I'm not sure what I want to focus on. But that's the point. No ideas to follow, no checking to see if I'm on the right path because there isn't a 'right path'. Castiel is a dynamic character the writers have now completely declawed. The main thing I'll change is that Castiel will keep his spine and 'ready when needed' kick-assery. Hopefully in the course of this Dean won't shove his head SO far up his own ass.
“You do not want me doing this, trust me.”
“Want it, no. But I've been told we need it.”
“Castiel, I don't know how else to say this. If I walk into that room, if I give in, you will not like what walks back out.”
Castiel was grateful Dean could not see his face. “For what it's worth, I would give anything Not to have you do this.”
Dean closed his eyes. Castiel might have had the powers of an angel, but in this matter he was powerless. He stepped through to door, face set hard and cold. The bastard strung up on the devil's trap had tortured him in hell for something like thirty years. Until finally he had agreed to be the torturer. And now, he would be one again. He forced himself to put the thought out of his mind. But he knew it would haunt him for years to come.
Sounds of pain came from the cold storage room; the moans were Alistair's, not Dean's. Castiel stood with his back ramrod straight against the wall, his arms firmly at his sides. He knew that his brethren were watching him with intense scrutiny, but somehow guarding an already triple-bolted room did not seem as important as intercession. And so he closed his eyes. “avi hakdush bioter. ani nichna lech bekal dvar shani osha. abel ani mevaksh am ze efshri, azor le'ish haza. haser et hameshima hazu mechtafav.” “My most holy Father. I submit to you in everything I do. But I must ask if it is possible, help this man. Take this burden from his shoulders.”
“What exactly are you doing?” Uriel's voice interrupted rudely.
“You know exactly what.” Castiel replied tersely.
“You really are enamored of these little grease monkey aren't you?”
“When
God himself tells me to stop caring about His most glorious creation
which we are sworn to protect, I will stop. Until then I am his loyal
solider. And you are not foolish enough to suggest otherwise.
Besides, you and I both know Dean Winchester is more important to the
fight than you are making out.”
“...Unfortunately yes.”
“ Then I should do everything within my power to keep him safe.”
“There is another, more sure way to win this fight.”
“Not without sacrificing the final battle. Or have you forgotten our ultimate enemy is Lucifer, not Alistair, and certainly not humanity.”
“Humanity?” Uriel laughed. “Humanity isn't worthy of being our concern, much less our enemy. And what makes Lucifer our enemy? Do you even remember our brother Lucifer? Rotting in that cage, what did he do to deserve that?”
“He rebelled against God, corrupted our father's creation and out of jealousy, ruined humanity.” Castiel replied. His voice was measured, his eyes searching. Was Uriel really suggesting what he seemed to be suggesting? He kept his face impassive.
“I believe I'll go pray for revelation.”
“You seem to be doing that a lot lately.”
“Well we both know he isn't going to talk to you.”
Dean Winchester was lying unconscious in a hospital bed. The Devils trap that had bound his 'prey' had been smudged and as a result the demon had been freed. Castiel and Sam had eliminated the threat, but were at a loss for explanations. Sam's relationship with the demon Ruby was questionable, but in this case it had been useful. Though Castiel could wish the demon was as much of a liar as they assumed.
“Do not let your sympathy for these mud monkey's blind you Castiel! Our father is gone, he doesn't care what any of us do. The fact that I am even standing here is proof of that!”
“You killed our brothers and sisters. You attacked the garrison, killed our fellow soldiers, fellow angels, then blamed it on Alistair and his demons?”
“I only killed the ones who said no.”
“And now, if I say no, you'll kill me.”
“I don't want to brother. I like you. More than that, I need you. I need you to help me, help me free our brother Lucifer. All you have to do is take a stand.”
“I intend to.” Castiel faced Uriel squarely, any hint of timidity gone from his face. “My sympathy for the humans aside, you still consider me a worthy solider. I'm gratified.” Castiel drove his blade into Uriel's heart. “I am still a loyal acolyte Uriel. Of God and no other. Not Dean Winchester and not you. Before and unto all things you were created. Return now to your Creator.”
Dean woke up in his hospital bed to find Castiel sitting beside him.
“Are you alright?” The angel said with concern.
“No thanks to you.”
“I should have been more careful.”
“Screwing up the devil's trap?”
“Trusting the wrong people. Uriel was...working against us.”
“So I guess you guys aren't all that omniscient huh?”
“Dean ill you let me...' He raised his hand, reaching for Dean's broken jaw.
“Cass, I don't think you can.”
“Dean, I feel I owe you that much.”
“What will the others think.” It was a statement, not a question.
“Caring for you is in accordance with our orders. They won't have grounds to object. I don't think I'd care if they tried.” Castiel pressed his fingers against Dean's forehead and immediately the swelling vanished. Dean's sight was normal his mouth sighed with relief.
