Team Free Will

(A tale of three brother's story)

Dean, Sam, and Cas were leading the survivors of the Croatoan virus to safety. They had as many people as possible stacked into the impala and following behind as possible and were racing out of the town. They stopped when they came to the river. It had over filled its banks and risen over the small bridge that led into the town. "Sammy, Cas!" Dean barked, putting the car in neutral. "Get out and help me push her!" All three hastily exited the car, although Sam and Castiel were perplexed at what Dean could be doing. "We're going to use baby to make a bridge over the water." Dean snapped by way of explanation, emptying the trunk of the impala as he did so. Sam and Cas were shaken by Dean's willingness to give up the impala, but quickly moved to help.

Once the trunk was empty, the three of them, aided by some of the townspeople, shoved the impala into the rapids. The hood of the car barely peeked out of the water but it was enough, and Sam, Dean, and Castiel started herding people across. Once all of the town's people were across, the three of them saw the croatoan infected catching up to them and scampered towards the opposite shore as well. However, once all three reached the hood of the impala, they were stopped by a familiar emaciated figure.

"What do you want, Death. We're kinda in a hurry here." Dean growled. The power behind it lost when he glanced over his shoulder.

"Dean. You shouldn't be rude to one bearing gifts." Death replied coolly. "I can guarantee that the croatoan's won't be moving again until you have all made your choices."

"What gifts?" Dean asked, eyeing the reaper suspiciously.

"Dean!" Sam chastised his brother.

"What?" Dean shot back. "Gifts from him? They always have strings attached."

"I can assure you Dean, I give these as gifts. You have nothing that I want."

"Except my soul." Dean snapped.

"Don't be foolish, I'll reap your soul no matter what." Death stated. Dean still wasn't convinced.

"Dean." Castiel piped up. "Death is powerful. It would be foolish to not accept his kindness." Dean hesitated for a moment before relenting. Sam snorted, an mumbled something under his breath.

"What was that?"

"Nothing, Dean. So about these gifts…"

"Yes. You each get to ask me for one thing. Anything." Death replied simply.

"Anything we want?" Dean asked, skepticism leaking into every word.

"Yes, anything, Dean." Death drawled. Castiel was the first to ask.

"I would like the power to defeat Metatron, and take back heaven." Death pulled a knife out of his coat and handed it to Castiel.

"That knife will kill an angel, for good. None of your angel blades can do that." Death smiled thinly and waved Cas past him. Castiel thanked Death and moved on to the other side of the river. The next to speak up was Sam.

"I would like something to bring the dead back to life."

"Wish to make a fool of me do you?"

"No! No, I just…" Death silenced Sam with the wave of his hand and produced a small stone from his coat.

"Here. Turn this stone over three times, and your lost will return to you." Death smiled that same tight smile.

"Thanks." Sam breathed. "Thank you so much." Sam dipped his head slightly and hurried past Death onto the opposite shore, cradling the stone in his palms. Dean watched and his heart broke for his brother, because he knew that there was no way Sam's gift would work out well for him. Dean thought for a while longer before he found what to ask for.

"I want something that will let me avoid you for as long as I can. No impromptu visits before I am good and ready." He punctuated the last few words with a finger in Death's chest. Reluctantly, Death took off his coat and handed it over to Dean.

"Wear this," he stated, "and it will turn you invisible." There was no smile this time. Dean squinted at him but thanked him anyway and carried on to the opposite bank of the river.

Once he was across, he laid the coat down quickly and helped the others pull the Impala out of the river. She was waterlogged but still drivable, and they managed to get her out just before the croatoans made it to the river. They all jumped into the water only to be swept downstream and into the ocean.

"Okay, we're safe for now but we need to get to shelter!" Dean called as he picked up Death's coat and put it next to him in the Impala. The small children were loaded into the impala and the adults marched determinedly behind.

When the people were settled in to the next town over, Dean, Sam, and Castiel all clamored into the impala and drove on. The next time they stopped was at a motel in Springfield. Dean flopped on the bed and immediately fell asleep. When he woke up, it was to Sam and Cas packing their things. "Where are you guys going?"

"Dean, we… we decided to go our separate ways." Sam replied hesitantly.

"What? Without even telling me first?"

"We're telling you now Dean. Cas' going to face Metatron…"

"Whoa, whoa, wait. You're going to take on Metatron without me? Without anyone?" Dean asked, turning to face Cas. Castiel held his gaze.

"I have Death's knife now Dean. I can do this. I am doing this alone to keep you safe. I have millennia of combat training at my disposal Dean, and Metatron has none. He will not trick me again." Cas was confident. Sam cut in again.

"And I'm… I'm going back Dean. I'm getting Madison back." Dean looked at Sam for a long moment. His mouth was slightly open. He looked down and scratched the stubble on his face, and when he looked back up his eyes were desperately trying to contain the tears that were threatening to spill.

"Well, okay."

"Okay?" Sam was expecting more of a fight.

"Yeah, okay. You always wanted out. And with a gift from Death himself you just might make it." Dean was lying, he knew it, but the hope in Sam's face, and he just could bear to break it. He watched silently as the two of them said their goodbyes and stood slowly to demand a hug from them both before they left. He held on tight for the few seconds he was allowed. When he pulled back he looked both of them square in the face. "And if you ever, ever need anything, do not hesitate to call me. Okay?"

"Yeah, Dean. We will." Sam spoke for both of them. When they left, Dean finally broke down and cried.