A feather from an Angel
It was a gloomy day outside as Dean sat on the couch by the window in Bobby's study. Bobby was at his desk with an old book open and Sam was sitting on the opposite side of the desk on his laptop. With the apocalypse in full swing they were trying to desperately find a way to kill Lucifer to end it all. Dean himself wasn't much for reading but he too had a book on his lap scanning though to find anything on how to kill the devil. They knew about the colt but had no idea where to find it and were searching for any other possible option. The rain hit against the window the only noise in the all but silent room apart from the occasional clicking of Sam's typing on the laptop.
Dean wasn't really focused on reading, all he wanted was a nice tumbler of whiskey and a bed maybe some classic metal to listen to that would fill the silence. He was so unfocused he could have sworn that it was his tenth time reading the very same sentence. With a groan the eldest Winchester closed the book and set it to the side rubbing his eyes with the palms of his hands as he leaned his elbows on his knees. He needed something to do anything but read. Eyes still closed he heard the sound of wing beats and the creaking of the other two men's chairs in reaction to who was now no doubt standing in the middle of the room. Castiel their friend and ally the man who had pulled him out of hell.
Castiel stood there still barley moving in the slightest apart from his head that scanned the room catching both Sam and Bobby's gaze and then looking to Dean though unable to catch the man's eyes as they were still covered by his own hands. Nothing was said until Bobby's grumbly voice rang out. "Cas, why'd you come?" The angel rarely showed up unless he had word on the apocalypse. Castiel finally turned his gaze away from the eldest Winchester to look at Bobby. "I came to see how you are progressing on your task of killing the devil." Castiel spoke blank expression on his face as usual. "No farther than before." Bobby replied bitterly returning back to his book.
The angel glanced around the room seeing that none of the men looked like they were about to discuss anything further. Dean finally looked up from his palms as Castiel spoke again. "Very well." With that the angel left again in another set of soft wings beats. Dean blinked a couple times focusing his eyes and silently cursing himself for not looking up earlier he had barley set eyes on the angel before he was gone. Dean would never admit it to anyone else but he had a soft spot for the man. He hid it from everyone by acting as he always had a bitter asshole who didn't give a shit when he really did.
Both of the other men decided that it was time to get something to eat and since Bobby had no food in the house they were going to the dinner just down the street from the old man's home. Bobby was heading for the front door and Sam was following behind before he turned around to look at Dean who was perched on the edge of the couch looking to the spot where the angel had just been. "Hey Dean, are you coming?" Dean shook his head looking up to his younger brother. "Yea I'll be out in a minute." Sam nodded walking outside to the Impala. Once the other men had left Dean got up from his seat to walk to the spot he had been staring at. He bent down to reach to something on the floor. In his hand he held a black feather. It was softer than any feather he had seen before and it sort of shined. He held it up into the overhead light and was able to see threw it as if it wasn't supposed to be there yet it was. He stuck it in the pocket of his jacket before his brother and Bobby got to impatient and left without him. He rushed out the house and climbed into the front seat of the Impala where Bobby and Sam already sat. Sam in the back allowing Bobby the front. He was glad the ride to the diner was silent because he was not prepared to answer any questions.
It had been just over two weeks since Dean had found the feather and he had yet to see the angel it belonged to. He was a little relieved that he hadn't because he still didn't know what he was going to say once Castiel finally did show up. He wasn't sure what it meant, he knew he shouldn't even be able to see the damn thing and it kind of worried him. That being said he didn't want to look like he was worried about the angel he had far too much pride to act like some girl from a chick flick. He also hadn't told Sam or Bobby either he thought it was best to keep this to himself he didn't want them prying at him, they did that enough without knowing of the feather.
Dean was now sat outside in the salvage yard. The sun was shining and he had a cold beer in hand. He knew he was alone so he pulled the feather from in his jacket and held it in his hand watching as the light hit off of it. It looked different now, it had become more and more solid then they day he picked it up as if the longer it was away from the angel the more real it became. He stared at it in silence rolling the softest through his fingers before hiding it away in his pocket once more to take out at another time. He knocked back his beer before he heard the familiar sound of wing beats coming from behind. Without even looking up he knew exactly who it was. Not very many angels paid them visits or knew where they were.
