#walkernatural

[headtraumasam]

older guy and his controversially young girlfriend

[walker-extended-universe]

Treat With Care

Relationship(s): Dean Winchester & Sam Winchester, Abeline Walker & Dean Winchester, Abeline Walker & Sam Winchester

Tags/Warnings: Sickfic, Mother Henning, Fluff, Domestic Fluff

Summary: Sam and Dean come down with something on their latest trip to the Walker ranch. They can take care of themselves but Abby won't let them. And maybe they don't hate that.

Written for @sicktember alt prompt 4: Forehead Kisses

Part of the Walkernatural Extras Series alongside Walkernatural and/or Henry Winchester Verse

taglist: @theladywyn, @ihavepointysticks, @klaatu51, @itsjessiegirl1, @neptunium134

-------

Sam and Dean never really had a home. They had places that somewhat felt like home, in their own way (none more so than the impala), but never really a definitive home. Bobby’s house, the Bunker, a few abandoned cabins they got from Bobby and John; all were special but none were completely home.

The Walker Ranch had somehow made its way onto that list of places that were special, despite their rocky start with it. Maybe it was because their family lived there. Either way, whenever they didn’t have a case, Sam and Dean would sometimes find themselves heading to the ranch instead of the bunker. “Just to check in,” Dean would say as he steered them toward Austin. “It’s been a while since we saw everyone,” Sam would agree. Neither of them would admit that it felt more like home than almost anywhere else (never more than the impala).

And neither of them would admit that one of the things that made it feel like home was Abeleine “Call me Abby” Walker.

—---

Sickness was part of living on the road. They didn’t always land in the most hygienic of places and their diet left a lot to be desired, so their immune systems didn’t have the best support. It definitely didn’t help that they regularly went into damp and wooded areas or that they had to deal with random elements of nature like rain and pollen. But they still had work to do, whether they had the sniffles or not, so they just soldiered onward until one of them couldn’t get out of bed. It wasn’t the healthiest way of doing things but that wasn’t exactly high on their priorities list.

Unfortunately, that sometimes led to them being laid up for a couple weeks because they pushed themselves too hard. And living in close quarters meant they both got hit at around the same time. The only thing worse than a sick Winchester was two sick Winchesters.

Which is why, when Sam woke up and felt feverish and Dean was sneezing up a storm, they both started packing up to go to the bunker. They could handle themselves in isolation for a while.

They should’ve known better.

“Sam, are you okay?” Abby asked over breakfast. “You look a little warm….”

Sam smiled and tried to play it off. “Well, it is summer. We’re Kansas boys; not really made for the Texas heat….”

She didn’t look like she believed him but she let it drop. Until Dean started sneezing. “Let me guess, allergies?” she asked, one brow raised.

Dean smiled and shrugged. “You know how it is.”

“Sure.”

“Abby, they’re grown men,” Bonham said as he started clearing away the leftover dishes. “If they say they're fine, I’m sure they are.”

“Says the man who hid his cancer diagnosis behind pain pills for a year,” Abby muttered.

Without warning, she had the back of her hand on Sam’s forehead. “As I thought; you have a fever.” She did the same to Dean before he could react. “You too, but not as high….” She sighed. “Back to bed; both of you.”

“Abby, we were-”

“Just about to go home, I know. But not like that. You’re sick. That means resting, not driving for hours on end and crashing in a motel room that’ll probably make you sicker. Bed. Now.”

“But-”

“Boy, do not argue with me. Bed. Now.”

Sam and Dean looked to Bonham for help, who just shook his head. “You should know better than to argue with her by now.”

Unfortunately, they did. So, under Abby’s watchful eyes, they found themselves back in their room in the bunkhouse.

“What kind of medicine do you usually use for fevers? What about congestion? Any preference for snacks or drinks? I always have something on hand but I want you to be comfortable,” she said while she got them settled in (and boy was it a trip for two grown men to be tucked in).

“Nothin’ fancy for meds,” Dean said. “Just whatever we can get over the counter. And water is fine.”

“Seriously, Abby, you don’t need to do all this,” Sam said, coughing a little. “We can take care of ourselves.”

“I’m sure you can; just not under my roof. Now, I’ll bring some tylenol, water, and crackers to get started. If you can keep that down, we’ll upgrade you to soup, okay?” She left the room before either of them could respond.

“She’s something, isn’t she?” Dean muttered, closing his eyes.