“Caring for me is 'according to your orders'?”
“You are aware, of what happened in Hell? Not what happened to you while you were down there but, what happened right before you escaped?” Dean nodded miserably. “We believe that__it is written that the righteous man who begins this calamity, must be the one to end it. It's why Michael is so eager to have you as his vessel. Why I've taken such an interest in you. And why none of my brothers said any thing...until recently.”
Dean wondered what could have changed, if there was something specific Castiel had done to make the angels take notice. He couldn't think what it would be. Castiel was staring at him again, his eyes soft but intense.
“Dean, I hope I haven't ruined our chance at a friendship.”
Dean couldn't help smiling. For a solider of God surrounded by an army of ass-hats, Castiel was pretty okay. Almost human. “No Castiel. You've made a friend.”
“James, what is going on?”
“I've thought about...what you said. I stayed up all night thinking about it.”
Jennifer leaned in, her movements cautious, her attitude loving. “And?”
“And I can't fail him.” James Cole looked briefly at his wife and walked sadly out of the house. Standing on his front porch, he looked to Heaven. “Please Castiel, talk to me, tell me how I can help you.” He felt a surge of energy. It wasn't painful in the slightest, but warm, inviting. He loosened his blue tie. “Yes, I understand. Just, promise my family will be okay and I'll do it. Then...Yes.” A soft thrumming cascaded over his form. The light faded a moment later.
Jenny ran out the door and found her husband standing there. “James?”
“I am not your husband.” James Cole's voice intoned.
“You...you're Castiel.”
“Yes. Your husband is truly a devout man. I hope you believe me when I tell you he actually prayed for this.”
“I'm not certain I can. But I do believe he accepted this, accepted you.”
“That is all I can ask. I must go.” He walked into the yard but turned back briefly, sensing Jennifer's confusion. “I must go. I must find Dean Winchester.”
And he walked off into the night.
“Cas?” Dean called. He saw a man lying on his back.
“Cas, whoa take it easy.” Sam urged holding him gently.
The man held his hand to his forehead, his face pale. “Cas? You mean Castiel? No not....not Castiel. I'm Jimmy. My name is Jimmy.”
Sam and Dean exchanged worried looks. Sam touched Jimmy's shoulder gingerly. “This might sound crazy but you really better come with us.”
“Crazier than letting an angel use you as a host for a year?”
“Tabling the con-fab until we're out of the hot zone.” Dean insisted.
Twenty minutes later Jimmy Emmanuel Cole sat at the dinging table in a low rent motel two very concerned strangers staring at him.
“I don't think I've ever seen anyone enjoy toasted oats so much.” Said the man with the longer hair and wider face.
“It's been almost a year since I've eaten anything.” Jimmy replied.
“Okay that would do it.” Said the other man. A man with shorter hair, slightly sharper features and strong emotions. “Next time I see him I am gonna kick his ass.”
“Pretty sure that can wait til later. What do you remember about...everything.”
“Not a lot. I remember being surrounded by a bright light. This constant, dull pain, calm, an empty kind of calm. As far as while Castiel was inside me, I remember sitting in my living room with my wife and the next thing I know, the two of you are standing over me.”
“That doesn't sound pleasant.”
“It wasn't. I wish I could say it was worth it but I'd be lying.” Jimmy looked from the concerned, soft-spoken man on his left to his other new friend. This man seemed to be struggling with anger, even feelings of betrayal. “Listen, it's not like I'm not angry at the guy too. But this wasn't his fault. I chose this. I invited him in. He must have told you that.”
“He did. It's still hard to swallow.”
“Fair enough. I'm sorry I've been so rude. What are your names?”
“I'm Sam Winchester. This is my brother Dean.” Said the man on his left.
The names clearly meant nothing to him.
“James, you don't have to pretend. I know the truth.”
“About Castiel, how?”
“He...he talked to me, right after. I guess you don't remember but I ran out after you. Castiel told me you had invited him in.”
“I did. I asked him to make sure you and Claire were okay. I've been...I'm not sure where I've been since that day.”
“But he...let you go?”
“I get the feeling it was more like someone yanked him out of me and kicked him to the curb. I don't know where to begin. I have NO idea what's been going on. Sam and Dean said they've been__ Dean?” __ Yeah, they say they've been working with Cass off and on for almost a year...they haven't been by here have they?”
“No, they haven't.” Jenny assured her husband. “It's just when Castiel left he said he needed to find Dean Winchester.”
“This is...actually making a weird sort of sense.”
“They didn't want me coming here. Said I'd be putting you in danger.”
“You're right they did.” A voice said from the other side of the room. Two men with vaguely familiar faces stood in the doorway. Neither of which looked the least bit friendly. “And you should have listened to them.”
