A/N: The story has come to an end my dear readers and I hope that you enjoyed the read and I entertained you. Your thoughts about the story would be welcome, please review. NC
Chapter 11
Dean took the exit and pulled to the top of the ramp and looked for the nearest gas station. He saw a truck stop to the right and headed for it. He pulled up to the pump to fill up and was going to park it where it could be seen from the road. He figured they'd go get something to eat while they waited for Castiel and whoever was with him.
He knew Sam still had questions about his time in Purgatory and what happened to Cas when he got out. He really didn't know what happened; Cas was there and then he wasn't. Dean still blamed himself for not getting Cas out with him. He still had nightmares about leaving him behind.
"I'm goin' inside." Sam told him getting out of the car and stretching before heading for the entrance.
"Get us a table." he called to him and got a wave from his brother. He finished filling the car and moved it over to the side where it could be seen easily before heading inside. He looked around the diner and spotted his brother in a booth that looked out onto the parking lot. Dean headed to the bathroom first to wash up before joining him.
spn
"Got ya a tea and your usual." Sam told him as he slid into the booth opposite his brother.
"Thanks." he said sipping his tea and watching the parking lot. He drummed his fingers on the table, anxious to see Cas.
"He should be here soon." Sam commented noticing his brother's nervousness. "You ok?"
"I'm fine." Dean grunted sitting back trying to relax or at least act like it.
Sam tried to talk to Dean but wasn't haven't much success in getting him to say more than one word answers or grunts. He sat back and huffed irritated at his brother's stubbornness. At least the food came and he didn't try to talk to him while they ate. Dean was almost finished with his burger when he saw a blue Honda Accord slowly pull into the parking lot and roll toward the Impala. He got a view of the driver and saw it was Cas.
"He's here." Dean said wiping his mouth before getting up and throwing some bills on the table.
Sam glanced out the window and forked the last of his salad into his mouth before following. They walked outside and moved toward the Impala.
"Who's with him?" Sam asked squinting his eyes from the glare of the sun.
"I'm not s..." Dean started and recognized the female that exited the passenger side of the Honda. "What's she doing here?"
"Is that Meg?" Sam questioned as they slowed and watched her move to Castiel's side looping her arm through his.
"I'm not seeing this." Dean frowned when he saw the imitate gesture.
"I thought Crowley killed her."
"How did...I mean...Do you..." Dean stuttered as Cas and Meg came abreast of them.
"Dean, Sam, it's good to see you." Castiel greeted them.
"Hey man! How did you get back?" Dean asked looking at him closely. "Are you alright?"
"Yes Dean, I'm fine."
"Hello boys, I'm fine too." Meg smirked.
"What's she doing here?" Dean growled already feeling her get under his skin.
"It's a long story..."
"Can we go someplace a little more private?" Meg interrupted as several truckers stared at them in passing.
"Why don't we get a motel room and talk there?" Sam suggested knowing there were several nearby.
"Wanna follow us?" Dean asked looking from Cas to Meg and back.
"Alright." Cas told him turning back to the car with Meg.
spn
"I'm not liking this and I've haven't even heard it yet." Dean complained as he slid into the Impala.
"Let's just hear him out; there could be a logical explanation for them being together." Sam said trying to reason with him.
"She's a demon Sam, a demon!"
"Yeah, but she did help us and got killed in the process."
"But she's a demon." he insisted pulling from the parking lot and heading down to a motel below it.
He stopped at the office and let Sam get out to get a room. He waited impatiently as images flashed through his mind of the four of them in the hall trying to fight the hell hounds and Cas lip locking with her. He didn't want to picture those images and shook his head to push them from his mind. Dean tried to see in the office to see what was holding Sam up when he came back out.
"Room 18 'round back on the end." he told his brother as he settled into the seat.
Dean started the car again and pulled around back of the motel while glancing in the rear view mirror to be sure Cas was behind him. He pulled in front of room 18 and parked, waiting for the Honda to park beside him before getting out. He watched Meg and Cas get out of the car and head toward the open door that Sam had opened. Dean followed behind them fingering the demon knife he had tucked into his belt. He watched Cas allow Meg to go first into the room just like a gentleman and saw her smile at him in an intimate way. No, he wasn't at all happy with this. Cas and Meg settled on the love seat and Sam grabbed the two chairs and pulled them closer for him and Dean.
"Alright, so fill us in? What happened, why didn't you follow me?" Dean asked. "I tried to get you out, you know that right?."
"I know Dean, but I had to pay penance for what I did, it was my punishment to be there and we didn't know if I could pass anyway. The portal was for humans."
