Dean and Bobby crawled out of the broken Impala. They looked down the road as they saw a figure approaching.
"Sammy?" Dean breathed, sprinting towards his struggling brother. He caught him as Sam held onto his head.
"Dean, we g-gotta stop them," Sam said, wincing as he held onto his head.
"Dude, you are not goin' anywhere. You can barely stand," Dean said, keeping Sam upright.
A flutter of wings was heard and before they could say anything, two fingers were pressed against Sam's head. Sam stopped wincing as his pain was immediately alleviated. He stood up straight, blinking his eyes a few times.
"Uh, thanks, Cas," he said, awkwardly.
Dean stepped towards Castiel, grabbing his arm. "Cas, please, you can't do this. It's only gonna end bad, you know that."
Castiel looked at Dean with tired eyes. "I know," he murmured. He reached into his coat and pulled out a piece of paper. "This Enochian verse shuts the gateway to Purgatory. I obtained it from Eleanor after Crowley left." He turned toward Bobby at that moment. "I am truly sorry she had to die," he said, softly.
Bobby nodded, looking irritated, but more confused. "Great, so why did we have to get this point? Why couldn't you just leave Purgatory closed?"
Castiel looked down. "It must open, but the souls will not be released." He looked up again. "I'm going to push Crowley and Raphael in once it's opened. You have to immediately recite this verse in order to close it, sealing them both in Purgatory."
Dean looks at him, confused, but slightly relieved. "Wait, what happened to the whole, 'I must do this or Raphael will win,' or whatever? You just change your mind all of a sudden?"
Castiel looked into Dean's eyes. "No. You did."
Dean was about to speak again, but Cas jerked his head toward the building. "We have to go. It's starting."
With that, he grabbed Sam and Dean in one hand and Bobby in the other, transporting directly outside the door that led to Crowley and Raphael. Cas turned to them, indicating for them to enter, before disappearing. They looked at each other before slowly and quietly stepping inside.
Crowley and Raphael were standing side by side, facing a wall with an intricate symbol painted on it with blood. Just as they were inside, the door shut, and Crowley whipped around to look at them. He gestured with his hand, sending the boys flying down the stairs.
"Sorry, boys, kind of in the middle of something. Won't be a minute," he said, smirking. He turned back towards the wall and began chanting the spell to open the gates to Purgatory. Raphael stood, unflinching, waiting.
Crowley finished to recitation and everything seemed to shift as the wall inside of the symbol began to crumble into itself. Crowley looked at Raphael, who seemed to have the ghost of a smile on her lips, when a flutter of wings was drowned out by the sound of the gateway opening.
Castiel stood in front of the two, and with all of his strength, he grabbed their coats with each hand and tossed them behind him, into Purgatory. Raphael lashed out with the angel blade, which embedded itself into Cas' shoulder. He shouted, but didn't stop. He thrust them both in, then whipped around and used his power to keep them blocked for a short time. Light emitted from his hands and into the gateway, as he shouted, "Now!"
Sam took the paper and began reciting the inscription to shut the door. Bobby stared at the gate, begging it to shut. Dean was staring at the large blade protruding from the angel. His eyes scanned Cas as he held his ground, trembling slightly. Dean shut his eyes and began to pray. Actually pray.
After what seemed like forever, Sam finally finished the verse, and Purgatory was sealed. Immediately after it closed, Cas dropped his arms and fell sideways, crashing to the ground.
"CAS!" Dean shouted as he ran over and pulled Cas' body into his lap. "Cas, come on, wake up," he said, shaking the angel.
Cas gulped in a struggled breath, grasping at the blade that was still stuck inside him. Dean grabbed at his hand so he wouldn't hurt himself. He looked up at Sam and Bobby. "Go to the car and get the first aid kit."
Sam looked at Bobby, then back at Dean before saying," Dean, I don't think—"
"Now!" Dean yelled, looking at Sam directly, before turning his gaze back to Cas.
