It was a little unexpected, like just about all the events of the past few hours. Sammy waking up and not remembering Hell, his mind apparently roping off that section for the sake of its own sanity, and God taking charge against Castiel's sudden power that, it seemed, couldn't rival His own. He had just diffused him or something, and yet he was still at least mostly angel. Didn't matter anyway, he was gone now.
Okay, that was only two events...but they were pretty ginormous, right?
Over those hours, Dean had dedicated himself to doing everything he could for Sam, along with Bobby, but it was clear that Sam would need to get used to a life with a big black hole in it that he couldn't remember. They were currently in Bobby's living room, piles of books and papers stacked around the walls as usual. And as Dean asked for the two hundred and seven millionth time that day, "You sure you're okay?" to his brother, he heard a flapping sound behind him, all too familiar, and spun around. Castiel was standing there.
Bobby immediately stood up, as did Sam, and Dean found himself bracing as though about to be attacked. None of them said a word. There was an ocean of awful, mistrustful silence rippling between the two parties.
"Dean," Castiel said tensely, and after a moment added "Sam. Bobby," as though it was a polite afterthought. He watched the oldest Winchester as though not sure what to say, rocking back and forth slightly.
"What," Dean deliberately paused, hearing how thick with disdain his voice was, "the fuck," he narrowed his eyes and saw Cas wince slightly, "are you doing here?"
Cas's gaze lowered with more shame than Dean thought could possibly be expressed. He didn't reply.
"I asked you a question," Dean growled. "Answer or disappear."
"I...hoped I could...help..."
"How?" Dean cut him off, and Cas's eyes snapped to Dean's, clearly swallowing with uncertainty.
"I...I just..."
"Well don't," Dean snapped.
Dean didn't stand and wait for Cas to disappear, he expected the angel to be gone by the time he blinked once. Not the case; Cas stood his ground and if Dean hadn't felt so angry he might've been impressed.
"I am not going to leave, if that is wait you're waiting for," Castiel said.
"Then what, Cas? What the Hell do you want?" Dean asked loudly.
"I wanted to explain my actions in a way you might understand." Cas said, raising his chin defiantly. "And I wanted to offer my assistance in whatever way you needed it. But since you-"
"Don't bother!" Dean yelled.
"Look, Cas," Sam said, and Dean turned to his brother, shocked by the general lack of anger in his voice. Sam was looking at Cas directly, holding the angel's gaze. "I think it might be best if we do this later. We're all happy to listen, but not now. Tomorrow, maybe."
And then Cas was gone.
"Sam! What the Hell?" Dean spread his arms angrily in his demand for a damn good answer.
"I think maybe you're judging him a little too much, that's all," Sam said, not defensive in the least.
Dean stared at him.
"I think Sam's right, Dean," Bobby said fairly. "If you just think for a sec-"
"He betrayed us! He was our friend!"
"He is our friend," Sam said .
"Yeah, well, I wouldn't be so sure."
"Now hold on just a damn minute!" Bobby said, placing his hands on his hips. "I'm not saying Cas did the best thing, but he did what he thought was right."
"What is the matter with you two?" Dean asked. "Since when are you on his side?"
"We are all on the same side, boy, or had you forgotten that?" Bobby snapped. "And somethin' else you shouldn't forget is that you and Sam worked with Crowley as well!"
In his peripheral vision Dean saw Sam look down at the floor for a moment.
"Ya can't judge Cas for doin' the same, especially since he was trying to get more than one soul back! He was trying to keep the world from its Apocalypse, incase you'd forgotten."
"Bobby, there HAD to have been another way..." Dean was determined not to lose this argument.
"Whether there was or not doesn't matter! He was trying to save us all, and it was the first time he wasn't being ordered around by his Dad or by you!" Bobby pointed at Dean and he felt himself taken aback. He didn't say anything.
"And if you wouldn't mind me saying," Bobbily said a little audaciously, "Since you're the one who taught him right from wrong I wouldn't go around criticising everything he does."
"Teach him...? I did NOT..." Dean was caught unawares by that statement, and he shut his mouth quickly after babbling for a few seconds.
"I'm not the one to talk about it with, anyhow," Bobby said, waving him away. "I'm goin' to bed, don't you two idjits go breakin' anything."