“Sure is,” Sam agreed.

Neither of them said what that “something” was, but they both knew it was true.

—--------

Maybe it was their old age or maybe they were just sicker than they thought, but the Winchester brothers couldn’t help but think that maybe Abby was right in keeping them at the ranch while they were sick. By day 2, Dean could barely get out of bed and Sam had a sick bucket ready to go by his bed. Abby had offered to call a doctor for them but they were still a little too stubborn for that. It would all pass in a week, surely.

In the meantime, Abby mother-henned over them with a seemingly endless supply of water, Gatorade, tissues, and light snacks. She also brought a TV into their room and let Dean have control of the remote.

“You know, you’re supposed to be relaxing,” she commented when she saw he had it on the Horror Movie Network.

Dean groaned. “Come on, it’s an All Saint’s Day marathon! That’s the most relaxing thing in the world.”

“Maybe for you,” Sam muttered, half leaning off the bed and over his sick bucket.

Abby chuckled. “Maybe you can change it over to something soft like Scooby Doo after lunch.” She replenished the tissues next to Dean’s bed and kissed his forehead. “Hmm, still running a fever. I’ll bring you something for that.”

She moved over to Sam’s bed before Dean had a chance to comment on the kiss.

“Do you want something for the nausea, dear?” Abby said, inspecting his sick bucket. “You’ve hardly kept anything down.”

Sam nodded mutely, letting her rearrange him on the bed.

“Alright. I’ll bring it to you with some bread and we’ll see how you keep that down.” She kissed his forehead. “Hmm, fever went down. Maybe all that vomit is getting this out of your system. Just hang tight, dear.” She changed out the bag in his bucket before leaving the room.

When Dean looked over at Sam, his brother had a soft look on his face that Dean couldn’t quite place. He imagined he had the same look on his face.

—---

In the end, it took just under two weeks for whatever this was to pass through the Winchester brothers. Abby tried to convince them to stay longer but they didn’t want to impose any more than they already had. And Sam had already found them a case in Topeka. “Those vamps won’t decapitate themselves.”

“Well, keep me updated,” Abby said. “You know I worry about you two. Oh, and take some leftovers. I know you don’t eat enough.”

They knew better than to argue.

[rpsocsandcanonohmy]

Like this post for a starter in a "turned into a monster" verse for one of my hunter characters

Please specify a muse in the comments if you have one in mind; if not, one will be randomly chosen

[walker-extended-universe]

Falling Down

Relationship(s): Gabriel & Cordell Walker, Cordell Walker & Dean Winchester & Sam Winchester, Dean Winchester & Sam Winchester, Emily Walker & Dean Winchester

Tags/Warnings: Episode: s05e22 Swan Song, Alternate Universe- Canon Divergence, Crossover, Major Character Death, Grief/Mourning, Angst, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Hurt No Comfort

Summary: Alternate Universe where all 3 brothers go down into the pit. Sam, Cordell, Adam. Lucifer, Michael, Gabriel.

Part 3 of Walkernatural Extras

Written for @juneofdoom prompt 12- Grief

Taglist: @theladywyn, @ihavepointysticks, @klaatu51, @itsjessiegirl1, @neptunium134

-------

Gabriel always knew this day would come. From the moment God brought him into existence, this had been part of the Plan. The endgame of the Grand Story. No matter how much Gabriel tried to ignore it, to pretend the party could just go on forever, he knew the apocalypse was nigh.

You okay in there?

It amazed him how quickly Cordell had become attuned to him.

I’m fine. But It is happening.

Oh. Do we need to do something?

Gabriel wished there was something they could do. But this was Ordained. The big prize fight was happening whether they liked it or not. Their brothers would fight. One side would win, the other would die. And that was the end.

Never knew you to be a pessimist.

You saying you want to fight against destiny?

No. But if my brother is fighting, I don’t want him going in alone.

Well. Gabriel wasn’t going to argue with logic like that.

Fine. Make sure Emily knows where you’re going. I hate it when she yells at me.

—-------------------

Letting Gabriel fly always left him a little off-kilter when they landed, but that wasn’t the only reason Cordell felt uneasy as he stepped into the graveyard.

This was It. The endgame. The prizefight. The ultimate battle between Heaven and Hell. Two sets of brothers, trapped in a maze that they either couldn’t escape or just didn’t know how.

