Fic: The Earth and Heaven to You (Part 12b)

[dauntperplexity]

 

Part 12b

Dean kicked open the Gate and stepped out. He found Sam sitting on the ground, pulling at the weeds. “Sammy,” he whispered.

Sam looked up and saw his brother standing over him. “Dean.” He stood up and brushed the dirt and weeds off of him. “You did it,” Sam said, surprised.

“Yeah,” Dean said, his breathing labored. “I got him.”

“Is that… is that Cas?” Sam asked, looking at the blob of light in the shape of a person in Dean’s arms.

“It’s his grace. And his wings.”

“You did it,” he repeated.

“I know, Sam,” Dean replied. “We just went through all of this.”

“Sorry.”

“We should get back.”

Sam grabbed onto Castiel and Dean’s wrists and closed his eyes. He flew them to Bobby and Pastor Jim.

They landed at the site where Castiel died and saw a lot more people there than when they left. They all turned their heads to look at them. Slowly, the crowd started to part, leaving an open path to Castiel.

Dean walked forward and saw that there was someone kneeling next to Castiel, stroking his hair. “Michael?” He recognized the Angel from the Hunter plane.

The Arch-Angel looked up. “Dean. You… you found him? Where?”

“Lucifer had him.”

“All this time. After all these centuries.”

“You couldn’t have known.”

“But I should have.”

“We can’t worry about that now,” Dean said. There was no sense in them dwelling on the past. It wasn’t going to do any of them any good.

“You’re right,” Michael repeated. He looked up and saw Dean standing in front of him with Castiel’s grace in his arms. “Dean, put him down. You’re going to burn yourself.”

“I can’t feel it,” he said with a shrug.

“What?”

“I can’t feel it. I mean, when I was in Hell I did. But now…”

The Arch-Angel’s eyes widened with a realization. “You’re a Hunter,” he whispered.

“I’m a what?”

“If you were Human, then your eyes should’ve been burned out. And there is no way that you could be able to touch an Angel’s grace.”

“I’m a Hunter.”

“Yes.”

“I’m a Hunter,” Dean repeated.

“Yes. That is the only way that you could be holding Castiel right now.”

“Oh,” he whispered. He looked down at Castiel in his arms and unconsciously held him just a little tighter. “So what are we going to do with him?”

Michael reached over to Castiel’s body and slowly pushed up the man’s shirt. He saw how much blood had leaked onto the floor underneath him. It was just starting to dry. He inspected the wound and sighed. It was hard to believe that a gunshot wound was what killed him. “Youngest,” he whispered.

He reached his thumb and forefinger into the wound and felt around.

“What are you doing?” Dean yelled, shocked at what he was watching.

“I need to heal his body,” Michael said. “But I can’t heal it when the bullet is still somewhere inside.” After a few more minutes of searching, he pulled out a disfigured bullet. He set it down onto the ground next to him. He wiped his hand on his pants, getting them as clean as he could.

Michael laid the clean hand on Castiel’s forehead and the other back on the wound. He closed his eyes and let out a sigh. Then his hands glowed.

Dean watched as the wound slowly closed under Michael’s hand. He knew that if all the blood was wiped away, that it would look like Castiel wasn’t even shot at all. “Cool,” he whispered.

“Dean, can I have my brother’s grace?”

Dean shook out of his stupor. He looked at Michael who was staring at him. Then he looked down at the grace he was holding in his arms. “I…” He didn’t want to let Castiel go. He couldn’t.

“Dean, it will be all right. I promise you.”

“Are you sure?”

Michael nodded once. “Centuries of looking for him. I won’t lose him again.” He held his arms out to Dean. “His grace, please.”

Dean slowly knelt down across from Michael on the opposite side of Castiel. He bent down and pressed his lips to Castiel’s grace’s forehead. “You’re safe now.” Everyone watched as Castiel’s grace pulsed and brightened.

Dean held out his arms and put Castiel’s grace into Michael. Michael took the grace into his arms carefully. He whispered something in another language.

All of the Angels around them fell to their knees. The Hunters looked around before doing the same. They did not understand what was going on, but they knew that it was a big ordeal.

