Archive of Our Own ^beta

They're running out of time, and there isn't a damn thing Charlie can do about it. She and Kevin have been helping Rowena with the portal to Apocalypse World as best they can, but all of them are exhausted now. And with Lucifer on the other side, they can't even make it again if it goes down. Without, like, breaking Michael out of The Cage, which is just an absolutely terrible idea when the whole point of the expedition is to rescue Jack and Mary from him in another universe.

The jagged rip of the portal flashes to bright light as someone comes through it. Disappointingly, it's Ketch. Charlie honestly forgot he was over there too.

Rowena stretches out her hands at the portal. She chants the words of the spell again and the light brightens. She's reinforcing the portal somehow. Charlie knows they're down to minutes on the time limit.

The next person to come through is Jack. Charlie rushes forward as he and Rowena stare at each other. “Jack, are you okay?” she asks, heart in her throat.

He turns to her, already smiling. “I'm okay,” he confirms.

Charlie drags him to the side to clear the path and also to hug him. Jack hugs her back.

“You scared me, kid,” she says, her voice muffled by his shoulder.

“I'm sorry,” Jack says. Biology or not, he carries guilt like a purebred Winchester.

She pulls back from the hug. “We'll talk later, okay? Go find your mom, she's in your room.” Kelly has been beside herself with worry since Jack left this dimension. It took almost the whole family to convince her to stay in the bunker. Charlie didn't have the heart to wake Kelly up for the final countdown, just in case they couldn't get Jack back.

Jack nods and vanishes in a faint whoosh of air. Good to know his wings are working.

Charlie hears Mary and Bobby talking to Kevin at the far end of the room when she turns back to the portal. Weird, didn't Bobby stay home in Sioux Falls? That thought falls right out of Charlie's brain at the next person who walks through the portal.

Herself.

She's dazed and grubby, hair long and shoulders wary. Charlie's seen her own face from the outside before and there's no mistaking it. She stares anyway, totally shocked.

The other Charlie stops in her tracks, staring too. Castiel, coming through the portal behind her, just about bumps into her back. AU Charlie flinches away from him. Something happened there.

“Rowena, how long can you hold the portal?” Cas asks over her head, sharp like he gets in emergencies.

“Not much bloody longer, I can tell you that!” Rowena snaps, her hands still extended into claws of fierce intention.

OG Charlie waves AU Charlie over to the sidelines. She joins herself at the edge of the room. Other people are streaming through the portal now, people in ragged dirty clothes Charlie has never seen before. Every single one of them does a double take at two Charlies standing together, like a weird before-and-after photo about survivalist cults.

AU Charlie crosses her arms. Defensive posture. “Where is this place?” is the first thing she asks.

“Kansas,” Charlie says, inanely.

“Looks like a modified bomb shelter,” other Charlie says, like that's a sign in the bunker's favour.

“It's a Men of Letters stronghold. Lots of wards, so it's pretty safe,” Charlie explains.

AU Charlie tilts her head like she isn't so sure.

“If you can't trust me, who can you trust?” Charlie jokes weakly.

Her other self smiles just a little. “You didn't know I was coming here,” she states.

“No communication back and forth. Just sitting in a small room staring at a flickering light for almost thirty-one hours, hoping it doesn't all go horribly wrong,” Charlie says, smiling back.

AU Charlie grimaces. “I hate that kind of waiting.”

“Yeah, me too,” Charlie says. She turns to peer anxiously around the gathering crowd. The portal is still open, Cas and Rowena hovering next to it. “And it isn't over yet.”

The portal flashes. Dean and Eileen stumble through, holding a swaying Gabriel up between them. Cas lunges forward to help.

“Keep holding on!” Dean shouts to Rowena, as he pushes the others forward, clearing the portal's landing zone.

Rowena visibly gathers her strength and recites the spell again, her voice almost breaking on the last syllable. Everyone stares at the flickering lightning, waiting.

Charlie reaches out without thinking and someone grabs her hand.

At last, the portal flashes, brighter than before, and Sam jumps through it. A fraction of a second later, the jagged line of light disappears. The portal is closed. Lucifer and Michael are still in Apocalypse World.

Charlie sighs in relief. Around the room, she can hear other people doing the same. Rowena staggers a couple steps back and collapses into a chair.

Someone squeezes Charlie's hand. She looks over to see herself smiling. “You should go hug them,” AU Charlie says, still holding her hand.

“I can in a minute,” Charlie says. There isn't a rush, now that everyone is back safely. More people back safely than they started with, even. Bonus.

“Those Winchester guys will want to hug you,” AU Charlie insists. “They hugged me and I don't even know them.”

Charlie grins. “What can I say, I've trained them well.”

