This is set in season five, after MBV, so beware of spoilers...please read, enjoy and, if possible, review to give me hope that this translates from the images in my head to the words on the screen.

As always, this wonderful world was created by others...I am just sharing the muse.


The plan was solid-salt the doors and windows on the outside, bless the water of the warehouse's old fire sprinkler system and go in the front door to stop what ever it was the demons thought they were doing. Demons couldn't escape, and would be distracted by the holy water bath enough for the younger Winchester to practice a more traditional method of exorcism. They even had their very own angel to provide some back up.

To bad the demons did as well. Who knew?

The angel didn't make itself known right away, not that it had much of a choice with the Winchester's less than subtle entrance. But as soon as it sensed it's brother, it wasn't shy any more. Sam had taken a kick to the ribs, enough to steal the air from his lungs-and therefore was unable to shout a warning to Dean. Dean felt the hit to the back of his head, but not the feel of his body hitting the floor as unconsciousness took him.

He awoke slowly, felt the trickle of blood down the back of his head before he opened his eyes. The hunter in him prevented the gasp of shock from escaping his lips as he took in the scene before him. Sam was tied to a pipe, bent over almost in half, his pride not willing him to sit on the floor and be even more defenseless than he already was. The more alarming image was that of Castiel-an angel of Heaven and, more importantly, a friend to the Winchesters, down on one knee, bleeding rather profusely from a large wound hidden from view by the arm he had wrapped protectively around his stomach.

Dean attempted to remember what had brought them to this moment-signs, omens, missing people-standard fare in a world currently under siege by both demons and angels. They went to check it out, hoping for an easy fight to break the monotony of constantly getting their asses kicked as of late. This was clearly not what they had requested. Someone should have clued the demons in.

But something was not right (clearly, that little voice in his mind supplied helpfully). How did a bunch of low-level demons get the jump on both him and his brother, much less Castiel? The answer, Dean realized, was the not quite human that was standing over his injured friend. Apparently Castiel wasn't the only rebellious angel in the room.

"Brother," the other angel whispered, "Why do you fight us? You know what Lucifer told you to be true. If you win this battle, you will become the hunted. Yet you continue to struggle for these...humans." the distaste in Castiel's choice clearly expressed in that last word.

Castiel looked at his brother with something close to pity in his blue eyes. "Elyon, you know that what he plans to do will end this world. I could not accept his offer, no matter what the outcome may mean for myself."

Dean filed the angels words away for later-when did Cas and Lucifer have a pow-wow?-and attempted a little distraction. "So, when did angels start teaming up with demons? Seems like you're slumming a little-"

A quick slap to the face stopped him in mid insult, but it got the desired result. The angel, Elyon apparently, turned his back to Castiel and focused on the elder Winchester. "So this is the much heralded Dean Winchester? Really not impressed. Perhaps we should not fear Michael wearing you about town after all..."

Dean gave the angel a once over, taking in the sword he held in his hand-the sword that Castiel had used to dispatch the angels in upstate New York. That was not something he wished to see being wielded so close to his friend-("Only an angel can truly kill another angel Dean" Cas had told him when questioned about the origin of the weapon.) Dean hid the rising panic behind a well practiced mask, and gave a little snort. "Well if this is the best Lucifer can round up, I think we'll take care of this Apocalypse on our own."

"Yes, I can see that," Elyon replied, a smile on his lips. "You have done such a bang up job so far. You threw the opening pitch...and your brother hit it out of the park."

Sam gave a small grunt at the reminder of his part in the start of the end of the world. The angel walked over to the younger Winchester and caressed his cheek. "Please do not take that as an insult my child. You have done something we could not. You freed our brother. For that we are most grateful."

Dean made to move towards his brother, but the demons restraining him made it a study in futility. He glanced over at Cas, who had managed to get to his feet, but was looking strangely fragile at the moment. This did nothing to alleviate Dean's concern. The angel was staring at Sam with a look of concentration, and Dean tried to follow his gaze across the room.

Sam was also aware of Castiel's obvious action-although he realized absently that no one else in the room seemed to be. Perhaps it was due to the fact that this was Castiel behavior from months ago-a look of reserved determination that almost all the angels seemed to wear. Cas had loosened up enough since his death and resurrection that the look was often replaced by grim amusement. This however was something else-Cas was concentrating on something, and Sam realized what it was a moment later as the pipe he was tied to moved-slightly, barely even noticeable-but it was movement. He knew what Cas was doing immediately, and was almost as quick as Dean in providing distraction.

Sam swallowed loudly and looked at the angel standing in front of him. The angel that was thanking him for starting the Apocalypse. It was not hard to sound angry. "I don't want your thanks. Maybe when I send Lucifer back to the hell cage he called home...then you can thank me."

Sam hoped it would give Castiel a few more moments to work his mojo. Unfortunately it only seemed to remind the other angel of his true task for today. "Sam, I am sorry to hear you say that, truly I am. I can not harm you, obviously" He glanced over at Dean. "And torturing Dean seems so... redundant. But...I do have a wild card..."

Sam blinked, unable to follow this new train of thought. Then realization dawned on his face, and he glanced at Castiel. Apparently Castiel had also made the connection. He stood taller as his brother approached, Sam noticing for the first time the subtle movement of his right hand-his shaking right hand.