Then, after a few minutes of Michael speaking, he lowered the grace into the body. He laid it right on top of the other, letting it to fall into place.

Dean watched as the grace disappeared into Castiel’s lifeless body. He thought that it was over, but Castiel’s body began to convulse on the floor.

Michael’s hands immediately went to Castiel’s chest and head. “Castiel, stop fighting it,” he yelled.

“What’s going on?” He watched as the grace began to lift itself back out Castiel’s body.

“His grace is fighting. It’s been too long. It doesn’t recognize the body.”

“What does that mean?”

“He just has to remember.” Michael grabbed onto the grace that was lifting off of Castiel’s wrists and pushed it back down. He pinned his wrists to the ground. “Castiel. It’s your body.”

Castiel’s grace throbbed, sending Dean and Michael flying away from him.

Dean scrambled back to his feet and Michael dusted himself off before they both made their way back to Castiel’s side.

“What happens if he doesn’t remember?”

“He will. He has to.” He replaced his hands on Castiel’s shoulders. “Castiel. Son of our Father. Youngest of the Angels. It’s me, Michael. First Arch-Angel. Your brother. You must remember who you are.”

Dean watched as Castiel struggled under his brother’s hands. It wasn’t helping anyone. If anything, Castiel just looked more panicked and struggled more because of his brother holding him down. He did the only thing he could think of doing. He picked up one of Castiel’s hands and held in both of his. “Cas, it’s okay,” he whispered. “It’s okay. We’re just trying to help.”

And Castiel stilled. Castiel’s eyes shot open. He looked around him making eye contact with both Michael and Dean before his eyes went back to the sky. He let out a loud, gut-wrenching scream, arching his backed. The screaming seemed to go on for hours. Then his body collapsed.

And Castiel was unmoving again. Not even his chest rose or fell to take in a breath.

Dean dropped his hand, scared that he did something wrong. “Is he… is he okay?” he asked.

Michael smiled softly with tears forming in his eyes. “Yes,” he whispered. “He’s fine.”

“He doesn’t look okay.”

“Castiel?” Michael whispered, brushing his hair out of his face. “Youngest? Open your eyes, please.”

“It’s not working. Why is it not working?”

“Patience, Dean.”

“Not one of his better suits,” he said. “Cas,” Dean whispered. “Please. Wake up.”

Michael stood behind Dean and put a hand reassuringly on his shoulder. He squeezed it once. “Just give him time, Dean.”

“Cas. Wake up. Just show me those blue eyes of yours. Please,” he said, holding the Angel’s hands in his. “Just one breath,” he whispered. “Just take one breath and we’ll be okay.” He waited for a minute then looked up to Michael. “Should we move him, or something? Put him on a bed, you know, somewhere comfortable.”

“It won’t make a difference, Dean. Just give him a moment.”

Michael knelt down again and ran his hand through Castiel’s hair one last time. “Youngest, wake up. You’re safe. And he’s here.”

Everyone watched Castiel with bated breath.

But Dean paid no attention to the crowd of Angels and Hunters. All he cared about was Castiel. The world disappeared around them. He sat and watched, waiting for Castiel to open his eyes.

Then, after what felt like years of waiting, Castiel gasped, sucking in a deep breath to pull air into his deprived lungs.

Dean sprung into action, pulling Castiel up and patting him on his back. He rubbed circled into it while Castiel’s breathing got back under control. “You’re okay. You’re okay. Just breathe.” He repeated over and over until he knew that Castiel was all right. When the breathing seemed to be at a good rhythm, Dean held onto Castiel’s arms and pushed him back so he could look him over.

“Dean?” Castiel whispered. He couldn’t believe that Dean was sitting in front of him. He was swallowing to hard and trying to pull air into his lungs. “Dean?” He looked around and saw himself surrounded by a lot of people.

“You’re alive.”

“What did you do?” his voice was soft.

“I saved you.”

“Why?”

“Because,” Dean whispered. His throat tightened and he found himself unable to finish what he wanted to say.

“Dean, I’m sorry.”