He felt a charge in the air as he turned toward the center of the cemetery. They hadn’t landed too far from the main event. As much as Cordell would rather be right in the middle, trying everything to stop this, there was some kind of energy keeping them from directly interfering. Even as he walked closer, he could feel the push. He was forced to stop a few yards away.

There they stood. Dean. Sam and Lucifer. Michael and Adam. Cordell and Gabriel. Two sets of brothers, standing at the four points of a compass. It was almost like fate.

“You have no business here, Gabriel,” Lucifer sneered. “Why don’t you run off and play some more games with the hairless apes?”

“What? I’m not allowed to play in the reindeer games anymore.” Gabriel rolled his eyes. “I only disappeared for a millenia.”

“That’s long enough for you to lose your stake in the game,” Michael said firmly. “You have no place here. Take Dean and leave us to our business.”

“Yeah, not happenin’,” Dean snorted. “I’m not leaving my brother alone.”

“Neither am I,” Gabriel and Cordell said.

“You really do irritate me,” Lucifer stated, glaring at Dean. “If I wasn’t about to burn this world, I would take the time to teach you a lesson. But-”

“Hey! Assbutt!”

Castiel appeared almost out of nowhere and launched a molotov cocktail at Michael, who burst into holy flame.

Lucifer turned his fury on the rogue angel. “Did you just burn my brother?”

Before Castiel could even formulate a response, Lucifer snapped and burst him into pieces. His rage then turned to Dean. “You planned that, didn’t you?” he sneered. “Filthy little mud monkey!”

He lunged at Dean, raising his fist and raining hell down on the eldest Winchester. “You really think you stand a chance against me? The end of this story was written long ago and you are not the hero you thought you were.”

Cordell tried to run forward, but Gabriel held him still. “Let me go,” he hissed.

There’s no helping Dean now. Let him go.

Cordell struggled to regain control of his legs as Dean struggled under Lucifer’s rage.

Then, all of a sudden, it stopped.

Son of a bitch. He really did it.

Cordell watched Lucifer’s fist fall. Then he heard his brother’s voice. “It’s okay, Dean,” Sam said. “I’ve got him.” He turned toward Cordell. “I got him.”

He threw down the key to the Cage and the ground opened up next to him. He held out his arms, waiting to fall as a strong wind whirled from out of the Pit.

“No!”

Cordell whipped his head around and saw Michael. The archangel was pissed and running toward Sam. “No!” He gripped Sam’s lapels and tried to drag him back from the edge. But Sam was determined and kept pulling against him.

In a blink, Cordell was there, grasping onto him too. “Don’t,” he whispered, trying to pull his brother to safety.

Sam shook his head. “You have to let me go,” he pleaded. “I-I have to fix this. Please.”

“No, it doesn’t have to be this way.”

“It’s too late.” Sam smiled sadly. “It’s okay, really. You’ll be okay.”

Then he jumped.

Michael held on. Cordell held on. Lucifer screamed. Sam closed his eyes. Adam hid away from it all. Gabriel tried to pull them all back, using the full strength of his wings to try and save them from Hell-

Then the ground closed behind them.

And they all fell down.

—------------------

Dean stared at the ground for hours. The Earth had been torn in two around the edge of the Pit of Hell. Then his entire family jumped in it. Now, the Earth was whole again, not even a scar to memorialize the damage.

Castiel helped him to his feet. “Sam saved the world, Dean,” he said, probably attempting to soothe him. “A miracle happened on this day.”

Dean wished he could believe that.

What he really didn’t understand was why Henry had been there. Why Gabriel had been there. He could maybe believe in a show of solidarity, a last ditch effort to try to fix what couldn’t be saved. He could almost admire that. He could appreciate Cordell trying to make up for ditching them all those years ago.

But now they were gone. A grand sacrifice that never needed to be made.

And Dean was left behind to pick up the pieces.

“I have to go,” he said eventually. “I-I gotta tell his family. They need to know.” He leaned on Baby as he made his way to the driver’s seat.

He couldn’t even deliver a body for them to burn.

He made the 10 hour drive in 7 hours. He pulled up in front of the perfect suburban house and trudged up to the front door.

He expected Emily to scream. To cry. To slap him and shove him out the door. Hell, he wouldn’t blame her for getting her shotgun.

Instead, she hugged him and invited him to dinner. She kept her smile on for the rest of the day, making her kids laugh and trying to make Dean feel at home.

