The brothers reunited and put their differences aside. More or less, anyway. Dean was reluctant at first, but he eventually called Sam back after basically telling him to go to hell first. He was surprised when his brother showed up with Allegra. Jealous was perhaps a more appropriate description of what Dean actually felt when he saw them together.
Sam explained that Allegra found him in Oklahoma and convinced him to reach out. Dean appreciated what she had done for them, and she had, of course, been right about them needing each other, but he was disappointed nevertheless. Disgruntled, even. With Sam back in the picture, they couldn't be alone anymore. He wondered if that was why she'd done it...

Dean was still trying to figure out what Allegra meant when she said he could die because of her. The only power she had that could kill him instantly was the last plague, the killing of the firstborn. As long as he wasn't in any town she had to destroy or didn't actually piss her off that much, he should, in theory, be safe. 
But Dean had very little time to think about that. Because not only did he have to deal with his own apparent destiny as Michael's vessel, but Sam, as it turned out, was Lucifer's. They tried to keep a low profile from both angels and demons, but the job didn't really allow that.

Their cases went from strange to freakishly weird. First, there was the pagan god who was angry at his forest being cut down. Then this kid turned out to be the freaking Antichrist and vanished before they could hide him as Castiel told them to do. And Bobby, who'd gotten used to living in a wheelchair, and Dean himself got into some trouble after playing poker for years of human life instead of money.
And now, on top of everything, they were dealing with the Trickster. Again! That bastard had put the brothers in a never-ending time loop a couple of years ago, making Dean die over and over again, each time in a more gruesome or just plain laughable way.

The Trickster's new inventive way to mess with them was to trap them in tv shows; Dr. Sexy MD, a Japanese game show, a sitcom, and even CSI Miami! Castiel used Allegra as an anchor again, locking on to their souls, but the Trickster just zapped him away before he could help. sam and Dean eventually managed to stake the Trickster, which should've ended it right then and there, were it not that it was just another trick, and Sam got stuck in the Impala, Knight Rider style!
But Cas did manage to reveal something which got Dean thinking, and his suspicions turned out to be true. As soon as the Trickster turned Sam back to normal, they trapped him by lighting a circle of holy oil. The facade fell, and the son of a bitch was revealed to be none other than the Archangel Gabriel. They got him to talk but what he had to say was not at all reassuring.

"What you guys call the Apocalypse, I used to call Sunday dinner. That's why there's no stopping this because this isn't about a war. It's about two brothers that loved each other and betrayed each other. You'd think you'd be able to relate."

"What are you talking about?" asked Sam.

Gabriel chuckled.

"You sorry sons of bitches. Why do you think you two are the vessels? Think about it. Michael, the big brother, loyal to an absent father, and Lucifer, the little brother, rebellious of Daddy's plan. You were born to this, boys. It's your destiny! It was always you! As it is in Heaven, so it must be on earth. One brother has to kill the other."

"What the hell are you saying?" Dean was getting seriously annoyed by this guy.

"Why do you think I've always taken such an interest in you? Because from the moment Dad flipped on the lights around here, we knew it was all gonna end with you. Always."

Dean glanced at Sam. His brother was thinking the same; this was insane.

"No," he said. "That's not gonna happen."

Gabriel sighed.

"I'm sorry, but it is. Guys, I wish this were a TV show. Easy answers, endings wrapped up in a bow... But this is real, and it's gonna end bloody for all of us. That's just how it's gotta be."

Dean didn't know what to make of it. He wouldn't trust the Trickster as far as he could throw him. But too many things had happened between him and Sam to just ignore his words. And he couldn't shake the memory of the future Zachariah showed him, of a world destroyed by the demonic Croatoan virus and where Sam accepted his role as Lucifer's vessel.

"So, boys, now what? We stare at each other for the rest of eternity?"

Dean narrowed his eyes at the Archangel. He had zero patience left with this guy.

"Well, first of all, you're gonna bring Cas back from wherever you stashed him."

"Oh, am I?"

"Yeah. Or we're going to dunk you in some holy oil and deep-fry ourselves an Archangel."

Gabriel's expression didn't betray anything. He just snapped his fingers, making Castiel appear almost immediately.

"Cas, you okay?" asked Dean.

"I'm fine," answered Castiel, glaring at the trapped Archangel. "Hello, Gabriel."

"Hey, bro," said Gabriel. "How's the search for Dad going? Let me guess - awful."

At that moment, the door to the warehouse was slammed open, and Allegra stormed in.

"Guys, what the hell?! Is everyone..."

She froze, stopping dead in her tracks. Her expression changed from surprise to shock in less than a second. She went pale white. Dean thought she was looking at him but then noticed she was actually looking behind him. At Gabriel.

"Allegra, what's wrong?" he asked worriedly.