“No. Don’t apologize,” Dean said. He brushed Castiel’s hair from his face. “I already forgave you.”

Castiel shook his head. He blinked, causing tears to fall from his eyes. “It’s not enough,” he whispered.

Dean grabbed Castiel and pulled him close. He rested the other man’s head on his shoulder and wrapped his arms around him. “It is. God, it’s enough.”

“I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you,” he whispered in Dean’s ear.

“You don’t want to make that promise,” Dean said with a laugh. “I’m a Hunter now. I think that makes me immortal.”

“I said my life.”

“And you’re an Angel again.”

Castiel lifted his head off of Dean’s shoulder. “What?” he whispered, unsure of what he had just heard. “I…”

“I got your grace back from Lucifer. Michael put it back into you.”

“Michael?” Castiel looked around and saw his brother standing off to the side. “Michael?”

A soft smile crept onto Michael’s face. “It’s good to see you again, youngest.”

“How?”

“The Hunter holding your hand must really love you.”

“Hunter?” Castiel repeated, as if he had heard it for the first time.

“Well, not yet,” Bobby said, breaking through the crowd.

“What do you mean not yet?” Dean asked.

“You have to be inducted,” Castiel said.

“Okay, then. Let’s do this.” He stood up and held a hand out to Castiel. He pulled the other man to his feet. “So what do I do? Like give a vow of Hunter-ness?”

“Something like it,” Bobby replied.

The Hunters all disappeared without a word. Then the Angels. All that were left was Bobby, Pastor Jim, John, a woman, Sam, Dean, and Castiel. “Sam, take your brother and Castiel to the Heaven plane,” Pastor Jim said.

Sam grabbed his brother and Castiel by the wrist and transported them to the Heaven plane. They landed with their feet in the sand.

Dean looked around, confused. “Where are we?”

“Heaven,” Castiel said.

“Heaven is a beach?”

“Sometimes.”

“Sometimes?”

“It depends,” Castiel said. He looked at Dean who had spun around to stare at the water. “You were expecting pillars and clouds and harps.”

“I wasn’t expecting so much color.”

“The monotonous would drive even an Angel crazy.”

The sound of someone landing behind them caused the three of them to turn around. John and a woman appeared with Bobby and Pastor Jim. John stepped forward, holding the woman’s hand.

Dean recognized the woman from her statue. It was his mother. He swallowed hard.

“Dean, I have someone for you to meet,” John said. “This is your mother. Mary.”

Dean’s mouth went dry. He swallowed a couple of times, hoping he had enough spit to hydrate his throat. “Hi,” he choked out.

Mary stepped forward with tears streaming down her face. “Dean,” she whispered. “Can I hug you?”

“Yeah. Please,” he replied.

Mary wrapped her arms around Dean and squeezed him as tightly as she could. “My baby,” she whispered. “It’s so good to see you.”

Dean hugged his mother back, unable to keep tears from falling down his cheeks. “You too.”

Then the scene around them began to change. Instead of the beach, they found themselves in and endless amphitheatre. Slowly, it began to fill with Hunters and Angels arriving.

A stage formed at the bottom and soon the entire place was filled.

Michael was the last to appear. He flew to the stage.

All of the Hunters and Angels fell to one knee. Castiel also did at the edge of the stage. Mary, John, and Sam walked to stand behind Dean. Bobby and Pastor Jim walked over and stood next to them.

Michael walked forward and stood in front of every Angel and Hunter. “Dean Winchester,” he started.

“Turner,” Dean corrected.

“Dean Winchester-Turner,” the Arch-Angel said again with the correct last name. “Son of Mary and John Winchester.”

“And Rufus and Missouri Turner.”

“And Rufus and Missouri Turner,” Michael repeated. “The boy who was born a Hunter and raised a Human.” Michael snapped his fingers and a scroll materialized in his hand. He unrolled it and read from it. “For exhibiting courage and valor in fighting against Alastair. For showing selflessness in your willingness to go into Hell as a Human. For hard work ethic in the ability to finish Hunter training in months. For your pure heart in putting others before yourself.” He paused and looked over to Castiel off to the side. “For rescuing my brother’s grace from Hell,” he whispered. “I, Michael, in front of all Angels and Hunters, proclaim you as a Hunter.” Michael’s hands started to glow. “Where would you like your Mark of the Hunter?”

