CROWLEY. Okay, now this is just ridiculous.

DEAN. You tell me.

SAM. How long's it been going on?

GABRIEL. Too long, if you ask me.

BOBBY. Hey, how do you think he feels?

BALTHAZAR. Probably something among the lines of dirty and violated?

CASTIEL (in a choked voice). You left out "very uncomfortable".

BALTHAZAR. Ah yes, of course. That's my Cassie, always mindful of the little details.

CASTIEL. Let's just say I've got first hand data.

CROWLEY. Have you even tried to pry yourself out?

CASTIEL (sarcastically). No, Crowley, I just enjoy being crushed in a vice-like grip.

CROWLEY. But come on! I thought you were supposed to be all strong.

CASTIEL. She's stronger.

DEAN. Can't blame him, man. Same thing happened to me four years ago. (he shudders at the memory) Wasn't as bad as this, though.

CROWLEY. How'd you get out?

DEAN. When he got me out of Hell, it just stopped.

SAM. And that's when Cas' problems started.

BOBBY. Hey French Guy, didn't it happen to you too?

BALTHAZAR. It did for a while.

GABRIEL. Not that anyone asked me, but it happened to me too. Very briefly, though.

BALTHAZAR. Yes, Cas always got more attention in the end.

CASTIEL. If you're jealous Balthazar, we can always switch places. (the hold gets tighter, making the angel grunt) Alright, alright…

DEAN. Hey lady, don't you think you're overreacting a little?

NERWENDE (burying her face in Castiel's trench coat). No.

BALTHAZAR. You've been choking… I mean holding on to him for four months now.

CASTIEL (sitting very still in Nerwende's grip). And it just got worse in the last two hours.

SAM. How come?

GABRIEL. She saw the last episode two hours ago.

SAM. Right.

GABRIEL. And now she's acting like a kid with their blanket.

NERWENDE. I don't care.

BALTHAZAR. Come on, you know what's dead doesn't necessarily stays dead in our world.

SAM. Yeah I mean, Cas has died twice already.

NERWENDE. This is different.

DEAN. Oh, come on! You didn't make all that fuss when it was me!

CASTIEL (with a sigh). Dean, your misplaced jealousy really is infuriating.

DEAN (sulkily). Whatever.

CROWLEY. Besides, why don't you ever write anymore? You promised you'd make me a story.

NERWENDE (turning to look at him without letting go). I'm in college now, I don't have the time.

BALTHAZAR (horrified). Wait, that doesn't mean we'll be stuck here for three years, does it?

NERWENDE. No, it just means I'll write less.

DEAN. Not like you wrote a lot as it is.

NERWENDE (giving him a dirty look). I can always write a "Dean in Hell" fic if you're bored.

DEAN (gulping). I'm fine.

BALTHAZAR. What about the story you started? You know, the one about Cas, me and… (pointing at Crowley) This?

CROWLEY. Nice, man.

BALTHAZAR. You're very welcome. (to Nerwende) Whatever happened to that story?

NERWENDE. I'm not sure I'll post it.

BOBBY. Why not?

NERWENDE. I don't know, it just sounds cheesy.

SAM. I don't think it was cheesy.

NERWENDE (with a smile). Thanks, Sammy.

DEAN(under his breath). Kiss ass. (Sam punches his arm)

CROWLEY. So you wrote all that for nothing?

NERWENDE. No! Yeah… I don't know. It's just that I don't know what to do with it, I mean…

Suddenly she realizes her grip has loosened and Castiel is slowly freeing himself. She yelps and throws herself at him, holding him tighter than ever.

CASTIEL (with a startled gasp). Sorry, I'm sorry!

NERWENDE. You guys were trying to distract me so I'd let go!

BOBBY. No!

SAM. Absolutely not!

DEAN. Not at all!

CROWLEY. I wouldn't dream of it!

GABRIEL. We wouldn't dare!

BALTHAZAR. Yes, we were. (everyone gives him a dirty look) Girl's not that dumb, you know.

NERWENDE. Thanks, I guess…

BALTHAZAR. My pleasure.

CASTIEL. Look, could you at least not hold me this tight?

NERWENDE. No, I'm not letting you go.

CASTIEL. I'm not asking you to, I just want to be able to take a breath.

DEAN. Do angels need to breathe? (Castiel shoots him a warning glance) Right. Not the point.

NERWENDE. Fine, I guess. (she loosens her hold on Castiel ever so slightly)

CASTIEL.Thank you.

BOBBY. What's your problem, anyway? You can see him or write about him anytime you want.

NERWENDE (in a whining voice). That's not the same! (looking up at Castiel) How could you let this happen?

CASTIEL (sighing) Nerwende…

NERWENDE. That's not fair, you couldn't die! Not you of all people!

DEAN (still sulking). She used to say that about me.

NERWENDE (rolling her eyes). Oh come on Dean, you know I still love you.

DEAN. You love Cas better.

NERWENDE. Oh, for God's sake!

CASTIEL. I thought you were an atheist. (Nerwende looks at him blankly then her lower lip start quivering)

NERWENDE. I missed clueless you so much!

CROWLEY (with a dramatic sigh). We're never getting out of here.

BALTHAZAR. Who feels like playing poker?

GABRIEL (taking cards out of his pocket). I thought you'd never ask.

Everyone start walking away, leaving Castiel and Nerwende on the couch, the young author still clutching at the angel.

CASTIEL (clearly uneasy). Uh, guys?

BALTHAZAR (to the Winchesters). You boys playing with us?

DEAN. If neither of you uses his mojo to cheat like last time.

GABRIEL. Really Dean, what do you take us for? (Dean gives him a look) No, no, don't answer that.

CROWLEY. Bobby, you still have that fine scotch?

BOBBY. You know I do.

CASTIEL. Guys! (everyone turns around) You're just gonna leave me here like this?

BALTHAZAR. Sorry bro, but there's nothing we can do.

GABRIEL. Yeah, you're just gonna have to wait it out.

BOBBY. Don't worry, she'll get tired eventually.

SAM. Yeah, just be patient man.

CROWLEY. Besides she's probably gonna write something about you at some point, so she'll have to let go.

CASTIEL. That's not an altogether comforting thought.

CROWLEY. Best I can do.

DEAN. Relax, we'll bring you cheeseburgers. (he opens the door and leaves, followed by the others)

CASTIEL. Guys? Guys!

The door closes. The angel sighs, looking down at the young woman sitting in his lap and hugging him tight.

CASTIEL. Now this is going to be so boring.

The end.


Okay, so after Hello, cruel world I needed to write something, but the last thing I needed was to write some angst and depress myself any further, so here goes. Reviews make the hug even tighter. Together, we can hug an angel to death.

Nerwende.