew it would drive him mad and even might drive Sam away, but he just couldn't let it go. It was his fault after all it was all on him. Jack losing his grace because they let Lucifer get into his head, Jack losing his life, Jack losing his soul.
Dean closed his eyes for a brief moment to calm himself and took in a few deep breaths. He walked to the register right behind that brunette and as she paid for her pie and her beer, she turned and walked away, no sparing him a glance. It made him feel worse.
Dean grabbed a few granola bars and a few Snickers bars and paid, then turned to leave. He walked out and glanced at the black bike again. He smiled ironically noticing a pentagram on the trunk case on the back of the bike. Walking over to the impala, his face turned more serious with every step he took.
"Sam?" he tried once.
"Sam?!" he tried the second time.
"SAM!?" he tried the third time, yelling loudly and went around the car to case the surroundings.
His breathing picked up and his heart pounded harder, because Sam was nowhere in sight.
"Ok, ok, calm down – he said to himself, putting the stuff he bought in the backseat – maybe... maybe he just went to take a walk or... or to find a bathroom..." Dean forced himself to calm down. He pulled out his phone and dialled Sam's number.
A sharp pain cut right through Dean's chest when he heard the familiar ringtone and he snapped his head down. Sam's phone was down on the ground, display smashed from the fall. All hope drained away and Dean brought his gaze up, looking really scared.
Sam was gone.