"Brother, this will pain me more than you can imagine." Elyon stated, almost managing to put regret in his voice.

Castiel stood still, watching his brother approach. He was weakened by the battle, and the large wound across his chest made by the sword was draining his vessel of vital fluids. There was pain also, and although he could push it to the back of his mind, he could not eradicate it completely. Normally this wouldn't be an issue-but normal had escaped him in resent months. Instead of healing Jimmy's body, he worked on freeing Sam. Once Sam was no longer restrained, perhaps the brothers could fight their way out of this predicament. But Dean would not leave without Sam, and would in fact be too distracted by his brother's inability to defend himself to put up an adequate fight. Castiel was reminded of a conversion he and Dean once had...the brothers were each others biggest vulnerability. Castiel also knew they were each others strength-they worked best as a team, and he hoped that his efforts would be enough to prove him right.

The demon standing behind Castiel moved suddenly, locking long arms around his chest. Instead of struggling, Castiel kept eye contact with Elyon, hoping his brother would not notice his actions across the room. He was not expecting the sudden fire of his arm as the sword pierced his vessel's flesh.

Sam heard Castiel gasp, his eyes closing as he clearly fought back a groan of pain. Sam could feel the pipe's movement, and risked pulling on the rope that was holding him to it. He was almost free, and looked to his brother for silent coordination. Dean could see the weakening connection the pipe had with the wall, and then he scanned the room for their weapons. Ruby's knife was sitting on a table, too far from either Sam or himself to reach easily, but at least he knew what to head for when the opportunity opened up.

Castiel seemed to be supported almost completely by the demon restraining him now, and yet he was still working on the pipe. Due to this task however, he was unable to ignore the abuse his vessel was enduring, his breathing speeding up as the pain increased. He was a warrior of God's army, and had been injured in battle before. Being tortured, he was discovering, was quite different. Another blow struck him in the ribs, and he heard Jimmy's bones crack. That was...painful.

Elyon did not take his eyes off his brother. It amazed him that one of his kind would risk so much. Castiel had given up everything-sacrificed all that he was-and for what? He expected as much from the weak creatures his father created- they were prone to illogical actions and selfless choices. Too see such behavior in one of his own though, was always disappointing.

"I will kill him Sam. It will be slow and messy. How about you save me some time by saying yes to Lucifer now, so we can stop this unpleasantness..."

Sam clenched his jaw-he was really starting to hate the persuasions of disgraced angels. He glanced at his friend-Castiel broke eye contact with Elyon to make Sam understand. No matter what happened to him, Sam knew that he could not agree to let Lucifer take up lease in his body. Castiel was willing to die to protect him from Lucifer. The least Sam could do was try to prevent that from happening today. A slight nod to Cas that he knew Dean would see, then a small smile of defiance graced his lips. "You know what? How about you just go to hell!"

Sam gave a final hard pull of the rope, and the pipe pulled free of the wall. In the same moment the demon killing knife flew from the table and logged itself in one of the demons restraining Dean. Convenient angel skills Dean mused quickly as he removed it from the now dead demon, quickly plunging it into the one on his other side.

Castiel crumpled to the floor as soon as the demon holding him up released him to join the battle. Dean was using his pent up anger to make short work of the remaining demons in the room. Sam however was coming towards him and Elyon, which was the exact opposite of what he should be doing.

Elyon seemed to be at a loss for what to do. He could not harm the vessel for Lucifer, and the useless demons were proving to be easy prey for the one fighting Winchester. This was unexpected, to say the least.

Sam was standing in front of him now, and started to speak the language of the angels. Castiel looked up, something close to pride on his face. With some shock Elyon realized what the boy was attempting to do-the equivalent of an angel exorcism. He was not powerful enough (yet, he thought grimly) to complete it. But it was enough to cause a ripping sensation to radiate through him, the sword falling from his grasp. Unarmed and faced with the wrath of a human potentially powerful enough to harm him, he did the only thing he could do-flee.

Sam dropped to his knees besides Castiel, who was having difficulty breathing. Sam wasn't sure how important it was for the angel to breath, but since he was straining so hard to do so, it must be of some necessity. Dean was by his side a moment later, standing in front of the two of them in a protective stance, the remaining demons ready to pounce. Dean had made a decent hole in their numbers, but there were still more demons than two humans and one bleeding angel could handle.

"Sam, get Cas out of here...I 'll hold off our friends." Dean ordered in a lowered voice.

Sam gave a humorless laugh. "Right Dean, we are not leaving you here-"he stated as he helped Castiel to his feet.

Dean rolled his eyes-now was not the time for this. "Sam-"

"Dean-" Sam started at the same moment. They were both interrupted by a pulling-pushing-rushing-sensation-and a rough landing on wet pavement next to the Impala.

Both brothers looked at Castiel, who appeared to be going into shock-if angels could do such things. "I made an executive decision." He stated, the last of his energy in that action. His eyes closed, knees buckled, and the angel lost consciousness.


I hope you enjoyed this first chapter...the second is ready to go, and will be posted tomorrow night. Thank you again for reading, and as always, your input/reviews would be wonderful.

~km