Camp Chitaqua

Author: Cheryl W.

Disclaimer: I do not own Dean, Sam or any rights to Supernatural, nor am I making any profit from this story.

Summary: AU "The End": Refusing to say yes to Michael and with the Croatoan virus widespread, Dean is determined to make his last stand at Camp Chitaqua. No Slash.

Author's Note: When "The End" episode aired back in 2009, I didn't dare hope that Supernatural would still be on the air in 2014. But miracle of miracles, it is! Woo hoo! So in celebration of that feat, I'm giving free reign to my obsession with The End universe. This story is set in that universe but starts around 2012. It will be mostly short one shot glimpses into that Dean's life. It will go off into AU territory and Sam, though thought of, will not make an appearance onto later chapters. Now that this intro is longer than the actual chapter….onto our story.

SN2014SN2014SN2014SN

Chapter 1: Camp Chitaqua

SN2014SN2013SN2014SN

Camp Chitaqua, as a stronghold, doesn't seem very promising to Cas. Few log cabins, derelict army vehicles, a generator that won't kick over even when Dean siphons nearly the last dregs of gasoline from the Impala in the attempt to get it started. And the defenses consists of a flimsy chain-link fence with a barbwire scaling it. No deterrent for croats or hell's minions.

But still Cas hopes it will be enough for Dean, will be a place Dean can run to. Maybe can be a haven. And God alone knows how badly Dean needs that, deserves that. Even Cas has a vague clue. Though Dean mostly thinks he is hiding his despair from his loyal companion the past years as they have travelled from place to place, state to state, looking for God or the Colt or just some monster to take their frustration out on.

SN2014SN2014SN2014SN

When the croatoan virus went viral, it was like some twisted wish come true. Croats and hell's lackeys everywhere they went for them to kill. But there was a cost for all that blood on their hands, even if it was tainted blood.

Leaving a small town behind with only a remaining populace of ten, Dean bitterly said, "We didn't save those people Cas, we condemned them. They'll be croats before the week's out." And Cas hadn't contradicted Dean's dark perdition. Couldn't, because it was most likely true.

"I used to save people. Now all I do is kill..and condemn innocents to a fate worse than death. If I was kind, I woulda offed those 10 people, spared them what's coming."

"But you did save them, Dean. They still have a chance to survive because of you."

"What chance? One in a billion?! They are hopelessly defenseless, have no place to hold up, aren't trained to fight and my brief lessons on croat killing isn't going to do them much good when double their number of croats come knocking. If this is what my version of saving the world looks like…I should just eat a bullet right now."

And the fear that Dean would do that, would abandon hope entirely, spurred Cas into speaking his mind. "Ok, so we change our mandate. Focus on saving everyone we can." 'Starting with you.' Because Cas wanted to save Dean's goodness above all, couldn't bear it anymore, watching Dean barter away parts of his soul in this fight.

"Saving them for how long? We roll into a town and roll out of it. We've saved them for what? An hour? A day? A week?!"

"We can stop moving, find a place," Cas suggested. 'Stop you from pushing yourself into near exhaustion, of barely sleeping or eating.' Give Dean the privacy to suffer his nightmares without a constant spectator. 'You want that for Dean's sake or for your own?' Cas had asked of himself, because he was almost past his point of endurance of witnessing that, of jarring Dean awake from his memories of hell, from his imagined face off with Sam, from his prophetic dreams of a world burning with him there holding the match.

Dean's eyebrows rose. "A place? You've given this some thought?" the truth dawning on him. "Sick of my company, huh? Same as Sam," he derogatorily said, hurt.

"Sick of watching you push yourself, afraid you'll keep going until there's nothing left," Cas voiced his concerns for the first time, wouldn't let Dean think he was like Sam, that he would abandon him like Sam had.

It's frank enough to still Dean, his grip on the steering wheel white knuckled. "I can handle it." Tight, determined, acceptance of whatever condemnation the future holds for him in his tone.

And Cas knew Dean wouldn't stop his headlong run for the end, not for himself, for his own good. But he might do it for others, to save others.

"It's not about what you can handle…it's about a chance to save a few people, maybe even gather a group of people who will fight with us." 'Its about giving you a place to feel safe.'

Dean's eyes swiveled from road to Cas. "You're serious?"

"Yes," 'As serious as I am about staying by your side.'

"Huh. " And it wasn't a refusal, gave Cas hope.

SN2014SN2014SN2014SN

So here they are at an abandoned military base in Iowa, the tenth place they've scoped out.

As Dean starts to pull the cord to attempt to start the generator for the tenth time, Cas sends up a prayer. 'Just give us a sign, God. Some glimmer of hope.'

When the generator sputters to life, the overhead lights flicker and Dean shoots Cas a genuine smile of happy triumph, it is all the signs that Cas needs to know that this is their haven. The place they are meant to be. And everyone that Dean saves, it will be their haven too.

And maybe, just maybe, it can be something more, can be something Dean Winchester has not had in a very long time: A home.

SN2014SN2014SN2014SN

TBC

SN2014SN2014SN2014SN

So, anyone on board for this trip to Camp Chitaqua?

This is story is mostly all planned out, so the updates should come pretty regularly.

Have a great day!

Cheryl W.