He pointed to his chest, right on top of his heart. “Here.”

Michael pressed his hand to Dean’s chest and with flare of pain Dean was marked. “You have received you Mark of a Hunter and your Hunter blood has been restored. You are now able to walk the Hunter plane.” He spun Dean around to face his parents and everyone on the plane. “Welcome Dean Winchester-Turner into the Hunter family.”

Clapping and cheering thundered through the plane. John and Mary stepped forward and hugged their son. “I’m so proud of you,” Mary replied.

“Thank you,” Dean whispered. “I actually did it,” he said, incredulous.

“I’m surprised too,” Sam said.

“Shut up,” Dean said. He ruffled his brother’s hair.

Michael joined the Winchester family, waiting for his turn. The family parted, leaving Michael and Dean standing face to face. He held a hand out. Dean accepted it and shook it firmly. “Congratulations,” the Arch-Angel said.

“Thanks.”

“I can heal your scars for you.”

“Really?” Dean said, a little excited. The burns on his hands were extensive.

“Yes. Rebuild your body like new. Your hands. All your childhood scars. The handprint on your shoulder.”

“I want to keep the handprint,” Dean said quickly. “Just heal the hands.”

“Are you sure?” Michael asked. He was confused as to why the Hunter would want that.

But Dean was adamant and nodded. “Helps me remember everything I’ve gone through to get to this place.”

Michael grabbed Dean’s wrists in his own hands and released his grace to be able to heal Dean. Within a few seconds, his hands were healed. “There you go.”

“Thanks,” Dean said. He ran back to his parents to show them.

Michael raised his hands and everyone instantly quieted. “Castiel,” Michael said. The Hunters moved off to the side.

Castiel stood up and walked to the front. His steps were cautious and tentative as he had no idea what was going on. Once he was stood in front of his brother. “Michael,” he whispered and bowed his head.

“Today is a day for celebration,” Michael said. “Castiel. You bargained with your grace.”

“I’m sorry, Michael. I know that it was a mistake to do so.”

“But for something as treasured as love, you cannot be faulted. Especially since we do not get to feel it as passionately as you do.”

“But I bargained with Lucifer.” His throat was tightening and he found it difficult to get those words out.

“He is a deceiver, Castiel,” Michael said. He took his brother’s face in his hands. With his thumbs, he wiped away the tears that had fallen. “He took you from us. And you endured Hell because of it.”

“I deserved it.”

“No one deserves that pain. Not for love. But you willingly endured it. You are much braver than any of us.” He pressed his lips to Castiel’s forehead. “We should have found you.”

“You couldn’t have known.”

“Because of your selflessness, the other Angels and myself have repaired your wings.”

“How?” he whispered. He thought that they were unsalvageable because of the hooks and missing patches of feathers.

“We each gave a feather to you. You are our youngest. It is a gift from us to you.”

“Michael, I can’t—”

“You can,” Michael said. He walked passed Castiel and waved over two angels who were standing to the side each holding a wing. They walked to stand behind Castiel and lined the wings up with the scars on his back. “Castiel, open your grace.”

Castiel let out a sigh and his grace drifted away from his body. It wrapped itself around the wings and mended itself on Castiel’s back. He let out a whimper and pitched forward, catching himself on his hands. The weight of the wings were almost too much.

Dean ran over and helped Castiel back up. “Cas, this is awesome,” he said. He hugged Castiel tightly. “You’re an Angel again. And I’m finally a Hunter.”

“Now you have your place on the Hunter plane and don’t need to worry yourself about the Human plane anymore,” Michael added.

“Wait, what?”

“Dean,” Sam scolded.

“I can’t go down to see my parents anymore?”

“You’re a Hunter. It’s a time of peace, we aren’t needed on Earth.”

“So I’m stuck here.”

