Chapter Text
Act one: Jack
Finally, he managed to feel useful, like he mattered again. It wasn’t much; it wasn’t all that important, but at least it was something he could do, helping people move into the safe house Sam and Donna found. He had lost his power twice, and he had nothing to show for it; it had weighed him down. He had felt so worthless. But helping these people settle in, working with his hands and muscles instead of his power, made things feel just a little lighter.
Until the people started disappearing.
They just started vanishing, dissipating into thin air. Left and right, everywhere he looked, they were there one moment and gone the next. Charlie, Bobby, gone in a blink of an eye. At first, they thought only the people from the apocalypse world were ceasing to exist. But then Donna vanished too, and Jack felt his breath catch in his throat, his stomach turning over.
Sam’s eyes were wide when they met Jack’s from across the room, and he could see the older hunter’s breath quicken as if he thought he too would disappear. Instead, a chuckle broke the tense silence that had befallen the empty room. Before turning towards the sound, Jack saw Sam’s view slip in the same direction.
For a moment, Jack was stunned, then anger filled his entire body. He was shaking with it. There, right next to the door, stood God, laughing. Jack’s ears were buzzing with all the emotions that flooded him, but he could still hear Him say something about the priceless look on their faces. Sam flung himself at the Man, but Chuck simply waved his hand, and Sam flew across the room, hitting the wall and crumbling down. Chuck laughed some more.
“STOP IT!!! JUST STOP IT!!!” Jack yelled, the buzzing under his skin intensifying.
“Make me.”
He was so smug, so superior, and Jack didn’t even think; he just had to act, to do something. The bastard even lifted his head and put out his cheek, taunting. Jack just lost it and took a swing. In his mind, a flash of a black punching bag and that other world Bobby filled his mind as the older man taught him how to hit. His hand connected with God’s jaw, and the world around them exploded.
Jack was thrown against the same wall as Sam, but he landed back on his feet. His entire body was pulsing, and he could feel his power rising to the surface, bigger, stronger than ever before.
Across the room, Chuck lifted himself from the floor, eyes wide and trained on Jack. His face was going pale by the minute, terror morphing his expression. He was so focused on Jack that he didn't even see Sam coming, the hunter taking a big swing, punching God straight across the jaw. Well, Ex-God now, anyway.
Jack could feel the world pulse through his body, every molecule pumping through his veins. He looked up at Sam, smiled kindly at his concerned face, and motioned around the room. And in an instant, everyone was back. Everyone was unharmed.
Act two: Castiel
Castiel knew he was taking the easy way out. He knew that the words he was about to say would hurt Dean, one way or another. But he needed to say them. He was happy. He was happy just to have met Dean, to be allowed to be a part of his life. He loved him. He always did.
He never allowed himself to feel it, knowing it would complicate everything between them. But now, when there was no other way, he allowed himself a taste, no matter how brief it would be. Because he knew his life was about to end.
It wasn't fair to Dean, and it would be another regret Castiel would take to his grave.
"Why does this sound like a goodbye?" Dean had asked.
"Because it is." Castiel had replied.
"I love you, Dean."
Death on one side and the Empty on the other, there was no way Castiel could let Dean be caught in the middle. So, he reached, and he placed his hand on Dean's shoulders and tried to push him out of the way. Only Dean wouldn't let himself be moved.
He grabbed Castiel's arms and held on tight, a highly determined look in his blazing eyes.
"I'm not going to lose you again, no way," he said. Tendrils of the Empty reached, filling the room. Billie screamed somewhere behind Castiel, but all the angel could focus on was Dean's tight grip and the vicious flame in his eyes. He wasn't going to let go.
The Empty wrapped itself around Castiel's arms and legs, pulling him, tugging him, but Dean didn't let go. Castiel feared it would take the hunter as well, but all the thing seemed to do was try and break them apart. It wedged between them and pushed, the goo pulsing with a strange energy that made Castiel feel like he was about to fall asleep.
"Stay with me, Cas, come on, stay with me." Dean's voice was deep, rough, and angry, but Castiel could feel the pain deep down. It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair on Dean. So, he tried. He tried to hold on, but the Empty was too strong.
Suddenly, something inside him twisted and cracked, and Castiel gasped, his whole body arching up as bright light enveloped the room. His grace! He could feel it again, growing stronger by the minute. All of it was there, coming back in one big tidal wave. His wings sprung back to life, their wounds healed, their feathers renewed, and they began flapping viciously, wrenching them both away from the Empty.
Finally, it relented and let them go.
Castiel was panting hard, and he could feel Dean doing the same, both so close, enveloped by each other's arms. They were both frozen for a moment, processing what just happened and that they had made it.
And then Dean tightened his grip, buried his face in Castiel's neck, and just held on, completely unwilling to let him go.