The 3rd Winchester

11. The Family

I was too shocked to speak. And when I did decide to open my mouth, I said something far from intelligent.
"You're....you're gonna.... What?!"
Zachariah mimicked her voice and chuckled.
"I am gonna give you your life back, Clare," he told me, "from the start."
"That's impossible."
"You and Dean," he sighed, "not the most imaginative, are you?"
He began to circle me again, I did not like it.
"See upstairs, I have many connections," he said, "a little time travel over there, a little resurrection over here, and we have a new and very much alive, little Winchester running around."
I shook my head, I knew it was possible, Remiel had told me stories about angels travelling through time, I just never thought stopping me from dying would be worth it.
I folded my arms across my chest once more. I looked up at the angel, Zachariah. He stopped pacing.
"What's the catch?" I demanded.
"Excuse me?"
"What. Is. The. Catch?"
"No catch," he shook his head looking down at his feet, "well there is this one thing," he looked up and met my glare, "you see I also have a big brother, he wants to come to earth and visit me. But unfortunately he can't."
"I am not going to be Michael's Vessel," I spat.
Zachariah smirked once more. All of a sudden he grabbed me by the back of the hair, and had his other arm pinned to my neck. I couldn't move. His face was so close I could see my pained reflection in his eyes.
"Why should you get to be with your brothers?" He snapped, "when I don't get to be with mine?"
"Let go of me you son of a bitch," I choked.
He let me go and I gasped for air.
"The offer still stands, Clare," he told me as he walked away, "you say yes, and when everything is over, you get your life back. The one you should have had."
With that he disappeared.

I woke up coughing violently. Shaking as I did. I could still feel Zachariah's iron grip. I was gasping for air loudly, Dean was holding onto my arms, tightly, shaking me.
"Clare!" He cried.
I couldn't respond, I sat up and he let go of my arms, still kneeling beside me. I put a hand to my neck. I was able to breath again.
"What just happened?" I asked.
Dean searched my face before responding, "you tell me."
"I was dreaming," I recollected, "there was this angel."
Dean inhaled sharply, "Zachariah?"
I nodded, "he grabbed me and I couldn't breathe."
"Son of a bitch!" Dean snapped, "what did he say?"
"He wanted me to be Michael's vessel."
"What did you say?"
I frowned, "I said no!"
"Good."
I thought about Zachariah's proposition; my life back, from the start.
"Maybe I should've..." I looked down.
"What?"
"Maybe I should've," I repeated, "said yes, I mean you wouldn't have to then. And I'm supposed to be dead anyway."
I felt his hand on my shoulder, he kneeled down in front of me again.
"Clare," he said, I looked up into his green eyes, "you don't have to do that, ever. By saying no you are saving the whole world , that's more important than me."
"But you're my brother," I said quietly, "you are my whole world."
He was momentarily speechless,then he sighed, "this is getting to chick-flicky for me."
I laughed and rolled my eyes, before hugging him. He was shocked before returning it. I had never hugged my brother before, it felt right.

Sam returned later that morning with a small bag of groceries. I could feel something was up with Dean, I watched him as he followed Sam with his eyes as soon as he walked through the door.
Sam turned to his brother and scowled at him. Bobby wheeled himself into the room before either of them could say anything.
"So no one has heard from Ellen in a while," he told us.
Both the boys looked up.
"Starting to wonder how those demons managed to message you idjits."
"Crap," Dean shot, "I'll give Jo a call, see if she knows where her moms at."
He left the room, I looked to Sam.
"What was with this morning?" I asked him.
He frowned at me, "what do you mean?"
"You and Dean?"
He looked over to where his brother had departed the room.
"It's a long story." He told me. I frowned at him but wasn't able to press for any more information before Dean reentered the room carrying a beer.
"Hello, Jo?" He spoke into the phone. There was a pause, "Ellen?"
Sam raised his eyebrows.
"No... Uh I mean nothing ma'am," he stuttered, "just...wait you're with Jo?"
Another pause. Dean continued his conversation with me and Sam watching from the other side of Bobby's kitchen. After ten minutes Dean put the phone down, and looked up at us.
"So Ellen is okay," he told Sam and Bobby, "she's been hunting demons with Jo."
"Then what about the message?" Sam asked him.
"Ellen's phone has been missing, they got jumped by demons," Dean explained, "they're getting pretty desperate."
"The devil must run a tight ship," Sam noted. Dean looked up at his brother. The two made eye contact.
"What Dean?" Sam demanded.
"Well, just because the demons are getting edgy," Dean said, "doesn't mean you have to go running to Lucifer."
"Screw you, Dean," Sam snapped, "I'm not gonna be Satan's meat suit so stop watching me like that."
"Like what, Sam?" Dean replied.
"Like if you look away I'm gonna make a run for it!"
I didn't know what to do, Sam seemed very hurt.
"Yeah well, it wouldn't be the first time," Dean said, "would it, Sammy?"
Sam stormed off.
"Sam!" I called but he was already out the door, I turned to Dean and shot, "what the hell was that about?"
He left the room.
"Welcome to the family," he growled over his shoulder.