Lazarus Falling [Supernatural]

Epilogue

Chuck Shurley sat at his computer, finishing what could possibly be his greatest masterpiece: Swan Song. His fingers flew over the keyboard as he typed, the words flowing from his brain to his fingertips with such ease, one would think the story was inscribed into his head.

Of course, he wasn't really Chuck Shurley and the story was inscribed into his head, but no one needed to know that.

He had been tempted to end Swan Song as soon as Sam and Dean had flung themselves into the Pit, taking Michael and Lucifer with them, but something stopped him. Chuck had always considered it a rule never to write epilogues (people didn't always read them), but he was willing to make an exception here.

It read:

And thus ended the tale of Sam and Dean Winchester, the brothers who were in equal parts loyal, brave, and loving. The fires of Hell replaced their starry sky, the Cage replaced their beloved Impala, and two angry archangels with a vengeance to exact replaced the monsters they had hunted in days gone by. Even through the torturous eternity, they still had each other.

This story does not have a happy ending. Nor should it. The Winchesters lived difficult lives, with plenty of pain. Even though Mary whispered to her boys that there were angels watching over them, none were. It feels only right that their deaths should reflect this.

Eventually, other hunters stepped up to take the Winchesters' place, but it was never the same. There were no catastrophic, world-smashing events: there were no Leviathans, no Knights of Hell, no Mark of Cain, no Darkness. You ask what those are, dear reader? Well, that's an entirely different story, with an entirely different set of events at Stull Cemetery.

Perhaps the world truly was safer without the Winchesters in it.

But that doesn't mean it was a better world.

Chuck read over his short epilogue, surprised to find tears welling in his eyes. The world was not better off without Sam and Dean and...and Castiel. He squeezed his eyes shut, willing away the tears. After a few moments, he opened his eyes again and typed,

THE END

He leaned back in his chair, his uncharacteristic white dress shirt crinkling ever so slightly. With a one last sideways smile, tinged with sadness, he vanished.