I really didn't want to upload this final chapter, cos now it means it's all over and I don't know if it will live up to expectations. But here it is - this chapter is super-short, just 950 words or so; an epilogue. I hope you enjoy!

CHAPTER 13 – EPILOGUE

Five days had passed since the final showdown with Abaddon; three days since they found Cas, since that demon had left Garcia, and everything had finally ended. Sam hadn't even got a chance to go to the hospital to say goodbye...

With the familiar rumble of her old engine, the Impala pulled up onto the side of the deserted dirt road on the outskirts of town, and the Winchesters climbed out. Dean emerged from the passenger seat, leaning heavily on a walking stick, looking weak, but better than he had a few days ago. Cas too emerged from the back of the car, weak, but thankful to still be alive.

As Sam closed the door behind him, his eyes scanned the team of agents standing in front of them, or rather, what was left of the team. Prentiss stood with a plastered arm, strapped in a sling to her chest. Reid, much like Dean, was standing on one leg, leaning on crutches. Hotch, JJ and Rossi stared back at Sam with bruised faces and fading marks of their struggle on every inch of exposed skin.

Walking forward, Sam and Dean stopped just a few feet away from the party. There was silence for a moment, as none of them were really sure what to say. Eventually, it was Sam who spoke.

"So I guess this is it." he said, looking to Hotch.

The team leader, standing with arms folded and a furrowed brow, nodded solemnly.

"So what's the story gonna be?" Dean asked, squinting up against the sun.

"You died." Hotch replied simply.

Dean couldn't help the smile that pulled at the corner of his lips. "Okay... so we're dead. Again. I think we can handle that."

Rossi, putting his hands in his pockets, added, "You should probably try and stay off the radar this time. Off everyone's radar."

The brothers nodded, and Castiel, who stood by the car, behind them, watched carefully, taking in ever detail of the exchange from a safe distance.

Hotch then turned to Sam, and with surprising sympathy, offered, "I know you didn't get a chance to go to the hospital, to say goodbye..."

Sam nodded painfully, looking away for a moment.

"So we brought someone to see you," Morgan finished, emerging from behind the large black SUV, covered in dark bruises and gauze strapped to his neck. He managed a smile as he pushed out the wheelchair, with Garcia sitting inside it, looking up at Sam.

Sam broke out into a huge grin. She looked weak and pale, but she was alive, and she was out of the ICU already.

"She hasn't been cleared to leave yet, but she wanted to say goodbye," Hotch added, glancing down affectionately at the analyst. "The doctors say she should be okay."

Penelope nodded as she looked up at Sam, "I've not got much feeling in my legs though." Sam's face dropped instantly, but she added, with a weary smile, "Don't worry. I'm fine – I've got my hands. I can still hack my way into oblivion." she joked.

Sam smiled affectionately. Then he moved closer, and with so much pain and sincerity in his voice, said, "Penny... I'm so, so sorry. I never meant for you to get mixed up in any of this. All of this, it's my fault, and-"

But she didn't even let him finish his apology.

"Sam," she interrupted him determinedly, "It's not your fault. You saved my life! I'm not gonna forget that any time soon." then, smiling up at him, she added, "Come here."

As he leaned towards her, she kisses his cheek gently, whispering, "Take care of yourself, okay?"

Nodding, Sam stepped back. Then it was Dean's turn to speak.

"So what now?" he asked, shoving his free hand into his pocket as he looked up at Agent Hotchner.

The agent shrugged. "We go on with our lives. You keep doing what you do, and we'll do what we do."

"Well, if we ever do come across any serial killers on our hunts, we'll send them your way!" Dean promised.

Hotch gave a half-smile, nodded, and replied, "And if we ever come across anything like this again... well we'll know who to call."

As he spoke, he stepped forward, and as he finished talking, held out his hand. Dean took it and shook it firmly, the two men eyeing each other with a new-found respect.

Watching his brother from the corner of his eye, Sam then moved towards Reid, offering an awkward apology.

"Look, I'm er... I'm sorry about the leg."

Reid merely smiled and nodded. As Sam returned the gesture, he glanced over to Emily, whose penetrative gaze he could feel boring holes in the back of his head.

Looking at her, Sam straightened himself out, standing tall. She too adopted a familiar posture, and the two of them sharing a silent moment of acknowledgement. With a long stare, and nod of respect, Sam eventually pulled his gaze away and made his way back to the Impala, followed by Dean.

No more words were exchanged as the three hunters got into the car and drove away. No more words were needed. They glanced back in unison, as Sam turned the car around, and they drove off in the direction they'd come, the gentle roar of her engine filling the air.

As the team watched them go, Prentiss said sarcastically, "Well that was an adventure..."

"Yes. Not one I ever want to repeat." Hotch stated bluntly, staring at the fading image of the black '67 Impala as it faded into the distance.

Watching them go, Garcia mumbled absent-mindedly, "Do you think we'll ever meet them again?"

"Hm?" Dean mumbled.

Sam turned to Dean, taking his eyes off the road for a moment. "I said do you think we'll ever see them again?"

His brother shrugged. "I don't know, Sammy. I don't know. But I guess, you know... it wouldn't be all that bad if we did."

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

A/N → So, we have come to the end of it at last. And I find I don't want to go!

Thank you all so much for reading, reviewing and supporting, even with all the mishaps and the long waits between chapters. You are all wonderful and I love you!

Also – I'd like to offer another thank you to LeeMarieJack for helping me get this story together.

I've had so much fun writing this story, so I hope you've enjoyed it as much as I have! Please leave a review to let me know what you thought of the epilogue, and the story as a whole; which relationships you liked best, what worked, what didn't.

Thank you again so much for reading this story. Thank you and goodnight.