He reached out to her and carefully touched her cheek to see if she would react to him. 

"You get the hell away from her, Winchester!" yelled Gabriel.

Dean's eyes flashed between them. Gabriel's entire attitude was different. He was defensive and downright angry, like a cornered predator. Because of Allegra?

"Allegra, do you know him?" Dean asked.

"Yes," she whispered but still loud enough for everyone to hear. "He's my father."

***

Allegra couldn't believe her eyes. She was looking right at the man who raised her. The man who read her stories, who taught her how to solve the most complex puzzles, who comforted her when she cried and made her laugh with his stupid jokes... The man who abandoned her on her 13th birthday and whom she had never imagined seeing again.

"I'm sorry, you wanna repeat that last part one more time?"

Dean almost looked as perplexed as she was.

"H-He's my... my father," stammered Allegra.

But that couldn't be. He looked just like she remembered. He hadn't aged a day. It suddenly dawned on Allegra that he stood in a circle of holy oil. She walked past Dean, slowly making her way to the flames.

"Someone start talking." Allegra kept her eyes on her father. "Right now!"

"He's the Trickster," explained Sam. "Or at least, he was posing as one. Apparently, this is Gabriel... the Archangel."

"Archangel... Dad?"

Gabriel sighed.

"This is not how I wanted you to find out, sweetheart"

"Find out? Find out?! What the hell is that supposed to mean?!"

"It was not up to me to tell you. God didn't want me to. I had to obey Him in this. I wanted to tell you, I swear. I wanted you to be prepared for your powers."

"You... You knew about my powers?!"

Something inside Allegra snapped. Dean's strong hands held her back just in time as she was ready to plunge right into the flames to commit bloody murder.

"You son of a bitch! You're my father! How could you not have told me about them?!"

"Because I'm not your father."

It was a slap in the face.

"Wha... What?"

Allegra's knees gave way, and she fell back against Dean's body. He kept her up as best he could.

"Not biologically anyway," added Gabriel. "I just took care of you like one."

"But then... who...?"

"You don't have biological parents because you were never born. You were created."

"What the hell are you talking about?" demanded Dean angrily. "She's human, isn't she?"

"My Father had a go at a human son before and figured he wanted a girl next. He told me where to find the baby he created and that it was my job to keep the kid happy until her 13th birthday when the lock on her powers would dissolve."

"Why would God let a son of a bitch like you take care of a baby?"

Dean's grip tightened around Allegra. He kept her body grounded, but her head was spinning like crazy. Memories from her childhood flooded back to her. Happy memories. The first time she walked, the first time she rode a bike, the first time on a horse, the first time dancing, the first time... anything. Gabriel stood at the center of every single one of them, smiling and with an expression of pride that only a father could bear.

"Believe me, I didn't want to." The Archangel sighed. "I left the family, and I wanted nothing to do with them. But when God tells you to do something, you do it. So I got the baby, and I..."

Allegra raised her eyes to find Gabriël entirely focused on her.

"I did love you, sweetheart. You brought joy into my life. That's why I named you Allegra."

"Then how could you just leave me like that?! You disappeared, leaving nothing but a note on my nightstand!"

Allegra refused to cry and fought back her tears with all her might.

"Do you know what happened to me that night?! What they did to me down there?! I spent weeks screaming out for you, hoping that somehow you would hear me! Where the hell were you when I needed my father to protect me like you promised me you would?!"

When Gabriel didn't reply, Dean yelled out.

"Answer her, dammit!"

The Trickster Archangel glared at him, balling his fists. But then he unclenched them and hung his head in defeat.

"You were never supposed to stay down there for that long. When I discovered you weren't back yet, I tried to get you. But the only one powerful enough was Michael, and he refused to do anything until he had proof of your faith and was sure you could hear him and the other angels. By the time you did, Lucifer already claimed you."

"S-Supposed to? Y-You mean..."

It was too much. Allegra sank to the ground. 

"Sweetheart, I'm sorry. I know you went through a lot, but there was nothing I could do. Nothing except watch over you from a distance. The lonesome man sitting at the far end of the bar, the old librarian who kept bringing you books, the doctor who treated you... You always felt better when I was near. It was the only comfort I could still give you."

Silent tears rolled down Allegra's cheeks as she shook her head, trying desperately to erase the last minutes and forget this all happened. Dean tugged at her to get her back on her feet and swooped her up in his arms. Allegra put her arms around his neck, hiding her sorrow from the rest of the world.

"You don't come near her," Dean spoke firmly to Gabriël. "Don't try to see her, don't try to talk to her. I find out you're one of the voices in her head, and I will drag your ass to Hell myself, you hear me?"

He turned and walked away. Allegra peered over Dean's shoulder, looking one last time at the man she had called her father. The man who had lied to her her entire life.