It wasn’t until the sun went down and the kids were sound asleep that she fell apart. It was like a switch flipped as soon as no one immediately needed her. One moment she was impossibly fine, the next, she was falling into Dean’s arms.

“Why?” she asked. “Why him? Why didn’t Gabriel stop him? Why- Just- Why?”

Dean held her and wished he still had a God to pray to. “I’m sorry.”

Emily buried her head in Dean’s chest and sobbed. “What the hell am I supposed to do now?” she whispered between hiccups.

“I don’t know. But I’m here,” he promised. It wasn’t enough, but he had to try.

He did promise Sam he’d go on without him. And Cordell’s kids needed a father.

Dean could try. He owed them that much.

[walker-extended-universe]

We Need To Talk About Henry

Relationship(s): Dean Winchester & Sam Winchester, August Walker & Emily Walker & Stella Walker

Tags/Warnings: Alternate Universe, Implied/Referenced Character Death, Wakes & Funerals, Family Reunions, First Meetings, Awkward Conversations, Angst

Summary: A Henry Winchester Verse spinoff in which Cordell was the one that died and Sam and Dean have to pass on hunting knowledge to the next generation.

Written for @whumpuary prompt 5: "Stay. Please."

Part 2 of Walkernatural Extras

Taglist: @theladywyn, @ihavepointysticks, @klaatu51, @itsjessiegirl1, @neptunium134

-------

Dean had almost been excited when his phone rang. After taking out God, monster activity had slowed to almost nothing, likely thanks to Jack’s influence on the world. Dean wasn’t exactly complaining about the lack of people dying, but he was starting to get antsy, stuck in the bunker for weeks on end without anything to do or research. There were only so many times he could wash Baby and clean his guns before that got old.

“This is Dean,” he greeted without looking at the caller ID.

“Hi…. Dean. It-It’s Emily. Are you busy? Is Sam there?”

“Ah- Not at the moment. Why?”

“Can you get him? I-I have news.”

Dean had a sinking feeling it wasn’t news either of them wanted to hear. “Yeah, just let me find him.”

He found Sam in the library (of course) and sat across the table from him, putting Emily on speaker and setting the phone between them. “Okay, Emily. We’re both here. What’s your big news?”

“I- Well….. It’s Cordell. He- He’s dead.”

Dean’s stomach dropped and his eyes flicked to Sam. They hadn’t had the best relationship with their other brother since he left all those years ago but it had gotten slightly better over the years, with Cordell helping some of their friends have a normal life. But things had always been different between the twins.

Sam swallowed hard but had no other outward reaction- yet. “What- What happened?”

“It was…. It’s just the job. Just… Just a normal raid,” she said quietly. “There were more guys there than they expected and he got separated from his partner…. He didn't even make it to the hospital.” Her voice wavered on the last sentence.

“I’m sorry,” Dean said. What else was there to say?

“Me too.” Emily sniffled then spoke again. “Look, we’re holding a funeral here in a few days after the DPS has their pony show funeral for their ‘hero’. It’s just gonna be a small thing, family and close friends. People that know about you. I… I think he’d like it if you came. And… I want you to meet the kids. I think it’d be good for them.”

Dean looked back at Sam, waiting for some kind of response. They should go to their brother’s funeral, but he didn’t like how quiet Sam was.

“We’ll be there,” Sam said. “Just text us the time and address.”

“Okay. Thank you. I-I’ll be in touch.” She hung up and Dean slid the phone into his pocket. 

“Sam? You okay?”

“He’s dead, Dean. How okay do you expect me to be?” He pushed himself up from the table and left the room.

Dean didn’t have an answer to that.

—------------

Cordell was dead. Henry was dead. His twin was dead.

No matter how Sam turned it over in his head, he couldn’t quite wrap his head around it.

Cordell was supposed to be the safe brother. He got out of hunting. He got married, started a family, paid a mortgage. Sure, he worked in law enforcement which was only a few steps down from hunting, but they had far better protection than any hunters did.

The idea that something as simple as a bullet could take his brother from him just didn’t seem possible.

“Sam, you ready?”

Sam snapped out of his thoughts and realized they were parked in front of the ranch where Cordell’s private funeral was being held. “Uh, yeah. Yeah, I’m ready,” he muttered, opening the door before he could be questioned further.

There were a few other cars. Emily did say it was going to be a private thing. Sam and Dean still wore suits, just in case.

