i was not expecting this to be the last chapter, it just went and wrapped itself up neatly in a bow when i tried to write it. i fought it for a while (part of the delay really) but let the story have its way in the end. hopefully the amusing ending makes up for it

Chapter 8

X X X

"Wait, so Chucks having trouble?" Dean echoed, Sam shrugged from his spot behind the wheel of the impala.

"Yeah, just got a text that it was an emergency. Then he texted back that Becky had stolen his phone again and it wasn't an emergency but he did want us to come help. Apparently a bunch of fans of the books decided to have a convention and managed to pick a hotel that was actually haunted and the situation is snowballing." Dean winced. Shit fans. He honestly wasn't sure if he liked Chuck enough to deal with the kind of creepy shit that was any kind of convention. He'd been to a few before over the years and well… "On the upside, most of them should be gone by the time we get there." Dean slumped a little in relief at that.

Sam shot Dean an amused look, he'd saved that bit for last. A little revenge for dumping the whole 'I'm going to say Yes' thing on them without warning. Not that it hadn't worked out. The apocalypse was off the board and for the moment at least he had his brother back. Things were ok.

"Right." Dean muttered trying to ignore the wings twitching on his back. Michael was apparently the sort to fidget annoyingly enough. He was still far too tired to even consider taking over but at least he could fold his wings up properly instead of the limp sprawl that had had Gabriel aww'ing and threatening to take pictures.

"Right so what's the deal?" Dean asked tiredly.

"At least one ghost for sure, but possibly as many as four. There are reports of three children with can be seen around the hotel as well as one older woman." Sam answered with a shrug. Dean made a face at that. Multiple hauntings were always fun. You'd be dealing with one of the fuckers only to get blindsided by the other one. At least they knew there was more than one.

"Sounds fun." He muttered.

X X X

The sight of several black impalas parked outside the hotel had just about made Dean turn around and drive off right then and there. Demons? Check. Ghosts? Check. Unholy abominations they'd never even dreamed of? Check. Obsessed cosplayers? Oh hell no.

A few minutes later Dean was glaring halfheartedly at Chuck as another 'Dean' walked by. Chuck had the grace to at least look mildly embarrassed even if he was practically bouncing in place in apparent excitement. Still, Dean could only imagine how back this place would have been two days ago. Chucks gaze shifted from him to just to his left. Dean frowned. "Can he see your wings?" he asked the Archangel.

"Most prophets can." He answered sleepily. Even a day and a half later and Michael was still spending most of the time sleeping unless Dean prodded him awake for something. Chucks gaze snapped back to his face before the prophet gave him a 1000 wat smile. His eyes practically gleaming in glee.

"Dude, what the hell are you so happy about?" Dean grumbled, overly cheerful people made him twitchy at the best of times.

"You…you actually stopped them Dean." Chuck finally answered, his voice going soft in what could only be termed awe. Dean shifted uncomfortably.

"It was sheer dumb luck, Chuck." He pointed out. Chuck just shook his head adamantly.

"That was not dumb luck Dean. I watched the whole thing! That was all you and Sam! That Sam was able to talk Lucifer into understanding, and that you got Michael to as well. Dean, Michael only listens to God. He won't change his direction in the slightest unless God tells him to. But he listened to you Dean." Well, now Dean just kinda wanted to dig a hole in the ground and hide for the rest of time. Chuck huffed at him in exasperation. "Oh don't start that! You deserve every bit of credit you're owed Dean!" Dean just glowered halfheartedly at the prophet.

"Right, so the apocalypse is off and all is right with the world. Can we move on now?" Dean demanded, desperately trying to change the subject. Michael chuckled in the back of his mind.

"Honestly Dean, you did as he says, that and more. what you accomplished in making me listen was no small matter. Even if it was in part a trick. I thought I knew what the apple would show me. and I thought it would be able to stay the course even then. But to truly understand was not something that could leave even me unchanged." Dean was quiet at this. In all the years they had been hunting they rarely got any recognition for what they did. For the most part he had always been fine with that. Those times they managed to save someone and got a thank you in response had really been all he needed to make it really worth it. Getting this kind of acknowledgment for something he had done was…weird. Even if he had literally saved the world.

It was still massively embarrassing.