AU Charlie laughs. It's short and surprised, but it's definitely a laugh. Strangers nearby turn to look at her, startled. The volume in the room is rising, with everybody starting to talk to each other, but it's still quiet enough that the stone walls carry the noise.

“Charlie?” Dean calls.

AU Charlie lets go of Charlie's hand, her smile disappearing. Charlie leans closer and throws an arm over her shoulders instead. “Come on, two Charlies are better than one,” she says.

With only the tension in her body giving her uncertainty away, AU Charlie follows along. They both pass through the crowd to where Dean and the others are waiting.

Sam's face breaks into a big smile when he sees the two Charlies together. “Fast work,” he says, signing as he speaks.

Charlie fingerspells 'RUDE' back to him with her free left hand. “Faster than you slowpokes,” she says. She spells 'TURTLE' to Eileen, since she doesn't know the sign for it. Eileen grins.

“I can barely tell you two apart already,” Dean jokes. “You look like crap, Charlie.”

“So do you,” Charlie says, pointing at him.

“So do you,” AU Charlie says at the same time, tucking her arm around Charlie.

The others stare in startled silence, which is broken by Gabriel laughing weakly. He's sitting on the floor, Cas crouched beside him.

“Love it, love the energy,” Gabriel croaks.

Cas frowns at him.

Gabriel makes an innocent face back. “What? It's a lot better than them killing each other.”

Charlie blinks. Were they worried that was going to happen? AU Charlie's arm tightens a little. Then, like she regrets doing that, she lets go of Charlie entirely.

Before Charlie can ask for any clarification, Bobby calls out, “Listen up!”

All of Apocalypse World refugees, including AU Charlie, give him their attention. Charlie casually lets her arm drop off AU Charlie's shoulders as she pulls away slightly.

“So,” Bobby starts. “First things first: don't go wandering off by yourself. This place is built like a fortress and warded up the ass, and it's full of dangerous shit. On the bright side, there will be food, beds, showers, and, if you can believe it, washing machines that we can use.”

There's a murmuring in the crowd at that.

The grizzled man, who Charlie now realizes must be AU Bobby, continues, “We'll talk longer term logistics tomorrow. For now, relax and get cleaned up.” He smiles a little, or rather his moustache moves slightly upward. “Have a beer or two.”

Laughter greets his last suggestion. Charlie knows there's enough beer stocked for everybody. They may have make supply runs tomorrow on food but there is plenty of beer.

“I didn't get a word of that,” Eileen says. She grimaces. “Beards are the worst.”

Sam starts explaining. He's improved so much with his signing. Only Eileen and Cas are better. Well, and presumably Gabriel, since Castiel's proficiency with languages is an angel thing.

“I guess we should go play tour guide,” Dean says, when Sam is finished.

“Did you see Jack?” Cas asks Charlie.

She nods. “I sent him to Kelly.” Charlie hesitates. “Sorry about Lucifer. We couldn't keep him here.”

Castiel's face hardens. “He... was useful,” he says, grudgingly.

“And he's stuck there again, and that's what counts,” Dean cuts in. “Don't worry about it.” He leans over to give Charlie a half-hug, like that will distract her from finding out whatever happened. She hugs him back with both arms.

Charlie ends up getting hugs from Eileen, Cas, and Sam too. AU Charlie steps away a little, maybe to keep them from hugging her as well. Charlie motions her to follow as they all start leaving the room. Rowena and Gabriel are making exhausted come-hither eyes at each other. It isn't safe to stay much longer.

“Did you split again?” Kevin asks, just outside the doorway. The others have gone on ahead.

“No, this is Apocalypse World's Charlie,” Charlie says. “Kevin, Charlie. Charlie, this is Kevin Tran.”

AU Charlie stares at Kevin. “The prophet?”

Kevin sighs. “Prophet, hunter, college student: that's me.” He adjusts his book bag's shoulder strap and says to Charlie, “I'm gonna go home. There's no way I can study with all these people here.”

Charlie nods. “Make sure you sleep too,” she says.

“Make sure nobody calls me unless it's an emergency,” Kevin retorts.

Charlie grins and nudges Kevin's shoulder with hers. “I promise nothing.”

“Then neither do I,” he says, sighing again. “Nice to meet you, welcome to the family,” he says to AU Charlie.

“Uh, thanks,” she says, glancing at Charlie.

After Kevin leaves, while they're still standing in the hallway, AU Charlie asks, “What did he mean, about you splitting again?”

Charlie winces. “Oh, that. It was a few years ago, when I was in Oz. I split myself to be more effective on the battlefield. Do not recommend.” It was supposed to be into 'bad' and 'good' versions of herself but the split ended up being more like Angry Charlie and Sad Charlie.

“Battlefield.”

“In Oz, yeah. The books aren't super accurate. Dorothy is much more badass in real life,” Charlie babbles.

