Author's Note:

This was going to be the last chapter and then there would be an epilogue, but it seemed to be kind of a natural end, so I think I'll leave it here for now. Like I've been mentioning, once I get my longer fics fully edited and cross posted to AO3 I'll start adding time stamps, so if there's something you especially want to see further down the road, let me know!

Thanks to hpfreak1993, ToxicTenshi, SnarryMoreidLover, aLoggedInReader, and Turtle Kid the Woolgatherer for their reviews on chapter 38!

Chapter 39 - All's Well

The news that they could return to Heaven didn't hit everyone the way Gabriel had expected it to. Sam mostly seemed happy for Gabriel himself, and largely ambivalent about his own fate. Dean and Bobby were similar, taking the news in stride and offering gratitude for Gabriel's effort. Castiel was closer to what Gabriel expected, his reaction a mixture of relief and trepidation.

A few hours after Gabriel broke the news to everyone, Dean dragged Gabriel away from Sam for a moment so they could talk.

"You need to take Cas back to Heaven," He blurted, his expression earnest.

Gabriel raised an eyebrow. "Sam said you two convinced him to stay on Earth for the time being."

"No," Dean shook his head, "I don't mean to take him away permanently. I want you to make him go home, then make him come back once he's ripped the band aid off. So to speak."

"Ah," Gabriel nodded, understanding now. "You think if he doesn't go back now, he won't."

"Pretty much. I mean, I asked him to stay, but I don't want to contribute to his fear of going back," Dean explained. "He'll feel better if he gets it over with now. Plus, you said Michael was going to have Cas help out with the management stuff, right?"

"To an extent, yes," Gabriel acknowledged. "I suggested it because I think Castiel is closer to our Father's plan for His angels than most of my brethren."

"Awesome. So, take him home, do some angel stuff, then come back when you're done." Dean gestured vaguely up as he spoke.

As soon as Gabriel broached the idea to Castiel, it was clear that Dean had been right. Castiel wanted desperately to go home, but he had resigned himself to the idea that his rebellion had permanently ostracized him from his home, and he was reluctant to return and face retribution. It took Gabriel a solid hour to convince him that Michael was not going to smite him for contradicting his orders, because Gabriel had managed to remind Michael what those orders should have been in the first place.

In the end, Gabriel, Sam, and Dean all ganged up on Castiel until he reluctantly agreed to return to Heaven. He vehemently declared that he would return to Bobby's as soon as possible though. He missed the smile that lit up Dean's face at that, and the more subtle light in Sam's expression in response to his brother. Gabriel winked at them before the two angels disappeared.

Dean threw himself into the Camry he and Bobby were working on in order to distract himself. Bobby was good at keeping the focus solely on the car, which Dean appreciated. Sam ended up sticking around the garage to keep the two mechanics company while they worked. It was comfortable and easy, in a way they hadn't felt since before Cold Oak, if Sam was honest. The addition of Heavenly powers to their lives was bizarre, but it was a nice addition. Sam couldn't imagine being without Gabriel now, and he sincerely hoped Castiel stuck around. The angel that pulled Dean from Hell had left a mark on him, and it was clear there was a connection there. Sam was looking forward to watching that particular friendship grow. Even Bobby was growing used to the angels, and seemed used to having them around.

The Camry was done by the time Gabriel and Castiel returned, and Bobby was grilling burgers to celebrate the fact that they didn't have any immediate world ending threats to worry about. He was calling it the "Apparently We're All Getting Into Heaven Celebration Barbecue," which made Gabriel laugh out loud.

Castiel immediately moved to Dean's side in a nearly unconscious movement, seeming far more relaxed.

"Better?" Dean asked curiously, taking a swig of beer as he examined Castiel for signs of any of the stress he had been showing.

"Significantly," Castiel admitted. "Thank you, for encouraging me to return. My discourse with Michael was far better than I anticipated."

"Like ripping off a band aid," Dean said smugly, using the same words he'd used for Gabriel earlier.

"Indeed," Castiel replied, his tone clearly implying that he had no idea what Dean meant.

"Grub's up," Bobby called, snagging a handful of paper plates from the table next to the grill. "Who wants cheese?"

"I do, and so does Cas," Dean spoke up, grinning.

"Dean, I do not require sustenance." Castiel reminded him, brow furrowed with confusion.

"You 'require' a cheeseburger, dude, trust me," Dean retorted, grinning at Castiel, who seemed confused by the air quotes. "You liked it last time, remember?"

"He's right," Gabriel piped up. He and Sam were sitting on the porch, Sam a step below Gabriel so the archangel could have his arm around the hunter with ease. "Food is a great joy, Cassy."

"I suppose it will be all right," Castiel allowed. "It is unnecessary, but I did enjoy it the first time." Pausing, he turned to Gabriel and added, "Do not call me Cassy."