Dean sensed the shift in the air just before Lucifer landed next to him, he froze and eyed him warily. Lucifer considered him silently for a long moment before inclining his head slightly in acknowledgment. "Dean." He said calmly. Dean felt a slightly moment of vertigo as Michael took over even if he was exhausted still.

"Lucifer." He greeted warmly. Lucifer blinked looking a little taken aback and glanced away apparently unwilling to meet his brother eyes after what had happened only a few days before. Dean for his part was taking in the now silver wings at Lucifer's back. He'd only briefly gotten a look at the previously coal black wings, the change was startling.

"You two good?" Sam asked after a long moment of awkward silence. Lucifer glanced at him thoughtfully.

"Seems so." He answered after a moment. Sam considered him for a second before smiling wryly.

"If this keeps up, I might just say yes." He commented. Lucifer stared at him, eyes widened and startled. Sam just smirked and walked towards the bar to start questioning the barkeep about the local hauntings. Something which would no doubt be a hassle with all the cosplayers working on the staffs last nerve.

Lucifer just stared after him blankly, he finally looked back at the other three in silent question, as if to ask if that had actually just happened.

Michael just looked back with an amused glint in his eyes. "I suppose even the Great and Terrible Lucifer has to end up on his Vessels good side at some point." He pointed out. Lucifers eyebrow twitched while Dean snickered away in the back of Michaels mind.

Chuck watched the byplay looking almost teary eyed. Michael and Lucifer didn't notice but Dean did. Wondering why the prophet was acting so odd with Lucifers appearance. Michael huffed a laugh at Lucifers offended expression and let Dean take back control. He was still tired from healing his brothers wings, and even taking control when Dean didn't mind was taxing.

Dean wobbled for a moment before readjusting to being in control. He shrugged at Lucifer's annoyance and turned back to Chuck.

"So now what?" He asked finally looking from Chuck to Lucifer and back. Chuck shrugged, still looking a bit too happy.

"I think you've got a salt and burn to do, but aside from that? whatever you want to I guess. The apocalypse has been averted, it can't happen anymore." He tilted his head and seemed to come to a decision about something and with a faint smile added. "Not even I know what's going to happen now, Dean." Dean frowned at him warily, the way he'd said that was…odd. Apparently Michael agreed, the archangel's attention focusing whole heartedly on the prophet now. no way. Dean thought dumbfounded as he stared at the prophet an idea abruptly making itself known. Chuck smirked.

"I'm so proud of you all. Keep up the good work, alright?"

"The whole fucking time, Chuck?" Dean all but yelled in pure aggravated frustration as it all came together. Michael and Lucifer were both frozen in shock even as 'Chuck' laughed again, eyes sparkling in glee.

"I knew you'd be the one to figure it out first Dean." He answered before vanishing into thin air.

X X X

Far across the room Sam watched the conversation taking place even as Gabriel popped up next to him, a bag of skittles in hand. "I never thought I'd see them like this again." Gabriel commented between handfuls of candy's. Sam nodded watching the two archangels with interest.

"Did you mean what you said? About maybe saying yes to him?" Gabriel asked after a moment. Sam shot him a look.

"Can't be a Hunter forever, Gabriel. So why not? Me and Deans issue wasn't with being a vessel, it was with what they wanted to use us to do. With that out of the way, well, I doubt Michaels going to leave Dean and they seem to be getting alone ok with that. I'd rather not be separated from him if I can help it." Sam shrugged. Gabriel gave him a considering look.

"Sounds about right I guess." He agreed. looking back at the pair across the room just as Dean apparently regained control for the moment. They watched the conversation for a moment before something in the Prophets expression made Sam's eyes narrow. Dean gave an outraged yell a moment later as Chuck laughed and vanished into thin air. Sam stared blankly at the cursing Dean and the apparently dumbfounded Lucifer.

"Was that…"

"Yup."

"The whole..?"

"Looks like it."

"….That Asshole."

Gabriel threw his head back and laughed.

X X X

Quetzal – and that my friends is the end of As above So Below. It was really only supposed to be a chapter or two, but you see what it became. Luckily not too much of a monster or I'd have never finished the damn thing! I'll try to finished Soul sight next, they get back to Snow point after that. I kind of got sucked into the bottomless pit that is Minecraft for a while there. It's started getting boring though so hopefully more writing!