AU Charlie looks at her strangely. Assessing. “Can't really picture you fighting a war.”

“Go ahead and try because I really did,” Charlie says, trying to keep her voice level as anger suddenly bubbles up.

“Sorry, I've just heard a bit about this world and it sounded like... what mine used to be like. And hearing everybody talk about you. So I've been kind of thinking of you as a past version of me, before everything fell apart.”

“Our worlds were the same until your apocalypse happened, right?” Charlie asks.

“More or less, yeah,” AU Charlie says.

Charlie takes a deep breath. “Then everything fell apart for us a long time before that.” She meets AU Charlie's eyes. “With the accident.” The car accident that killed Dad and put Mom in a coma she never woke up from.

AU Charlie nods slowly. “That's true.”

“And maybe I did have an easier time than you,” Charlie says. “But we really do have a lot in common.”

“I'm starting to see that,” AU Charlie says, smiling slightly.

---

The celebration is off to a great start. Charlie's never seen the bunker this crowded, not even on the rare holidays they can get the extended family together. Apocalypse World refugees are everywhere: talking, laughing, drinking. Especially drinking.

In the war room, AU Charlie introduces Charlie to a few hunters. It's pretty clear within a few minutes that she isn't that close with most of them. Charlie isn't sensing the deep family bonds she would have expected.

After a couple of shots, AU Charlie joins a group headed for the showers. Charlie tells her her room number so she can grab some of Charlie's clothes to change into. At least they know they'll fit.

Without AU Charlie there, the other hunters rudely ignore Charlie. Since she doesn't have much tolerance for feeling out of place in her own living room, Charlie soon ditches them. In the less crowded library, Jack is at the tables helping Cas with some kind of paper chart. Charlie sees Kelly watching, leaning against the wall in the telescope alcove, and joins her.

“What are they doing?” Charlie asks when she's near enough.

Kelly flinches, turning quickly. Her makeup is smudged, like she's been wiping her eyes. “Oh, hey Charlie,” she says, smiling slightly.

“Are you okay?” Charlie asks.

Kelly sighs softly. “I'm fine. Just a bit jumpy.”

Charlie nods. She turns to face the same way as Kelly, standing beside her so they can talk but also between Kelly and the rest of the room.

“I just keep thinking, he came back from that world once already,” Kelly says quietly. She must be talking about Lucifer. Nobody else brings out this combination of angry and scared in Kelly.

“Well, we have plenty of hunters at least,” Charlie says. It isn't much comfort but it's what she has.

“Did they tell you what he did?” Kelly asks, her teeth clenched. “He negotiated to talk to Jack.”

What the hell? “How?” Charlie asks. Sam was there. He wouldn't let Lucifer anywhere near Jack. None of them would.

“With Sam's life. He died over there and Lucifer brought him back.”

Charlie turns to look directly at Kelly. Her shock must be clear on her face because Kelly says, “Exactly.”

“And they gave in?” Charlie asks, hoping for a negative.

Kelly nods. “Mary at least punched him in the face.”

“He's overdue for that,” Charlie says. She and Mary aren't close but Mary is a badass sometimes.

“Yes,” Kelly says.

“How's Jack taking it?” Charlie asks, looking over her shoulder. Jack seems okay, telling Cas something about the project they're working on. Cas is nodding, like Jack just solved a complicated math problem.

“Confused mostly, I think,” Kelly says. “He told me...” She trails off.

Charlie turns back to her. Kelly blinks rapidly. “He told me Lucifer is proud of him.”

Lucifer doesn't know a thing about him. “Wow,” is all Charlie can think of to say.

Kelly tries for a smile. “So, if you see me being helicopter-mom more than usual, that's part of it.”

“Hey, no judgment here,” Charlie says, holding up her hands.

“Mom, can I move some of my stuff into your room?” Jack asks.

They both turn to him. Cas has wandered over as well.

“Sure, honey,” Kelly says. “But why?”

“We need all the rooms,” Jack explains. “So I'm giving mine up for now.” He shows Kelly and Charlie the paper chart he was working on with Cas. It's room assignments and adjustments to accommodate the AU hunters. Adorably, Jack has just written “Charlie and Charlie” for Charlie's room.

“That's very kind of you,” Kelly says, her voice warm.

“Well, I don't sleep much so it made sense,” Jack says but he looks pleased.

Charlie studies the chart more closely and sees that Dean is still in his original room by himself. And Cas has given up his room too but isn't assigned anywhere else. Huh.

She looks up at Cas with a grin and raises her eyebrows. “I guess Dean doesn't need a roommate, huh?” she asks.

Cas rolls his eyes. He knows Charlie has low-key shipped him and Dean since before she met Cas. Those dumb Carver Edlund books sure set up an epic romance, whether they meant to or not.

