A/n: A horrid little story I thought up a few days ago. It will be filled with lots of pain, comfort, and love. Despite all his issues, Sam's a good man and he's out to prove it.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the mentioned flowers and anything associated to them.
Warnings: Past torture, past abuse, past rape and rape recovery, aborted slavery.
It was a bit surprising but the hunt had gone extremely well. The team had dispersed an entire nest of vampires that had been terrorizing a tiny country town. The work now done and the team exhausted, they started walking through the massive field of flowers to get back to the Impala on the other side.
Despite his exhaustion, Sam was feeling exceptionally chipper as he watched his brother holding hands with their angel. He had been waiting years for it to happen and now it slowly was unfolding before him. Dean had never had a long term relationship besides the year with Lisa and did not want to screw it up. He was going slow now, gently leading the still relatively innocent angel into courting. So far their relationship only consisted of hand holding, kissing, and movie nights but Dean was happier than he had been in years.
Content to leave them to their courting as they walked, Sam slowed a bit. He smiled softly as he looked down and spotted a strange looking flower. It did not match the rest of the field in color or shape. Intrigued, he knelt down and carefully snatched it up. He wondered if it had any magical properties like so many odd flowers did.
"Hey guys, wait up! Look at this weird flower I found. Have you guys seen anything like it?" He calls as his long legs allow him to catch up quickly with his companions. He smiles innocently as he offers out the flower for them to see. Dean scoffs and mumbles something about flower-loving nerd. Though, it is Cas' reaction that makes Sam's heart stutter in fear.
The angel looks a little green as he stares in wide-eyed horror at the flower in Sam's hand. Concerned, Sam looks down at the strange blossom. The tiny plant looks like a sea-green daisy with twelve petals but harmless enough.
"Sam, where did you get that?" The words are almost growled.
"I found it with the rest and plucked it." Sam's replied tightly, "What's wrong, Cas?"
"That is called an Angel Tear. It is a magical flower grown long ago by evil woodland spirits." Sam swallows tightly at this explanation, not liking where the name is taking the story, "It's a living enslavement spell."
"What do you mean a 'living enslavement spell', Babe?" Dean pipes in softly, feeling a bit worried and lost.
"These flowers are rare but they do grow naturally now. Each flower is linked to a different angel. The person who picks the flower becomes the owner of that angel." There are rare tears in the angel's blue eyes, "It is a horrific process. The angel, dead or alive, is taken to a pocket dimension. Their grace is stolen, their wings are exposed, and they are tortured into submission so that they are obedient to their Earthly master."
Sam and Dean now look about as sick as Castiel. Dean looks like he's about to puke as he protectively pulls his angel close, linking fingers with him. Sam can only stare down at the flower resting innocently in his palm. He's not a fan of the angels but that is a fate no one deserves.
"A-alright, we'll destroy it then. The angel never has to go."
"No!" The cry surprises both Winchesters and they flinch while Cas composes himself again, "My apologies. Sam, you cannot destroy it. The angel is transported as soon as the flower is plucked. Destroying it will trap the angel there for eternity instead of twenty-four hours."
Sam's gut twisted as he cradled the tiny flower in his hands. He swallowed convulsively as he gently stroked the smooth petals.
"O-okay. I'll care for your sibling, Cas, I promise. I-I'll make this up." Sam's eyes dripped tears sorrowfully, "I'm so sorry."
There were still angels out there that innocently followed orders like Cas had done when they first met him. What if he had condemned one of those to such a horrific fate. Could Cas and the enslaved angel ever forgive him? Could he ever forgive himself?