Sam let Dean take the lead and stood a little behind him as he knocked. They only had to wait a few moments before Emily answered. She smiled softly at them and stepped aside to let them in. “Thank you for coming,” she said. “I- Everyone’s out back. We- Cordell wanted his body burned on a pyre so we set something up in the yard. I guess that’s what you call a hunter’s funeral? He put in his will so… Can’t really argue with it. I was just going to cremate him but this is what he wanted.”

Sam couldn’t look her in the eye, but he could tell she was wrecked. Not that he could blame her. He knew the pain of losing someone he loved. She was handling it better than he or Dean ever did.

“Yeah, that’s a hunter’s funeral,” Dean said. “Kinda surprised he asked for one, but I guess it never hurts to be careful.”

“Yeah, I guess not….” Emily led them out of the back door of the ranch house. There was a small group of people standing near the pyre,

There was an older couple that Sam vaguely remembered from the last time they’d been in Austin almost 15 years ago, when they were looking for Henry after Jess died. They were talking to a man Sam didn’t recognize. Standing a few feet away were two teenagers, the kids Emily had talked about before if he had to guess. They were talking to another couple that Sam didn’t recognize at all.

He had expected more people. True, Emily had said this was going to be private, but he expected close family and friends to include more people. Maybe that was just his imagination running away with him.

Emily led them over to the teenagers first. “Stella, August,” she started, “these are the… extended family I told you about before. Sam and Dean. Sam, Dean, these are your niece and nephew.”

Extended family was probably a better term than they deserved. “It’s nice to meet you two, finally,” was all Sam could think to say, smiling as best he could.

Stella regarded them cautiously. “Glad you could make it,” she muttered. 

Her brother smiled at them briefly. “It’s nice to meet you too. I… I hope you enjoy your stay.”

“Hi, I’m Geri. This is Hoyt,” said the woman standing near them. “We’re friends of Cordell. I’m glad you came.”

“Glad to be invited,” Dean said.

Emily smiled tightly. “Right. Well, I think we’re about ready- Oh, Larry!” She waved at someone behind them. “Larry, Did you bring what I asked?”

Sam looked over his shoulder to see a newcomer. “Ah, yes, I did,” the man said, holding up a gas can. “Still can’t believe he asked for this….” He eyed Sam and Dean curiously, looking to Emily with a silent question.

“Oh, right. Larry, these are Cordell’s other brothers, Sam and Dean. Sam and Dean, this is Larry James. He’s… Cordell’s partner. With the rangers.”

Sam felt more than saw Dean stiffen. He knew exactly what his brother was thinking; Henry’s partner was supposed to watch his back. And he failed. He grabbed Dean’s arm, silently begging him not to make a scene. Not here, not now.

“Nice to meet you. Heard a lot about you from Cordell. Maybe we can get drinks and swap stories together while we’re in town,” Larry offered.

“Not sure we’ll be in town that long,” Dean said curtly.

Emily coughed and took the can from Larry’s hands. “Let’s just do this? Abby’s got lunch made for everyone inside. You can all talk then.”

Sam discreetly kept a hold on Dean’s arm while they watched Henry’s body burn. He was afraid of what Dean might say or do on his own, watching someone else light the body while the man who was (partially) responsible for his death stood there like he belonged. It must kill Dean as much as it was killing him that they, Henry’s brothers, felt like the outsiders here.

The man of the older couple put out the fire as the ashes started to die down and everyone went inside. Emily introduced them to Liam, Henry’s “brother” and Abby and Bonham, the owners of the ranch and the people who had taken Henry in after he left all those years ago.

Honestly, Sam was happy for his twin. He’d managed to do something none of the rest of the Winchesters did; he built a life and a family of his own and kept them safe in every way he could. But, all the same, he was hurt that he’d essentially be replaced in his brother's life. And he knew Dean felt that too.

Sam was glad they came to the funeral. He just wished it didn’t hurt so much.

Larry James was the first to leave, not without promising to follow up on that drink offer. Sam smiled because Dean wouldn’t and they were left with the rest of the Walker family. Listening to them tell stories about Henry only served to make Sam and Dean feel more outcast and unwelcome.

They braved the stories and inside jokes they couldn’t participate in for as long as they could before they took their leave.

Emily stopped them before they went out the door. “You could stay,” she said, almost desperately. “There’s plenty of motels in town but I’m sure Abby and Bonham would let you-”

“We don’t want to outstay our welcome,” Dean muttered.