Sam and Bobby nodded before taking off. Dean held onto Cas, whispering, "It's gonna be fine. You're gonna be ok."
Cas turned his half-lidded eyes to Dean's face. "I'm sorry," he mumbled, eyes glistening. "I'm so sorry, Dean. I failed you."
Dean cupped Cas' face, looking him dead in the eye. "Like hell, you did! Cas, you are probably the best being I've ever met. You could never fail me, Cas. If anything, I failed you."
Cas' mouth twitched into a small grin. "Always blaming yourself," he muttered, eyes falling closed. Light and blood were pouring from the wound in his shoulder.
"Cas? Cas!" Dean said, raising his voice and shaking Cas slightly. Cas started awake, gasping as pain shot through his body. "I'm sorry for letting it get so far. I thought-I thought it was the only way. I had to save everyone. Had to save you," he slurred slightly.
Dean shook his head. "You did more than enough, man. You did save us. Saved me. Again. Like you always do. Everything's fine, now. Everything's gonna be ok," he said, clutching Cas tighter, willing Sam and Bobby to move faster.
Cas shifted, leaning his head against Dean's chest. "I've never…been held like this before," he mumbled.
Dean tensed up. He had never been so touchy feely with the angel, but it just felt right, like he was supposed to be doing this. His shoulders relaxed when he heard Cas mumble, "S'nice."
"Hey, you ain't fallin' asleep on me, are you? You gotta stay awake, Cas. We're gonna fix you up and you're gonna be fine, ok?" Dean said, holding the side of Cas' face in his hand. Cas leaned into the touch, his eyes fluttering open. He looked at Dean. "Dean," he said, his voice cracking slightly.
"Cas?" Dean replied, looking into the watery blue eyes, tears stinging the sides of his own eyes.
Cas looked mournfully up at Dean, before bringing his hand to the back of Dean's head, pulling him down until his lips met Castiel's.
Dean's eyes flew open as Cas' slammed shut. It lasted only a few seconds and then Cas let his hand fall back to his side, his eyes dropping to his lap. "Sorry. Again," he murmured.
Dean was still frozen, eyes wide and mouth slightly open. He closed it, then opened it again, then closed it again. He looked at Cas. "…why?" he whispered.
Cas blinked heavily before returning his eyes to Dean's. "Because I have always loved you. I understand if you do not share the same feelings. I'm…me, after all, but if I am to die, then—"
He was cut off with Dean's lips crushing his. This kiss was not so short and much more firm, rather than hesitant and shy. Dean released his lips after a while and leaned his forehead against Cas'. "You are NOT gonna die," he said firmly. "I may not know what this is between us. Hell, I didn't even see this as a possibility, but if I'm gonna figure this out, then you need to hang around and figure it out with me, ok?"
Cas looked sadly at Dean as his wound grew brighter. "Shut your eyes, Dean," he whispered.
Dean shook his head. "No, you're gonna be fine, Cas. Fight it."
Cas touched Dean's cheek. "You have to shut your eyes."
Dean looked at Cas and decided it was either now or never, so he grabbed the angel blade and ripped it from Cas' shoulder. Cas let out a strangled yelp as Dean slammed his jacket against the wound, stopping the blood flow.
"You ain't gettin' out that easy," he growled, looking up to see Sam and Bobby burst through the door.
They ran down, sliding next to Dean and Cas. Dean ripped off the angel's shirt, replacing the jacket with the gauze from the kit. He stifled the blood enough for Sam to sew up the wound and them to get out of that basement. Cas stopped being responsive once Sam finished the patch job, so Dean picked him up and they went outside. Sam found a car and had it up and running in a matter of second. Dean sat in the back with Cas lying on his lap, Sam driving and Bobby in the passenger seat. The car was silent, save for the occasional murmurs of, "You're gonna be fine. You're gonna be ok," coming from the back seat.