“We keep our promises James. Your work is done. It's time to go home. You'll rest forever in the fields of the Lord. Rest now James.”
“No, Claire.”
“She's with me now, she's safe.”
Jimmy Novak clutched his daughters hand, trembling with both pain and fear. “Please Castiel. Take me back. Just take me please.”
“I need you to understand. It may be a hundred years or more before I l can leave again. Nothing will change. You won't die, or age. You won't see your family again except in your memory.”
“It doesn't matter. She didn't chose this. I did. So take me. I'll stay in the fight, no matter how long it takes. Just take me, please.”
Castiel sighed heavily. “As you wish.” He pressed two fingers against James Cole's forehead and once again the surrounding air shone with light.
“Daddy, where are you going?”
“He's answering God's call.” Jennifer answered.
“But we just got you back.” Claire all of 12 years insisted.
“I am sorry Claire. I hope you'll forgive me. I hope you'll understand one day. God put a call on my life, or at least an angel did. I'm answering that call.” Claire ran to give her father a hug. James pressed his lips to her head in a fatherly kiss.
“Where will you go?” Jennifer asked. It was all she could think to say.
“Wherever my charge takes me, I suppose.” The angel Castiel answered.
“God be with you...Jimmy.” Jennifer offered with a warm smile.
Castiel actually smiled back.
Castiel approached the vehicle with Sam right behind him. Both the drivers seat and the ground beside it were drenched in blood. “He survived, right?” Sam inquired, or suggested, it was hard to tell sometimes.
“This way.”
As they searched for Gadreel, Castiel could not help feeling shame. The angel had 'screwed up' as the Winchesters would say. But he had come to them with an olive branch. Not only that but with a way to expose Metatron. Under the influence of the Blade Dean had attacked him with the viciousness of a wild animal. Castiel had recently experienced hunger and loneliness, but could not imagine feeling wounded and afraid. He saw a man lying face-up in the grass. It was Gadreel.
The man's eyes went wide with fear as soon as he saw them. He tried to scurry away but was too badly injured. “Please, I'll leave you alone, I swear.”
“We're not here to hurt you. Please believe me.” Castiel assured the man. He reached his hand out, to touch the man's forehead.
“No.” Gadreel insisted. “Your Grace, healing me would only weaken you.”
Castiel smiled grimly. “We are both soldiers of duty Gadreel. Do I really need to explain to you why I have to do this?” Gadreel sighed but did not protest further. Castiel touched the man's head and instantly the gaping hole in his stomach sealed itself and vanished. Castiel lurched forward as if he'd been struck.
“Gadreel.” Sam Winchester said rather formally.
“Sam Winchester.” The angel replied with a tilt of his head. They looked at each-other for a soft moment. “I hope I did not hurt you too badly.”
“I'm fine.” Sam assured him.
Castiel smiled softly at Gadreel. “Sam told me you were good to him when you were with him. That you acted with integrity. It is the main reason I sought you out. Humans don't have our history. Or our arrogance.”
“We have that much in common at least.”
Castiel decided to push the conversation into an area of concern. “I have no right to ask this but I'm going to; will you come back to the bunker with us?” He could not blame Gadreel for tensing at his words.
Sam voiced his thoughts. “Dean is locked away in the storage room. He won't be able to hurt you again, I promise.”
“Gadreel, I am asking you to trust me. Return to the bunker with us, help us figure out a way to expose Metatron, and take him down.” Castiel stared hard at the angelic solider, the former prisoner of heave he had once sought to punish for his deceit and said three words. “Point. Of. Honor.”
“You do not need to convince me Castiel. I trust you. I'll come with you.”
They walked into the bunker together. There was no sign of Dean. But this did not immediately seem troubling. “So, you've helped both of us to see the other clearly.” Gadreel addressed Sam conversationally.
“What do you mean?”
“When Castiel first asked me to meet, to discuss Metatron and his tactics, the only reason I agreed was because I had seen him through your eyes. I knew you considered him...honorable.”
“To say the least.”
“Castiel says it is because of you he even attempted to reach out to me. I wanted to thank you.”
“Gadreel, I didn't give you a glowing report or anything. I just told him the truth. You didn't hurt me, didn't scare me. You left me alone and I felt... I could tell you weren't at rest. That you weren't who everyone thought you were. Cass seemed to already suspect you weren't the selfish, heartless solider we assumed you to be. He asked me if I ever felt threatened, if you felt hostile. I didn't. You didn't and I told him that. There's nothing more to it.”
But Gadreel would not be put off so easily. What feelings he had about his intrusion aside, he was determined to make sure Sam knew what he really thought of him. “One thing I've learned since the Fall, angels don't think much of humans. They obviously don't know you very well.”
