Gone.

The ache lingered as he staggered to unwilling feet. The wall was kind enough to hold him up once he'd stumbled into it. He let it hold him, still trying to wrap his mind around the wrongness of what had just happened.

When he couldn't do it, he tried walking. Again, the wall was kind enough to support his fumbling attempts to get somewhere that wasn't here. The door yielded to his attempts to open it, and the hall greeted him with overwhelming emptiness.

Gone.

He didn't remember getting to his car. He didn't remember getting to here. Not that he had any idea where here was. There wasn't a road. He noted the empty fuel gauge when the engine refused to start, and got out of the car. He walked, with no destination. Walked until he collapsed and couldn't get back up.

Time passed. He wasn't sure how much, and didn't care. There wasn't anyone left to care about him, so why should he care how much time passed?

He wasn't surprised when the angel appeared. Castiel had an impeccable sense of horrible timing. But, looking at Castiel, he realized the sad, sorry truth. Sammy had made his choice, had chosen the demon, had left him. Little brother Sammy was gone, and only the demon's monster remained. Sammy didn't need him, chose not to need him. Only the angels had any use for him now. His eyes drifted to the trees overhead, and the barest thread of sound left his lips.

"It is not yet time," Castiel replied softly.

Dean didn't turn to look at him. "Do you know why I was pulled from Hell?"

Castiel hesitated only a moment. "I was ordered to pull you from Hell. I was not given a reason. However, I have learned it is because you have a part to play in the coming war."

"What part?"

"I have not been told, nor have I been able to find out."

"I'll do it for you, Cas. Whatever it is I have to do, I'll do it for you. And for… for Sammy." Dean forced himself to sit up, then used the nearest tree to help drag himself to his feet. "But, I gotta do one thing, first, okay, Cas? I gotta… I gotta do… I gotta…. Sammy. Will you help?"

"Yes." There was no hesitation in Castiel's agreement. "What would you have me do?"

"Gotta get back to the car." They promptly reappeared next to the Impala. Dean limped around it, opened the trunk, and the weapons' cover. He stared in at the array, and finally pulled out one of the guns and a box of ammo. "Wanna bless these for me? Angel's blessing has to be stronger than any priest's."

Castiel nodded, taking the gun and ammo. He prayed over them for several minutes, and they were still glowing faintly when he returned them to Dean. Dean sighed, and proceeded to ensure the gun was fully loaded. "'kay. Want you to take me to Sammy now."

Again, Castiel hesitated. Dean waited, and was rewarded by Castiel touching his forehead. Sammy's there when he opened his eyes, balls deep in the demon woman, mouth latched to her bleeding arm. He heard his brother's startled curse, but all he saw was the blood Sammy was licking from his mouth. "Dean?"

His name was the last thing Sammy ever said. The bullet took him between the eyes, and a second took out the demon bitch. Dean put the gun away, and turned back to a wide-eyed, horrified angel. "It's done, Cas," he said wearily. His voice was little-boy tired. "I did it just like Daddy said to. I took care of Sammy. I took care of Sammy, Cas, so the monster wouldn't hurt him anymore. I always took care of Sammy. I took good care of -" 'Sammy' was muffled by Castiel's trench coat as the angel stepped forward and gathered his charge to him. Dean's tears drenched his coat as the man continued to repeat, "I took care of Sammy."