"You could of tried." he insisted. "Do you know how I felt when you got left behind?"
"Hey take it easy on the angel." Meg butted in defending Castiel.
"Stay outta this Meg." Dean growled at her.
"Both of you cool it." Sam told them trying to referee. "Cas tell us what happened."
"I stayed in Purgatory and kept moving trying to avoid the Leviathan that wanted to kill me." he started. "Then Meg and Lenora found me."
"Wait, you mean vamp Lenora? Vegan Lenora?" Dean asked.
"Yes, Lenora found her and they stayed together and started searching for me until they found me."
"How did you end up there?" Sam asked Meg confused.
"Not really sure, I got whacked and woke up there. All new to me too, didn't see any other demons down there. I have no idea how or why I got deposited in that place. Maybe someone wanted me to help Cas get out of there, I don't know."
"Meg told me she heard rumors of a passage between Purgatory and Hell and we could leave that way, but we had to take down a vampire who was trying to take over there, named Walker..."
"You mean Gordon Walker?" Dean asked in surprise.
"Yes that's his name." Meg replied. "I'm taking by the looks you know him?"
"Yeah, Sammy disconnected his head from his body with barbed wire." Dean said looking over at a pale Sam.
Sam swallowed hard when he remembered that time and what he had to do. It was not something he wanted to remember and suppressed the images and all the blood. He could almost taste that coppery, metal, crimson liquid as it poured over his hands the harder he pulled the wire.
"You're telling me you two took Walker out?" Dean questioned not believing it.
"We had some help from some other vampires from Lenora's nest and the Phoenix you killed when I sent you two back in time, Elias Finch and Dr. Visyak, the one that I tortured to get the spell to open the door to Purgatory. They helped. There were quiet a few that wanted Walker dead. To get to the passage, we had to cross the land he claimed as his. We didn't have much choice if we wanted to try and come back."
"Ok, I get that, but why are you still with her?" Dean challenged staring at Meg.
"She's the reason I did come back Dean. Meg convinced me, you should be grateful to her." Castiel explained. "We er-er...well..."
"We're together now." Meg finished for him taking Castiel's hand in her's.
"You mean together together?" Sam asked slowly.
"And I thought you were the smart one, yes we had hot passionate sex, do I need to draw you two lug heads a picture?" she sneered at them.
"More than I need to know." Sam grimaced in disgust.
"Way to go Cas, but couldn't you have picked a more..." Dean started.
"A more what Dean? Someone more human and less demon?" Meg asked him.
"Dean, we're together now, if you can't accept that, we'll leave." Castiel told him getting up from the love seat.
"Sit down." Dean fussed pushing him back to the love seat. "It's just...I gotta wrap my head around it that's all. You know she's been our enemy way longer than she's been your main squeeze."
"Come on Dean, I've been on your side and helped you guys, and saved your asses."
"Well you did possess Sam for a week and had him shoot me."
"You possessed Sam?" Castiel asked Meg a little shocked.
"Yeah, well what can I say, I was following Daddy's orders." Meg shrugged. "You did send me back to hell, remember?"
"And the girl you possessed died too."
"Let's say the playing field changed, I'm betting on the winning team now."
"So what are you going to do now Cas?" Sam asked him still trying to digest the fact they were together.
"I don't know, I probably need to check on Heaven now that Raphael is gone, but I'm not sure how welcome I'll be."
"What about..." Dean asked looking to Meg pretty sure Heaven wouldn't be too hip with bringing a demon into their realm.
"Oh, I'll find something to do while he's gone, maybe I'll bug you guys." she smirked seeing a shocked look cross Dean's face. She so liked to tick him off.
"What? No, not happening."
"Come on Dean, you know I could help you and Sam." she teased watching him squirm.
"So are we good?" Castiel asked the brothers.
"Yeah, we're good. If you need any advice ask Sam." Dean told him winking at him.
"Dean! Don't listen to him Cas." Sam stuttered as his face reddened.
"Well, I'm going to go get us a room." Meg told them getting up. She glanced back over her shoulder before going out the door. "We're going to order pizza and move some furniture around."
Sam and Dean looked at Cas who was blushing and looking anywhere but at them. Dean chuckled at his embarrassment before speaking.
"You dog you!" Dean whispered slapping him on the back. "I'm gonna go grab some beers from the store across the street."
"I'm glad you're back Cas." Sam said trying not to laugh at him as he got up too. "I'll get our bags."
Castiel leaned back on the love seat and sighed with relief glad that the brothers had accepted his relationship with Meg. He wasn't sure what lay ahead for any of them, but at the moment he was content. Whatever the future threw at them, they would meet it head on and together.
The End