***

Allegra retreated into herself, staring out the window of the Impala all the way back to the motel. Sam, surprisingly, offered to take another room so Dean could stay with Allegra, claiming that if anyone could get through to her, it was him. So, the Hunter found himself alone with her again. He wished it was under better circumstances, but he still took it as it came. 

Dean tried to help Allegra as best he could. He talked to her, stayed at her side, and held her as she cried silently. Eventually, Allegra's tears dried. She had none left to cry. She was completely drained. Dean wished he had her shield power so he could make her feel better, if only for a minute. He grew even more concerned when Allegra dug up a medallion from a hidden pocket in her backpack and clutched it to her heart. 
Dean remembered her talking about it and took it from her after she finally fell asleep, curious as to why she would try to seek comfort from it now. It became clear when he saw the picture inside; Gabriel holding a toddler, who had her little arms wrapped around his neck. They both looked so happy. 
Allegra undoubtedly tried to hold on to the happy memories from her childhood before the bastard ditched her. But all those happy memories were fake. Lies. Yet they were all she had. Dean reluctantly put the medallion back into her hand, not wanting her to get further upset at finding it missing.

After a couple of days, Allegra finally started to eat again, but she still said very little. It became routine for her to sleep in Dean's arms, with her head resting on his chest. He didn't want to move around too much with her, and Sam, thankfully, understood. His brother searched for local cases they could take on, so Allegra would have time to... anything, really. 
They didn't see or hear from Castiel at all since the confrontation with Gabriel. Dean called his ass down several times, but he still wouldn't come. He suspected the bastard had known the truth about Allegra all along and was just too much of a coward to show his face now. 
This whole mess was just another reason to hate the angels. Dean told Zachariah 'no' on the whole becoming Michael's vessel deal, and it was damn well gonna stay no. Hell would have to freeze over before he would let that son of a bitch take over his body. They could find themselves another meat suit. He wouldn't do it. Not now, not ever.

***

Dean went through the cases Sam thought might be worth looking into but couldn't concentrate. His mind kept wandering back to what happened the night before. He'd dared to give Allegra a small kiss on her forehead after taking her in his arms as he'd so often done the past few days, and she had looked straight into his eyes.
Her dark eyes had been filled with emptiness, but now, the tiniest hint of gold had returned. It was like he had sparked it. She had smiled at Dean for the first time in days and had very briefly brushed her lips against his. He wanted to kiss her so badly but couldn't risk her turning away from him as she had before. And he would never take advantage of her in such a way. But he couldn't deny that it was getting exceedingly hard to keep his feelings for her down.

A knock on the door interrupted Dean's thoughts. Probably Sammy with breakfast. He got up and opened the door. But instead of his brother, he saw Castiel.

"Since when do you knock?" Dean asked bluntly.

"I did not think you would appreciate me appearing in the room," answered Castiel.

"Damn right. What do you want?"

"Lucifer has set his sights on Allegra. She's not safe with you anymore."

"Says who?"

Castiel sighed.

"Dean, don't make this any harder than it has to be."

"Well, forgive me for not bending over for you guys!"

Dean pushed the angel back, stepped outside, and closed the door behind him so that Allegra wouldn't hear them talking. He didn't know how much longer she was going to take in the bathroom, but the shower stopped a while ago, so she could come back into the room any moment. 

"You think you can just waltz in here and expect her to go with you like nothing happened?" demanded Dean. "Like she didn't find out that everything she thought she knew was one big fat lie? She trusted you! She did everything for you and those other feathered asshats! Her life has been one mess after another, and for what, huh?!"

"It is her..."

"You say destiny, and I'm gonna punch you right out of your meat suit!"

Castiel didn't react to Dean's threat. He just stared really intently at him and then said,

"It's good that you care so much about her. But just because you care does not mean you can protect her. We can."

"Oh yeah, I've noticed how well you 'protect' her. You can shove it, Cas."

"Move aside, Dean."

"'Over my dead body."

Castiel put his hand on Dean's shoulder in an attempt to move him, but the Hunter smacked him away. He prepared himself for a fight with the angel when Castiel's posture suddenly changed.

"It would seem Allegra has made her own decision." 

Dean didn't immediately understand what he meant, but when he did, he opened the door to the motel room, expecting to see the redhead on the other side, but the room was empty. The bathroom door was open, and her backpack was nowhere to be seen. All Dean saw was a hastily scribbled note on the pillow.

'I'm sorry, Dean. Please don't come looking for me.'

Allegra was gone.

A/N - I purposely did not put Gabriel's picture up to not give away the plot in this chapter. Also, I know I'm toying a bit with the whole Allegra/Dean thing, but there's a specific episode of season 6 we need to pass. Continue reading, and you'll find out :-)

I hope you've enjoyed it so far; it's my first fanfic. Leave a comment if you like.