“You’re finally a Hunter, Dean,” Michael said. “Isn’t it what you’ve wanted all this time?”

“I’ll be a Hunter,” Dean whispered. “But only if I can stay on Earth.”

“Dean,” John and Mary gasped.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “But Rufus and Missouri Turner raised me. Just because I’m a Hunter, doesn’t mean that I can forget them.” He looked to his parents, then his brother, then the Angels. He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “They made me what I am. You said it yourself, that I was raised on the Human plane. I know how to be a Human much better than I know how to be a Hunter.”

“Do you know what you’re asking?”

“I’m asking to be able to see my family. Both my families.”

Michael stood silent, contemplating about what Dean was asking for. Dean looked away, thinking that he had overstepped his boundaries. He looked up when he heard the sound of footsteps.

Castiel walked up to his brother and grabbed his hands. “Michael, let him,” he whispered.

“Castiel, whatever you’re thinking—”

“We are in a time of peace, yes,” he started. “But that doesn’t mean there still isn’t evil roaming Earth.”

“Castiel,” Michael warned.

“Michael,” Castiel said, not backing down from his brother. “Dean just saved all of the planes. He saved me. Let him freely wander between the planes.” He stared into his brother’s eyes with his own wide and shining. “He can be a guardian on the Human plane. He deserves it, Michael.”

“Castiel, you cannot manipulate me like you used to all those years ago.”

“I know, Michael,” Castiel sighed. “It as just a suggestion.”

Michael sighed and looked at his other Angel brothers who were smirking and snickering. Of course, after all the centuries of them being separated, Castiel was still able to get what he wanted from his oldest brother. “Dean Winchester-Turner, you have been granted free passage through the Human, Heaven, and Hunter planes.”

“That’s awesome,” Dean said, excited. “But there is one more thing.”

“Dean, you can’t make requests,” Castiel chastised. “What else would you want?”

Dean turned to look at Castiel. Castiel looked away, not able to take Dean’s gaze. “I want Castiel to come with me.”

“Dean,” Castiel yelled. “Michael. He’s… no. Dean.”

“I want Cas with me.”

“Dean, shut up.” Castiel turned to his brother. “Michael.”

“Go with him,” Michael said.

“What?” Dean and Castiel said at the same time.

“Castiel, go with him. It’s what he wants. It’s what you want.”

“But—”

Michael took his brother’s face in his hands. “Castiel,” he said. “We’re all happy that you’re alive. You, out of all the Angels, know what life is like on Earth. Be its guardian, along with Dean.”

“I don’t know what to say, Michael.”

“He does,” Dean said and wrapped his arm around Castiel. “He accepts. Right?”

“I accept,” Castiel echoed. He walked over to his oldest brother and wrapped his arms around him. “Thank you.”

Michael patted his brother on his back. “You played a role in this victory, Castiel. This is your reward.” He stepped back and out of Castiel’s hold. “You both have free passage through the Human, Heaven, and Hunter planes.”

“Thanks,” Dean said.

“Now, go. Your first responsibility as a guardian is to go down to Earth and make sure there are not other threats running amok.”

“Sure thing,” Dean replied. “But can I have some Dean time before I do so?” He smirked with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Michael looked at Castiel and saw that his youngest’s cheeks were reddening. “You may do whatever you want,” he said. “The other Angels will go down to the Human plane and make sure all the threats are eliminated. You two can take a break from the chaos of the last few days.”

“Awesome,” Dean said. He grabbed Castiel and pulled him in close. He kissed him on the lips in front of every Angel and Hunter on the plane.

“Dean,” Castiel whispered, embarrassed.

“I’m pretty sure they know there’s something going on between us, Cas,” Dean said with a laugh. “We’re going now. We have some Earthly business to tend to.” He smirked and winked at the Arch-Angel.

“Dean, there is such thing as too much information,” Michael said.

“Let’s go,” he said to Castiel.

Castiel grabbed Dean’s hand and let out his wings. Dean stood in awe of them for a second. The next thing he knew, there was a gust of wind. Then they were at his house in Kansas. In his room. And alone.

Epilogue