The angel was silent standing in the salvage yard behind the eldest Winchester. "What's up, Cas?" Dean spoke as he grabbed another beer from the cooler sat beside him. "I came to see how things were moving along, it has been some time since my last visit and I was curious to know if things have progressed further." Dean stood turning to face his friend. "Nothing has changed Cas. We don't know where to look for the colt and can't find anything else that will kill Lucifer." His voice was agitated. He was frustrated about everything including what was happening to the very man who stood in front of him as if he was the same as always and nothing was wrong. "Dean you seem un-easy. What is troubling you?" The angel stated face as blank as always though there was a concerned tone to his voice. The angel honestly caring what was troubling his charge. The hunter rolled his eyes and then took a long swig of his beer. He found the answer should have been obvious. "What's wrong? Really, you're asking me what's bothering me. It couldn't have anything to do with the fact that we are living through the god damn apocalypse, trying to complete the apparently impossible task of killing the devil, not to mention he wants to take my brother as his vessel and then there's you."
The angel simply stared at dean head tilted slightly to the side. He knew very well about the many things that must have been plaguing Dean's mind he just had never thought that he was one of them. "What do you mean then there's me Dean, I'm afraid I don't understand what I have done." Dean hadn't realized his last sentence was said aloud until the angel had repeated it. He knew it was too late now the angel would not be letting this go but he was still going to try. "Nothing, Cas just forget it okay." It was then that Castiel stepped towards the human in front of him. "Tell me what I have done to make you so upset Dean." His voice was stern as blue eyes stared into emerald green. With a huff Dean began to speak. "What's happening to you?" The angel was now even more confused. "I'm afraid I still don't understand Dean." Reaching in to his pocket the hunter pulled the feather from it. "I mean this Cas. What is this? Why can I see it and why did I find it?" Dean's voice was filled with anger and concern as he held the feather between his fingers being sure to not let it fly away in the wind. His anger slightly more prominent because Castiel didn't think to tell him what was happening.
They both stood facing each other in silence staring. Dean wasn't about to back down he needed to know what was happening. "Tell me what's happening to you, Cas?" The angel continued to look at the hunter before finally giving up. His shoulders sunk and his gaze dropped. "It really isn't a concern of yours Dean you already have enough troubles to deal with." The hunter knew that the angel was just staling. "Come on, man. I'm used to the world shitting on me. Whatever it is I can take it." Castiel let out a deep sigh before looking back at Dean. "I'm losing my grace Dean. I'm falling." Dean raised an eyebrow. "Okay, so what you're telling me you're becoming human or something and that your wings are falling out?" Castiel face showed no emotion though the look in his eye was heartbreaking. Everything that he was and had been for his entire existence was basically draining out of him. The angel had been able to feel it from the moment it started but his feathers falling from his wings was just making it more and more real to him. "My feathers yes. As my grace fades they become less and less a part of me." There was a sudden rustles and Dean could feel a strong breeze as the angel flapped his wings twice and settled them back down watching as three single feathers fell to the ground exactly the same as the one in his hand had been two weeks before. Dean didn't know what else to say. He simply raised his hand to the angel shoulder and squeezed at it comfortingly a silent apology in his eyes. Castiel accepted the small comfort offered by the hunter and then locked eyes with the man once more before he vanished.
Dean was left alone his arm still outstretched to where the angel had once been. With a loud sigh he dropped his arm. He wished he could have done more for the angel. Wished he could understand what he was going through but Dean was just a man. A man who felt guilt for being the cause of the angel's descent. Sadly the hunter had felt worse than he had before the angel came by for the visit. He couldn't pass the feeling up to just guilt though, he would admit to nothing more though. Not that he had any intention of sharing as it was. He looked to the cooler beside his chair and decided another few beers might help to take feeling away but before he did that he kneeled down picking up the three other feathers from the ground and putting all four into his pocket. He sat in his chair and watched as the sun set in front of him while drinking the last of the beer in the cooler.
Castiel hadn't gone far when he had left Dean simply far enough that the hunter couldn't feel him, or see him but the angel could see the man. He watched as Dean picked up the other feathers that had fallen. He had no knowledge as to why Dean had done so. Human behaviour still wasn't clear to him, but it made him feel warm inside for some reason. Maybe one day he would ask the hunter why he had done it but for now he simply sat from his spot on top of Bobby's home hidden as he watched the sunset with his charge. Something he had taken habit of doing every night. Dean had spent every night of the last two weeks drinking and watching the sun set. Castiel having grown a fondness of the eldest Winchester enjoyed being able to do something with the man even if only one party new about the occurrence. He would never let Dean know that he sat with him though. He finally left the rooftop to continue his work when he watched Dean walk into the house knowing he would be safe for another night.