“Please, stay.” Emily's hand rested on his arm. “I- Maybe it’s not fair of me to ask this but you being here does help. And….” she sighed. “If you need a real reason to stay, Cordell never got around to telling them about monsters. I wanted him to tell them sooner but…. He always said he wanted them to have real childhoods and monsters weren’t part of that.”

Sam looked at Dean and knew what his answer would be. Whether they were welcome here or not, those kids were family. Family that was very much at risk without a skilled hunter around to protect them. If Henry couldn’t pass on the family business, they would have to do it for him.

“We can do that,” Sam said.

Emily smiled and thanked them. “I’ll- I’ll talk to the kids and let you know when to come by and give them the talk.”

“Sounds good.” Sam could only hope the conversation would go as well as Emily hoped it would.

—-------

Dean drove them to the Walker home in the suburbs two days after the funeral. “I’m still not sure this is a good idea,” he said, looking at the deceptively picturesque house from their spot on the curb.

“Someone has to talk to them,” Sam said. “They need to know the truth before they learn it the hard way.”

“Yeah, well, they won’t wanna hear it.”

“They never do.”

Emily greeted them at the door and led them into the living room where Stella and August were waiting. Again, August smiled at them but Stella refused to make eye contact.

There wasn’t a single universe within anyone’s imagination where this conversation wasn’t going to be awkward. No matter how much Emily smiled or how gentle Sam and Dean tried to be with it or how interested August tried to look. It was never going to go well. No one ever reacted well to hearing monsters were real. Dean could only imagine how much more awkward it would be when you were also learning that most of what you knew about your Dad was a lie.

But, as Sam said, someone had to tell them. It may as well be their family.

They didn’t get much further than ‘Monsters are real and we need to teach you how to kill them’ before Stella stopped playing nice. “This is bullshit.”

Emily stared at her. “Stella-”

“It is!” Stella pushed herself up from the couch and glared at her mother. “You can’t expect us to just go with this. You randomly tell us Dad has two brothers we’ve never heard about before, then they come in and tell us monsters exist so they have an excuse to hang out with us, and we’re not supposed to think that’s weird? No. I’m not doing this.” She stormed out of the room and Emily followed on her heels.

August stayed sitting at the table, staring at his hands. “You guys should probably go,” he muttered. “It’ll be a while before she calms down and she still won’t listen to you.”

“Right. Okay. Tell your mom ‘bye’ for us,” Dean muttered.

It probably could’ve gone worse, he thought to himself while mindlessly flipping through tv channels in their motel room that night. He tried not to think too much about why he and Sam weren’t packing up yet, when it was so obvious they didn’t belong here.

Then, there was a knock on the door.

Dean exchanged a look with Sam and cautiously approached the door. It was too late to be housekeeping and there was no one else who would bother them here.

Dean checked through the peephole before answering the door. “...August.”

The kid stood in front of the door, hands shoved in his jacket pockets. “Can I come in?” he asked in a small voice.

Dean stepped aside to let him in. “What are you doing here? Isn’t it past your bedtime?”

August glared at him. “I’m 15, not 5. I don’t have a ‘bedtime’.”

“Curfew then.”

“It’s not until midnight. I have time. And Mom knows I’m here anyway; she told me where you were staying.”

“That’s all well and good, August,” Sam said from his spot on the bed. “But that doesn’t answer the question. Why are you here?”

August unhunched his shoulders and looked at them with a determination that reminded Dean a little too much of Henry. “I want to learn how to kill monsters.”

“You sure about that, kid?” Dean asked. “Your sister didn’t seem too jazzed about the idea.

August looked down. “Yeah, well…. She doesn’t get it.”

“What doesn’t she get?” Sam asked gently.

August shrugged, looking away from Dean. “It’s just….Dad’s always protected us,” he said quietly. “From people and… I guess monsters too. But he’s not here now. Someone has to look after us since he’s not here anymore. Uncle Liam is going back to New York soon and Gramps is getting older and you two won’t be here forever. So…It has to be me.”

It has to be me. Practically a Winchester motto. He didn’t even need to look at Sam to know what he was thinking. “You’re a little young to be thinking that way, kid,” Dean said.

August deflated. “...So you won’t teach me?”

“Didn’t say that,” Dean said. “We will teach you. We’ll teach Stella too if she’ll let us. We owe it to your dad.”

“But it’s not gonna be easy,” Sam warned. “Fighting monsters is dangerous. There’s a reason your dad kept it a secret for so long.”

