Title:

Full Power

Disclaimer/note: I don't own anything to do with Supernatural, so much so I don't even watch much more than Castiel's episodes. So pardon my ignorance and the mistakes I may make due to my relative unfamiliarity with this universe.

Set/Summary: Post 8.07-Naomi doesn't have a chance with Dean's attention and concern still focussed on Castiel, driven by his guilt over leaving the angel in purgatory despite his insistence that it was due punishment.

Pairing: Destiel

Genre: Hurt/Comfort you glorious!

Rating: PG-13.

Dean killed the engine in the parking lot of the two storey motel, somewhat more upmarket than they normally settled for, but he decided they needed a bigger room so they had space for Cas. He turned round in his seat to find that Castiel still looked asleep, making the hunter sigh with worry, "he's sleeping Sam. Why is he sleeping? And he sometimes spaces out even when he's not asleep!"

"You said yourself that he collapsed when rescuing Kevin and half the tablet. Healing that finger took it out of him too."

"Yeah, well, minuscule exploits like that should not exhaust him!" Dean despaired.

"We know he's not at full power, at first he couldn't even contact us. But he's getting stronger since getting back from purgatory," Sam placated.

Dean shook his head nevertheless, unappeased, "the whole thing doesn't make sense. He told me he didn't even want to escape purgatory and that he deserved being there. He didn't want to leave and he didn't leave! And now that he's back for some mysterious reason, he's weaker than I've seen him in there!"

"It's not like it's the first time he's mysteriously back from the dead."

"He wasn't dead Sam, and neither was I. We were simply trapped," Dean accentuated, still feeling stung that his brother never looked for them.

Sam winced, but let the subject lie, "I concede that we should try to find out how he got out if possible, but it is very likely that since you came back, Cas had been either injured or worn out fighting endlessly in that place. I would make some sense if he needed time to recover for once."

"Okay, okay, angel physician know-it-all, go get us a room," Dean grumbled, stepping out of the vehicle at the same time as Sam to gather their duffels and wake up the sleeping angel. As Cas' head was leaning on the back door on Dean's side, he deemed it more appropriate to go round and climb into the back seat from the other side, doing a little dance with Sam as they tried to get out of each other's ways, heading in opposite directions. A grunt and a bitch-jerk exchange later, the older Winchester slid next to Cas and reached out a hand to squeeze the angel's shoulder lightly, like he did in purgatory when it was his turn to act as sentinel on the very rare occasion Benny and Cas needed some not-necessarily-sleep, but rest at the same time. "Cas. Sam's getting us some beds in here. Wake up man."

Castiel groaned weekly, reminding Dean once again of their times in purgatory when vampire or hunter helped the angel up from the ground after what Dean could only describe as Castiel letting himself being beaten up by Leviathan and monsters alike. Sleepy, hazy blues blinked at him in the weak light of the parking lot, never focusing on him, but gazing somewhere in between the two front seats. Given all the drowsiness in his expression, Castiel's strong, monotone voice startled him. "Aye, Major General," the angel barked out in his deepest baritone and straightened his back, "right away, sister."

Dean took one moment reserved for bewilderment before strengthening his grip on the angel's shoulder and patted his cheek, "earth to Castiel? It would be nice if you were actually awake when you had your eyes open!"

Castiel blinked a couple more times, turning his head slowly in his friend's direction, "uuhh..Dean?"

"The one and only," Dean rolled his eyes, sighing, "what was that about? Bad soldier dreams?"

"There are 169,369 people just in the U.S. alone with the first name Dean. And soldiers are not usually good or bad, as they are not allowed to judge or act on free will, they only follow orders. These orders could be in theory considered good or bad, but.."

