Chapter 2

A couple of hours pass, and not much happens. They all share a drink in honor of the current apocalypse, the tradition when things aren't going well, and the end may be nearing. It's fairly soon during this time that Castiel figures out what's going on. In fact, it's so obvious, he's surprised he didn't realize it already. This is clearly the work of a djinn, and Castiel knows exactly what the wish was. It's the thing he wishes for every day. For Dean to finally love him back.

"Cas, you want one?" Dean offers, holding up a beer.

Snapped out of his trance, Castiel answers, "Uh, no thanks."

"Suit yourself."

Dean grabs a bottle for himself, sitting down next to the angel on the floor. He puts an arm around Castiel's shoulders, using the other to take a sip of beer. He leans into Castiel, resting his head on top of the angel's. Castiel does one thing he's always wanted to do. He snuggles up to Dean.

"Are we gonna have to watch this love fest all day?" Bobby asks, rolling his eyes.

"I think it's sweet," Jo protests with a faint smile as she watches the two boys. "It's nice to see that even though it's the end of the world, at least you two are happy."

"It's always the end of the world," Dean reminds her.

"But this time, we got no way of stopping it," Bobby adds.

"We'll figure something out," Dean replies. "We always do."

"Well, we've never faced God's sister before."

"Bobby, stop being such a pessimist," Ellen scolds him. "Dean's right. We'll figure something out, or die trying."

"If we're serious about figuring something out, any idea where to start?" Bobby asks. "As much as I love the idea of sitting around with a beer, we got work to do."

"I don't think there's anything we can do," Sam replies. "I mean, unless he comes back any time soon —"

"How's now for soon?" The familiar voice makes Castiel jump slightly. 

Balthazar.

"Well?" Sam prompts, oblivious to Castiel's silent awe. "Is he coming?"

"Of course I am."

Castiel's head shoot to the doorway, where another angel is entering the room. 

No. No way. He's dead. He's been dead for years. So how is he here? Here, in the bunker that he died before they ever uncovered?

"Heya, guys? How've you been? Let me guess. Horrible."

"Cut the crap, Gabriel," Sam snaps.

"Sam, I'm offended," Gabriel replies in his usual flippant tone. "You asked me to be here, remember? I mean, it's not like I'm the one that screwed up. Again. I didn't have to come pull your ass out of the fire."

"You're saving yourself, too," Ellen reminds him. "So get talking. How do we kill the Darkness?"

Gabriel chuckles. "Oh, you clueless little... You can't kill the Darkness."

"Then why'd you show?" Dean demands. "If there's nothing we can do, why'd you even bother?"

"I didn't say there's nothing you can do, just that you can't kill her," Gabriel replies.

"Then what are we supposed to do, huh?"

"Nothing," Gabriel replies. "Oh, don't give me that look, Deano! You're up against God's sister, and you've only got one archangel with you. Last time, it took all four. Oh yeah, and the big man himself. But if you're really set on the impossible task of stopping the Darkness, there may be a way."

"And what would that be?" Dean asks.

"Well, first, we'd need a bigger crew," Gabriel tells them. "What do you got?"

They all share a look before various people are called out. There's Crowley and the demons, Rowena, and even possibly the angels, but that's about it.

Gabriel lets out a low whistle. "Ooh, nope. Not gonna cut it. Better luck next time, kiddos. Catch ya later. If there is a later."

"Wait," Jo stops him. "We're not just going to lay down and die, and you aren't, either."

"Oh yeah?" Gabriel crosses his arms stubbornly. "And why's that?"

"Because you actually do care what happens. Maybe not to people; you made that much clear last time we heard from you. But you also made it clear that you care about your brothers and sisters. And you can't just let them all die because you don't want to stand up to your aunt."

Gabriel chuckles, but there's no real humor in it. "And that's where you're wrong, kid. I'd help if I could. Trust me, I like living here. Or, you know, living, period. But unless you somehow get ahold of Lucifer, Michael, and G-O-D himself, there's nothing we can do, and even that probably wouldn't cut it. So as much as I'd like to help you guys, I really can't." Gabriel shrugs as if to say What can you do? "It's apocalypse time, and this time, we're all gonna die."

"So that's it?" Sam says helplessly. "You're just gonna throw in the towel, call it a day?"

Gabriel nods slowly. "Yeah, pretty much." Seeing the reactions he gets, he adds, "Hey, you got a better idea, I'm all ears."

"So what do we do?" Bobby asks. "I mean, if we're not gonna save the world...?"

"Whatever you want," Gabriel replies. "I kinda figured you'd go do Ellen, but hey, not my place." He gives the man a falsely sweet smile.

"And what are you going to do?" Balthazar asks him. "Get in a couple more tricks?"

Gabriel shakes his head. "Nah. The apocalypse is the worst way to go, anyway." He turns to Sam and licks his lips. "But I'm thinking I might go tap that."

The face Sam makes is priceless. It's a mix of pure shock and terror, and possibly disgust, though Castiel isn't sure. "What? No!"

"Aw, come on, Sammy! End of the world and all that."

"And I'd like to spend my last days on earth with a little dignity," Sam replies. "Besides, I'm not gay."

"Okay, first of all, I'm an angel. I don't have a gender," Gabriel tells him. "But come on, Sam! Don't tell me you never wanted to try it."

"No, I don't," Sam replies. "It's definitely not on my bucket list."

"Then how 'bout as a thank you?" Gabriel asks hopefully.

"For what?"

"For the tip about the horsemen," Gabriel clarifies. "You know, the nice video I dropped in your car?"

He dropped it in the car? No, he handed it to them. He was there at that hotel. Then again, he also died at the hotel. Nothing about this is lining up.

"How about no?" Sam counters. "And you could've stopped in to help, you know."

Gabriel rolls his eyes. "And deal with Kali again?" He lets out a low whistle. "No thank you."

"Funny, that's exactly how I feel about you," Sam replies.

They continue to bicker for a while, and eventually, everyone loses interest in their conversation. Castiel glances up at Dean, debating whether or not to ask this. It will probably sound strange that he doesn't know, but curiosity gets the better of him and he asks anyway.

"Dean? What happened at the hotel with the gods?"

"You saved our asses," Dean replies. "Then we got out to the impala, and Gabriel left us that porno video."

Castiel chuckles at the memory of that. So that's how Gabriel is alive. Because he was there to get them out of that mess, and Gabriel didn't have to die for them. But what about the rest of them? Bobby must still be alive because there were no leviathans, which also means Castiel never opened the door to Purgatory, and never killed Balthazar. But what about Ellen and Jo?

"Remember when we tried to kill Lucifer with the Colt?" Castiel recalls, attempting to be casual in his hunt for answers.

"Yeah," Dean replies. "If you hadn't been there to get Jo out of there..."

Castiel never thought about things like this. He may think himself responsible for a lot of people's deaths, but not theirs. He never would have realized he could have saved them.

"What about Charlie?" Castiel asks. "And Kevin?"

"Dead..." Dean says slowly. "You know that. Cas, baby, are you sure you're okay?"

So this didn't change their deaths. Well, Castiel should have known having everyone back would be too good to be true. But he does have his brothers, and he has his friends. And, most importantly, he has Dean. Castiel snuggles up to him again.

"I'm fine," Castiel replies. "I'm — I'm better than fine."