Jack answers, “Dean wakes up fighty with anybody but Sam, and Sam is already sharing with Eileen. It all works out.”

He sounds a little concerned so Charlie says quickly, “I'm sure it does. You did great.”

“Let's go show the others,” Kelly says. She and Jack leave the library.

“So you're just planning to hang out in here 24/7?” Charlie asks Cas.

Cas sighs. “I don't know. The Apocalypse World hunters won't be comfortable with me for a while.”

Charlie's stomach drops. “Don't say you're leaving again. Cas, come on. You can stay here. This is your home too.”

He gives her a little smile. “Thank you, Charlie. And I'm glad to see you're getting along with your counterpart.”

The change of subject reminds Charlie of what Gabriel said earlier. “What did Gabe mean about 'at least we weren't killing each other'?”

Cas' smile vanishes. “We... met the other version of me over there, on the side of the angels. Torturing humans.” He clears his throat. “I killed him.”

“Oh,” Charlie says, awkwardly. “I'm sorry. That's fucked up.”

“It had to be done,” Cas says, shrugging slightly, pretending it doesn't bother him.

Charlie makes a split second decision and throws her arms around him. After a moment, Cas hugs her back.

When the hug is over, Charlie asks, “So, you're staying? We need you.”

Before Cas can answer, Dean approaches them. “Cas, Jack says you gave up your room?” he asks.

“I don't sleep,” Cas says.

“Still,” Dean says.

“You don't have a roommate, right, Dean?” Charlie asks, grinning.

“Charlie,” Cas says, dad-like warning in his voice.

Dean looks between the two of them. “Uh, no. You can hang out in my room, Cas. If you need to.”

Charlie can feel her grin get even bigger. “I'm gonna go get another beer, leave you two to sort this out,” she says, and escapes before Cas can protest.

---

In Charlie's room, AU Charlie is sitting on her bed in pajamas, trying to comb her long hair with her fingers. She winces at a particularly tangled snarl as Charlie comes in.

“Want help?” Charlie asks, grabbing a comb off her dresser.

“It's either that or cut it all off,” AU Charlie says in exasperation.

Charlie laughs. “That's definitely an option.” She starts gently working on the still-wet ends of AU Charlie's hair.

“We'd look even more alike then,” AU Charlie says.

“Would that be so bad?” Charlie asks. Does AU Charlie not like her haircut? Everybody else says it's super cute.

AU Charlie takes a deep breath, her shoulders tensing. “I just mean... I don't want you to think I'm trying to replace you.”

That's funny. “I have history here,” Charlie says. “We've been through a lot together, the whole family.” Then she thinks of something else. “And you haven't had internet for years, so that would hinder you with taking over the hacking.”

Charlie has to stop combing her hair as AU Charlie leans back, the crown of her head resting on Charlie's shoulder for a second. “I've missed computers more than almost anything,” she says, her voice wistful.

One of the worst things about Oz was the lack of wifi. Charlie can relate. “I'll set you up with one of ours,” she promises.

AU Charlie turns around at that and clumsily hugs herself. Charlie hugs her back. “Thanks,” AU Charlie says softly.

“You'd do the same for me,” Charlie says, knowing it's true.

“If you showed up in my world, I'd be doing all I could to get you home,” AU Charlie says, pulling away. “That's not the same.”

Charlie pats her shoulder reassuringly. “We'll get the portal back up, once we've figured out—”

AU Charlie cuts her off, eyes intense. “I don't want to go back. Don't tell anyone.”

“I won't,” Charlie agrees at once. If you can't trust yourself to keep secrets, who can you trust?

She gestures with the comb and AU Charlie turns around again. Her hair is drier now so Charlie has to be more careful not to pull the tangles. “Do you want to retire then? Try to live a normal life?” she asks.

AU Charlie shrugs. “Maybe. Not yet. Can I stay with you for now?”

“As long as you want,” Charlie says.

---

Dragging back the hospital curtain—nobody there, bed empty—her heartbeat matching the banging on the barricaded door—

Charlie wakes up to someone shaking her. At first, she's confused. She's never brought a girl back to the bunker so she must be in a motel or something. But it's her bed.

“Are you okay?” she hears her own voice whisper. Then Charlie remembers.

“Nightmare,” she breathes. “Sorry.”

“Don't be,” AU Charlie whispers. “I think you kicking pulled me out of mine.”

That makes Charlie laugh. “We're such a good team already.” Then she recalls something she didn't want to bring up earlier. It seems safer to say it in the dark. “If you're going to stay, who gets to keep the name Charlie?”

She can hear AU Charlie's grin in her voice as she says, “I don't see why we can't both be Charlie.”

That'll be so confusing for literally everyone, especially if AU Charlie cuts her hair and they share Charlie's wardrobe. Charlie grins too. “Team Charlie. Sounds fun.”