"Do shut up Cas, will ye if you don't want to answer questions properly. Pop your feathers outside and carry Sam's duffel, will you? I've got enough bags and laptops and whatnot to carry," he left to open the trunk and retrieve the items in question. Turning back with four different straps hanging off his shoulders, Dean found that his angel had been trying to follow his orders, having stumbled out the Chevy, but was leaning heavily on the door, with his forehead resting on his arm, his legs looking dangerously close to buckling all the same. "Cas!" The Winchester dropped all the bags, only marginally making sure the laptops were landing on the top of the dirty clothes pile for cushion, "will you tell me already what's wrong with you!"

"I'm experiencing weakness and vertigo," Cas mumbled, very thankful for the arms around him and the strong chest he could lean into.

"That's not what I mean and you know it!" Dean gave him a little angry shake, regretting it right away when pushing away the other man from himself he could see how pale the angel seemed under the street light.

"I..I'm not sure. It's like..it's like I don't know where I am sometimes.." Castiel trailed off, confused and wobbly.

"Sit down, sit back down!" Dean manoeuvred him onto the seat Castiel had previously occupied and knelt to place a hand on the angel's knee. "Talk to me Cas. You said you don't know how you came back. What's the last thing you remember from purgatory?"

Castiel made a gesture that was somewhat reminiscent of a human shrug, even if smaller and less pointed, "it's not of import."

"Would you just answer a question straight for once, featherass!" Dean raised his voice, anger overpowering concern.

Castiel's head snapped up, "I'm not the one always using elusive pop culture references, Dean," he tilted his head to look at his friend. It was a statement of fact, with no emotion attached bar for perhaps wonderment.

Dean was too relieved to see a clear gaze and comprehension in the angel's eyes for the first time since he woke him up and did not react adversely to the argument. He sighed and looked away to gather equanimity before asking again, "what was the last thing that happened to you in purgatory?"

"I'm not sure.." Castiel looked away, as if disturbed by the question. "I deserved to be there Dean. I was fighting the monsters at the best of my abilities because I did not want to die in there, not yet. I've had millennia to go in penance."

"So.." Dean tried to make sense of it all, "you died in there? Is that it? Was that the last thing that happened to you in purgatory?"

"I don't know.." The angel trailed off again, all the self-assurance characteristic of him in previous years missing from his countenance, "I had been severely injured and the wounds were festering..it's possible that I have died, but I don't understand why and who brings me back all the time! But I must have died and was brought back again, that's the only explanation I can come up with."

"I thought you could use your powers in purgatory, why were you not healing?" Dean's concern overpowered all his nauseating suspicions. "Could it be the same reason why you're not at full power now?"

"It's impossible," Castiel shook his head, "then...then I was a captive, the Leviathan have used spells to keep me bind up and weak."

"How long did that go on Cas!" Dean paled. It was one thing leaving Cas in purgatory and another leaving him as a prisoner of the Leviathan. "What did they do to you?" He grunted, feeling the urge to go back to that place again just to avenge the atrocities.

"I don't know…I don't remember," Cas rubbed the back of his hand to his forehead.

"Bullshit!" The hunter exclaimed, "I'm not buying that. You know just as well as I do that the sense of horror and desperation was so intense down there that it carved every moment and sensation into our brains for eternity! Who exactly and what did they do to you!"

"I doubt the details of my torture would be of particular use to you, Dean," Castiel looked at him questioningly.

"Damn it, damn it!" Dean had to refrain himself from fistpunching the closest thing as that happened to be his precious Impala's door. Why did Cas always insist on suffering alone?

"Dean, I believe there is no point to dwell on this now. Since I was brought back, I did become stronger and I have no reason to doubt that with proper respite I will again after this little setback."

"Ok, ok," Dean gave, glancing in the direction of the motel and concentrating on current practical matters, "do you think you can make it inside if you hang on to me or should we wait till Sam comes back?"

"I'm sure I can manage," Castiel pushed himself up, some of his old habitual confidence returning to his voice enough for Dean to trust him. The hunter hovered nevertheless, keeping a hand under his friend's arm the whole way, bags completely disregarded.

Tbc