Chapter Text
-------THREE YEARS LATER---------
Castiel opened another beer.
“Jeez, Cas. Slow your feathery ass down,” Dean said, glancing at Cas’s growing pile of empty bottles.
“If we are celebrating then I should be drunk. I’m just trying to do what you do on a daily basis,” Cas replied.
Dean rolled his eyes and took another slice of pizza.
“Whatever you say, Cas,” Dean muttered, staring into the crackling flames of the fire they had built. They were taking the day off from alphas and all the other evil sons of bitches out there. Their phones had been silent all day and the newspapers were full of politicians and civilians. Crowley hadn’t sent any demons after them, so they took the day off. Then again, even if the newspapers had anything, they’d have given the job to Garth. Today was their day off.
Sammy stood up. “You ready?”
Dean clammed up inside himself, but forced himself to talk. “Sure.”
Sammy smiled glad to hear an answer. “For the past who knows how long, Dean has been having it rough. Three years ago, I found out. It’s been a long journey, with a few relapses, and probably a dozen more that neither Cas nor I know about-"
"Actually," Cas cut in, "I always know, but we know that Dean heals better with space so-"
"Cas," Sam interrupted, annoyed but with an undeniable smile.
"Right. Carry on."
"Today," Sam continued, "We’re putting that behind us."
“Everybody has a gauntlet that they have to walk through. How you come out of it shows what kind of person you are, not how bad the gauntlet is, or how long it takes. And Dean, you came out of this alive. Alive and stronger than ever. Even when all the angels, the demons, all the other sons of bitches out there and damn fate or destiny seemed to be pushing you down, forcing you back into the gauntlet or making it worse, you still stood. I wish that you didn’t have to do it alone, but you did. Other people could have broken, but you didn’t. Dean, I’m proud of you.”
Cas stood up. “Dean, I’m proud of you as well. I have not seen many humans change as you have. It takes incredible strength and will. Yet, you have done it. It’s a miracle, quite frankly. When I first learned about what you were doing from Sam, I thought that you were lost and gone, forever too far from the path, too twisted with your pain. Not many humans surprise me, but you have the habit of breaking that pattern.”
Dean nodded and smiled. All the attention directed at him wasn’t pleasant, but he wasn’t as uncomfortable as he used to be.
“Dean, are you ready?” Sammy asked, looking Dean in the eye.
Dean nodded and stood up. He pulled his sleeve back and took his bracelets off, one by one, revealing the scars of his torment and hatred criss-crossing his wrist. When they were all off, he gathered them in a ball in his hand and took a step towards the fire.
“Better make sure their spirits don’t come back to haunt you,” Sammy said, handing Dean the salt.
Dean smiled and buried the bracelets in salt before giving it back to Sam. He held his hand over the flames, salt falling through his fingers.
“Here’s to ...” he muttered. He swallowed, not sure what to say.
“To you,” Cas said.
Dean looked at Cas and nodded. “To me,” he said. He was suddenly hesitated. If these were gone, how could he hide his pain? Just because Dean had been able to dampen his self hatred, learned a little confidence and ways to distract himself, didn’t mean that life would be smooth sailing from now on out.
Dean shook his head, and turned his hand. Smooth sailing or not, Dean would never turn back to that. He was stronger now, and knew better ways to deal with the anxiety and pain. He opened his hand, the salted leather and thread falling to the flames and burning.
Sammy clapped him on the back, grinning ridiculously. “Been waiting for that moment for years, Dean.”
Cas stepped around the fire to the boys, smiling in the way that only an angel can.
“Dean,” Cas said, holding his hands out. “Are you ready?”
Dean bit his lip and nodded, holding out his wrist. Cas closed his fingers around Dean’s wrist and Dean felt a heat rise up through him as a golden glow pulsed from where Cas was touching him. Then, in a moment, it was over and Cas let go of Dean’s healed wrists. The skin was smooth and the regular tan to match the rest of his body. He would have never thought he'd be okay with the sight of the healed skin, but it was a comforting sight. It was like it had never happened. Dean nodded. It had happened, of course, but he wouldn't never go back.
The angel smiled and threw his arms around Dean’s shoulders and Sam’s back. The three watched the flames of a new start grew higher in the night.