This chapter will be in Sam's POV.

Here is the happy ending. I hope you guys enjoyed my story and know how much I appreciate you reading and reviewing it. This ending won't be nearly as long as the last one.

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT: Who Would've Thought

When we walked in, the room was empty.

Rushing over to the devil's trap, I saw where a tiny part of it had been scraped away.

"Dammit Dean!" I yelled, pounding my fists on the wall.

How could he do this? We could've worked it out. Maybe could've found a way to help him keep his demonic tendencies under wraps.

"Sam, we don't know the reason why he left. It could've been for a good reason." Castiel tried to give Dean the benefit of the doubt.

"When has it ever been for a good reason, Cas?" I spat.

"We will find him Sam." With that, Cas disappeared.

….

"What do you mean you can't find him?" I said, exasperated.

"I mean, he's warded himself from me, Sam. I have no way of just locating him but the hard way. It could take some time. You'll need to be patient." Castiel said, keeping his voice calm.

I ran a hand through my hair as I searched my brain for where Dean could've gone.

"I'm just worried, Cas." I said apologetically.

"I know. I am too. Let's just keep positive thoughts."

….

We didn't find Dean until six months later.

Until it was too late.

We had heard some rumors that someone was working on closing the Gates of Hell, but didn't think that someone was Dean.

We found him locked in a church, only one more injection away from curing a demon and finishing the final trial.

Ramming my shoulder into the door, I forced it open.

"DEAN." I yelled.

My brother looked up at me, eyes wide, as he gripped the final syringe firmly in his hand.

"Don't do this." I pleaded.

"I have to." Dean said, his voice gruff. After six months, my brother had changed dramatically.

His eyes were a dull green, no doubt that all the grief is what had taken the life from them. His hands were shaky and he had trouble focusing his eyes on me.

"No, you don't. Just put it down." I begged.

"I'm a monster Sam. I deserve to be locked away with all the others in Hell. It's the only way I can…" He trailed off.

"You can what Dean?" I asked, wanting to know what the fuck he was talking about.

"It's the only way I can pay for all I've done." His voice was barely above a whisper and full of self-pity.

I walked over to Dean, gripping his shoulders roughly. "You can't do this to yourself Dean. You can't leave me. I need you man." My voice broke as I fought back tears.

"I can't fight the demon side of me anymore. I'm sorry Sammy." With that, Dean jammed the needle deep into the demon's neck. Shoving me away from him, he recited the spell before he collapsed to the floor.

"Dean!" I barely had time to reach out to him before he was gone.

I ran outside with Castiel directly behind me only to stop in my tracks.

Big clouds of black smoke from all different directions were being dragged to the church and pulled deep into the ground. Hundreds, thousands of souls being dragged back to Hell, banished there for the rest of eternity.

Including my brother.

I fell to my knees as I heard Cas inhale sharply. He was as stunned as I was.

"I can't believe he's gone." I said, my voice full of absolute sorrow.

Dean felt like he had to save the world from himself.

But in turn, he saved himself for me.

A part of me will never forgive him for that.

The other part of me admires the strength it took for him to lock away all evil in the world even when he knew he was included in it.

Stupid, but brave.

Thinking back to what all we've been through, not only counting the past year, I can't help but be proud of us.

I finally got what Dean had meant in his former last words.

Cas placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder and squeezed. I stood up slowly, wiping off my knees.

"What now?" The angel questioned, feeling lost.

"We live how he would've wanted us too." I said, patting Castiel's shoulder.

Cas just nodded sadly, grieving the loss of his best friend.

I put my hands in my front pockets and rubbed absently at the amulet. I smiled softly at the thought that Dean would've been happy to know that I will wear it until the day I die in honor of him. Glancing at Cas, I felt I needed to say something.

"Dean Winchester, you will be missed."

….

THE END.

There was the (kinda) happy ending. But, when it involves Team Free Will, do you really expect a truly happy ending? I want to say thanks again for sticking with me on this long journey and I hope you will stay tuned for my next story.

With love,

~Lindsay