“I know. I’m ready for that.” But he didn’t know. And he wasn’t ready. Not yet. Not by a long shot.

“Right. Well, either way, we’re not starting your lessons now. Go home and get some rest. We’ll start in the morning,” Dean promised.

August nodded and left, leaving the brothers alone again.

Dean sighed as the door clicked shut behind him. Guess we’re staying in town for a little bit.” He only hoped they’d stay welcome.

[walker-extended-universe]

I'm watching Texas Rising and JDM is here and-

My walkernatural brain needs to shut up

[walker-extended-universe]

(Don't) Jump

Relationship(s): Dean Winchester & Sam Winchester, Dean Winchester & Cordell Walker, Cordell Walker & Sam Winchester, Adam Milligan & Cordell Walker, Lucifer & Michael

Tags/Warnings: Episode: S05E22 Swan Song, Stopping the Apocalypse, Self-Sacrifice, Desperation, Grief/Mourning, Angst, Hurt No Comfort

Summary: Gabriel senses the oncoming apocalypse and decides to quit being a coward. He brings Cordell along with him.

Part 5 of Henry Winchester 'Verse

Written for @angstober Day 21- Can't Save Everyone

Taglist: @theladywyn, @ihavepointysticks, @klaatu51, @itsjessiegirl1, @neptunium134

-------

It’s happening.

Cordell’s hands paused over the keyboard of his laptop. “What’s happening?”

The prizefight. Our brothers fighting over the planet, over paradise. It’s coming soon. I can feel it.

Cordell sighed. He’d known this day would come, but he’d foolishly hoped Sam and Dean would do something about it before it became a problem. “What do we do? Start prepping for the end?”

I can’t believe I’m suggesting this but… There might be another way.

“What? Like we go there and try to talk them out of it?”

It’s worth a try. Maybe it’s time we quit running from all this family stuff.

Cordell shook his head. “Do you really think that will work? That we can just stop the apocalypse if we ask nicely? I thought everyone up in Heaven and down in Hell wanted this….” He wasn’t sure what was left of their brotherly bonds would be enough to stop the will of cosmic forces.

We have to try, don’t we?

He wasn’t wrong about that. “Okay. Just- Let me tell Emily first. Just in case.” Just in case they didn’t come back. Just in case something went wrong. Just in case Gabriel was wrong about everything. They needed to be ready.

—-------

Lucifer and Michael stood in Stull Cemetery, ready for the final showdown. Neither of them truly wanted to do this- they were brothers, after all- but they had no choice. It was the way the story was written. It was fate, plain and simple.

Fate did not involve Dean Winchester rolling up to the site of the battle blasting his rock and roll. Nor did it involve their wayward brother Gabriel appearing in the nick of time.

“It’s been some time, little brother,” Michael greeted.

“I thought I killed you,” said Lucifer.

“Gabriel?! Why the fuck are you wearing my brother?!” demanded Dean.

Gabriel sighed. “Okay, in order. One, I’ve been a lot of places, Michael. Made lots of interesting friends too. Two, Lucifer, you are not the only person who’s taught me tricks. I’ve evolved since you left. And three, I’m wearing him because I needed a place to hide and he consented to it. Now, let’s talk Apocalypse. Or, rather, why we shouldn’t be doing this whole mess.”

Michael scoffed. “Gabriel, with all due respect, you abandoned Heaven eons ago. You don’t have a right to try interfering now. You lost that ability when you ran away.”

“And if you try to argue that you’re doing this to save human lives, let me remind you that you tried to kill me not too long ago,” Lucifer hissed. “How could you value these disgusting creatures over your own brother?”

“See, this is why I left Heaven; you asshats never let me talk,” Gabriel grumbled. “Alright, I admit I haven’t exactly been the most responsible archangel. I’ll own that. I’m an asshole. I’m lazy. I’m a coward. I run away from my problems and get my kick out of punishing people that I think deserve it based on my own metrics.”

“At least he admits it,” Dean muttered.

“Shut it, Winchester, adults are talking. Now, where was I? Oh, right. Now, I know I’m not the most responsible being in the universe but you know who’s even worse about that? God. He’s the one that fucked off ages ago and left you to run Heaven on your own. And you still want to play along with his little story when He’s not even around to watch it go down? Come on, Lucy, you’ve gotta hate that plan more than I do.”

“He will come back when we bring Paradise,” Michael said, ever the practical one.