"Dean-o gave you a nickname!" Gabriel protested.

"Which I have no issue with," Castiel acknowledged. "I do not wish to be called Cassy."

"You heard the man," Dean seconded with a grin. "Er, angel. Whatever. I win this time, Shortstack."

Gabriel stuck out his tongue, but didn't otherwise seem too bothered. He grinned at Sam when the tall hunter chuckled at them.

"Are you idjits gonna eat or what?" Bobby grumbled at them, pointing to the burgers he'd been assembling.

"Sorry, Bobby, got distracted." Dean snatched a burger and took a huge bite, moaning obscenely at the taste. He glanced up after everyone went quiet to see Gabriel smirking, Sam looking annoyed, Bobby rolling his eyes, and Castiel giving him an unfathomable expression. "What?"

"Dude, you need some time alone with your burger?" Sam said pointedly.

"Bite me," Dean snapped back, grinning when Sam rolled his eyes.

"I do like these," Castiel admitted after taking a bite of the burger Bobby handed him.

"Thanks," Bobby said wryly, passing the next burgers to Sam and Gabriel before taking his own. "Pretty sure my cooking is the main reason I can't get rid of these two."

"Shut up, Bobby, you know you love us," Dean teased, grinning at his second father.

"Yeah, yeah," Bobby muttered, but he was smiling. The phone rang from inside the house behind them, and he sighed before heading in. "Be right back."

Dean finished off his burger as Bobby disappeared into the house, setting the plate aside and taking a swig of beer. "This needs to become a regular thing," he declared.

"Double dates with Bobby cooking?" Sam asked, eyes twinkling with humor.

Dean spluttered as Gabriel cracked up behind Sam. "Shut up, Sam! This is not a double date!"

"What is a double date, Dean?" Castiel asked, curious.

Sam and Gabriel were both in stitches when Bobby reemerged, the older hunter pausing the take in the scene. Dean was bright red, ignoring a confused Castiel, while Sam and Gabriel were laughing so hard their eyes were wet.

"Do. Not. Ask," Dean threatened as Bobby opened his mouth.

"Fine. I gotta hunt for you boys anyway." Bobby rolled his eyes and took a seat, picking up his burger again.

Sam managed to calm down enough to ask, "What is it?"

"Looks like a werewolf," Bobby explained, gesturing in the general direction of the phone. "Rufus caught wind of it and wants me to send someone to take care of it."

"Why can't the old coot do it himself?" Dean grumbled.

"We'd be happy to take it," Sam interrupted, shooting Dean a look.

Dean raised an eyebrow. "We would?"

"Dude, it's a normal case," Sam pointed out. "No demons or rogue angels or weirdness. Just an ordinary werewolf. Hell yeah we're taking it."

"Cas and I can be backup!" Gabriel enthused.

Dean moaned and threw his head back. "Shoot me now."

"I'd offer, but Sam would be pissed," Gabriel replied casually.

Dean snorted and Sam punched Gabriel lightly in the shoulder, but he was smiling too.

"Idjits," Bobby huffed again.

"So, we are hunting a werewolf?" Castiel asked tentatively.

Dean threw an arm around Castiel's shoulders, startling the angel. "Apparently. I gotta admit, it'll be a lot easier with angelic firepower on board." Something occurred to him and he pulled back slightly so he could look threateningly at Castiel. "We're driving."

Castiel looked disappointed, but nodded. "Very well."

Gabriel chuckled. "Can Sammy and I have the backseat?"

"Hell no," Dean said emphatically. "Even if he fit back there, you two aren't doing anything in my car."

"When are you leaving again?" Bobby asked pointedly, giving them all looks of mild consternation.

"We'll leave in the morning," Sam answered calmly. "That'll give me a chance to collect the research before we head out."

"All right," Bobby nodded. "Good plan. Be careful and all that."

"We always are," Dean scoffed.

Bobby rolled his eyes again. "Right." He gave Castiel a pointed look and said, "You're going to have your hands full with this one, you know that right?"

Dean spluttered in protest, but Castiel simply nodded solemnly. "I am aware."

Sam and Gabriel chuckled at that, and Bobby just shook his head with amusement. "Well, at least I don't have to be too worried about you two. An angel and an archangel ought to be plenty to keep you in one piece."

"We'll certainly do our best," Gabriel promised. "Do we get seconds on the burgers?"

Bobby couldn't help his lips twitching at the expression on Gabriel's face, and he sighed in response before flipping one of the extra burgers off the grill and onto a bun. "Knock yourself out."

It was probably the most domestic they'd been in years, despite two supernatural beings in their midst, but it was a relief to have something to relax them now that the imminent threat was gone. They were all alive, and all safe for the immediate future. It was about time they got a chance to enjoy that.