From the Depths

Dean found himself running out of the cursed building toward where he thought Castiel had disappeared to. His boots thundered on the ground as he made his way down the small hill overlooking what looked like a lake of some sort, with Bobby and Sam close behind. What he saw next made his heart stop in his chest.

The best friend Dean had ever known was slowly walking into the water, with every step bringing him further and further away from him.

"Cas!" Dean called. "Castiel!"

But the former angel paid no attention to the hunter as he continued to walk until his head ducked underneath the water.

Dean stopped at the edge of the water, his eyes wide. "No… Castiel! Get your butt back here!"

He didn't have time to get any more words out because the area was filled with the loud, thundering roar of water forming a whirlpool. Dean stepped back a few feet as what looked like black liquid exploded, contaminating the water.

Sam bowed his head, he couldn't believe what had just happened. Then he looked at Dean walking down to the water. "Dean?"

Dean knelt down and gingerly picked up a soaking wet tan trenchcoat.

"Dean…" Sam tried, but Bobby held up a hand silencing him.

"He's not dead," Dean said, jaw tight. "If he was I'd…"

Sam didn't need for Dean to finish the sentence to know what he meant. He saw his brother avert his eyes and unconsciously touch his left shoulder. Castiel was the one who pulled him out of hell, they were friends, family even. Castiel was a Winchester. He was their angel.

"I'm sorry, Dean."

Dean took no notice of his brother.

"Dean?"

But Dean didn't hear him as he was already sprinting toward the water.

He didn't care that the water was freezing cold, he didn't car that he was soaking wet, and he didn't care that Bobby and Sam were shouting at him to stop. All he cared about at this moment was swimming forward. Taking a deep breath, he dove under the water.

On shore Sam and Bobby were speechless.

"Dean!" Sam yelled.

"Sam…" Bobby sighed.

"What the hell was he thinking Bobby?"

Suddenly there was sputtering and the sound of someone breaking the surface of the water. Dean's head appeared and a second later so did Castiel's. Sam ran forward to help his brother bring the angel back to shore and they carefully laid him down on the ground.

"C'mon Cas, rise and shine buddy." Dean said as he slumped down next to his friend.

Sam crouched beside his brother and examined Castiel, who was pale and cool to the touch.

"I'm so sorry Dean."

Dean just buried his head in his hands and nodded.

Suddenly Castiel's eyes snapped open, startling them all. Cas's bright blue eyes scanned the world around him, trying to figure out where he was. He turned his head, eyes locking with Dean's green ones.

"Dean," was all he needed to say.

"Cas, you son of a bitch! Don't ever do that to me again!" Dean growled, but his face softened once he saw Cas flinch away from him.

"I will find a way to redeem myself to you Dean." He turned to the other two people in front of him. "All of you, I promise."

Dean smiled. "All right Cas, all right, but after you get some rest ok?"

Castiel nodded as they helped him to his feet.

They were all going to be fine, because they had each other, and that's all that mattered.

Team Free Will was back.


AN: This is what should have happened at the end of Hello, Cruel World, I kid you not. I'm a Castiel Girl all the way!

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed it.