“You say that like I’d let you win,” Lucifer snarked. “And who’s to say He would? Father stopped caring about us as soon as He made the humans. And I’m not doing this to play into His plan; I just want the earth restored to what it was before these monkeys wrecked it.”

“Again with this sympathy for the Devil crap,” Dean muttered. 

“Shut up!” all three archangels commanded.

“The point remains, Gabriel,” Michael continued, “You really have no room to speak on this. All the pieces were put in motion eons ago. This is just the way it has to happen. No one can do anything to change that.”

“That doesn’t really line up with the whole ‘free will’ thing, now does it?” Dean snarked.

“That’s enough out of you!” Lucifer rounded on Dean.

It was easy to forget how strong Lucifer was. It had been so long since any other angel had seen him at his full strength, even his closest brothers had forgotten. Even now that he’d been out of the Cage and found his true vessel, he wasn’t all that intimidating to the ones who knew him best.

How easy it was to forget how brightly his grace shone when he was full of righteous anger. Even Gabriel had to shield his eyes. Even Michael had to step back. He truly was the Morningstar.

Cordell screamed at Gabriel to do something, anything to protect his brother. But, despite his insistence on coming here, Gabriel couldn’t. He couldn’t move against Lucifer. Never could.

He was, in the end, still a coward. Always would be when it came to his brothers. Some things never changed.

So Lucifer beat Dean near to a pulp. Gabriel did nothing to stop him. Michael did nothing to stop him.

Then, to everyone’s surprise, Sam did something to stop him.

Gabriel noticed Lucifer’s grace dimming first as Sam fought his way to the surface. Sam stopped the beating and reached into his pocket for the key. The key to the Cage.

“Don’t worry, Dean. I’ve got him.”

The Cage opened with a roar and the wind picked up as it tried to suck Lucifer back in. Just as Sam was ready to fall in, Michael ran forward to stop him. If Gabriel didn’t know any better, he might say Michael was worried for Lucifer.

Cordell reached for his brothers; Adam was the only one he could grab. Gabriel watched in horror as both his brothers fell into the pit and Cordell cried out for Sam.

Then, just like that, the door to the Cage closed and the ground sealed up as if nothing was ever there.

Cordell stood, staring at the spot where his brother once stood. Sam- his brother, his twin, his other half- was gone. In Hell. He felt frozen in his grief, barely even registering Gabriel’s voice in his head.

He knew he had to talk to Dean. He knew he needed to figure out what to do about Adam. He knew he needed to call his family. But he also needed to grieve.

“Sam,” he whispered, tears silently falling down his face.

He felt a presence next to him; he didn’t even need to look to know his older brother was there, staring at the ground and thinking the same things he was. He wanted to reach out, comfort Dean. But he didn’t know how. Even if there wasn’t this gap between them, sowed by anger and abandonment, what does one even say in this situation.

Eventually, the silence got to be too much to bear. “Dean-”

“I’m fine,” his brother said robotically. “Why don’t you just go? Go home to your wife and that apple pie life of yours? You don’t need to be here.”

The words cut him deeper than any knife could hope to. But Cordell couldn’t argue. “I’m sorry,” was all he could say before walking away.

A small distance away, he saw his half-brother, no longer commandeered by Michael, speaking to a dark-haired figure (An angel, Castiel, Gabriel supplied) before the other disappeared in a flash. Adam looked at the ground, dejected. Alone.

Cordell sighed and made his way over. “Do you have anywhere to go? I can give you a lift.”

Adam shook his head. “I used to. But then I died.” He laughed bitterly. “I shouldn’t even be here. I only agreed to this crap because the angels promised they’d bring my mom back. But…” He threw his hands up. “Guess that’s not happening.”

Cordell nodded. “Why don’t you come home with me for now? We’ve got a spare bed for you until you figure out what you want to do. If that’s okay with you.”

“I guess I don’t have that many other options, do I?” Adam scoffed. “Where’s home anyway?”

“Austin, Texas.” Cordell clapped him on the shoulder. “Come on. We’ll grab some burgers on the way.”

“Yes, please. I’m fucking starving.”

Cordell chuckled and led him away. Then, he remembered Gabriel had flown them there. “Gabe-”

Relax, Cowboy. I’m on it.

[walker-extended-universe]

I JUST HAD A WALKERNATURAL BRAINWAVE BUT I HAVE TO GO TO WORK AAAAA

someone remind me to talk about it later