Well of Oath

by Servant of Fire

Castiel cried as Sam's head bowed. Dean cleared his throat, looking down into the well where his little brother was chained up. "Hey, hey, Sammy! We told you we would save you, buddy. Look up." Dean shook himself, trying to ignore Castiel. "Raphael! You will pay for this!" Cas dug his fists into the snow, lighting it on fire with his grace. Dean didn't even try to figure that out.

1. Chapter 1

Well of an Oath_

Dean fell into the snow, tripping over the angels that were burned in it. Not far to go now. Not far to go.

"Castiel!" Dean screamed.

"I found him, Dean. Down there." By which he meant Sam.

Dean wrenched the metal door with his bare hands. The cry going up here, of demons scared out of their minds, made him shiver in his skin. He wanted to hide from this. From sacrifice. And yet_

"I owe him." He tasted the snow on his tongue, felt his heart leap to his skin. It soared through him converted into a sparrow, beating him with the brushstrokes of blushing fervency. He owed his little brother everything. His life. The freedom of his soul.

"Raphael...How could he?!" Cas screamed it to the hollows of the winter night. Nowhere and no one responded. This was Purgatory a place where dignity never comes.

At last they made their way to it. A well house. A small one. With metal doors that Dean had wrenched away bare-handed.

Blood, and fire, and vapors of smoke...Of demon smoke, rolled out of the pit, haunting them with a prayer that continued mantric but was never heard. The sound of chains rattling.

Dean held his breath, begging. He didn't expect to see the flash of puppy dog-like hazel wreathed in black grime and rust water stains. Rusty brick brown hair fell around the forlorn face.

It took Dean a moment and Castiel's crying to realize that he was looking at Sam.

Sam looked up at them, chained in the Well of the Oath by his wrists. He shook his head, unable to believe this was truth, and bowed over.