He was falling.

They were falling. His brothers and sisters. He failed them again.

His grace had been stripped from him. No more second chances.

He closed his eyes to the blinding lights. The cool air whipped past him, tousling his dark hair and pushing and pulling at the thin clothes on his body.

Maybe the impact would kill him.

That way he wouldn't have to hear the disappointment in Dean's gravelly voice. Wouldn't have to witness the way his soul's energy would fluctuate every time Castiel hurt him. A thing so tragically flawed yet so beautiful.

Yes. The impact should be enough.

Castiel took a deep breath and closed his eyes to the world.


"Sammy! Sam?"

Sam's large frame rested heavily against the front end of the Impala. I grunted with the effort of holding him up but he slipped to the gravel covered ground. His eyes fluttered with the attempt to fight off unconscious. I shook him roughly as panic began to build in my chest.

"C'mon Sam. It's alright. Let's get up. Sammy?"

"D-Dean, look."

"Look where - oh."

I turned and immediately saw. The sky was lit up with various colors. Something was falling from the sky.

"What the hell?"

A new color appeared. Blue. A blue flash of light. A brilliant blue. Blue like Castiel' eyes.

A sinking feeling.

"Angels."

"What?"

"Angels Sam. The angels are falling. Son of bitch. Cas!"

"Dean, what are you talking about?"

"Stay there. I'll be back. I mean it."

I took off in a sprint towards the field next to the small church. The gravel that crunched under the weight of my boots was soon replaced by over grown, dry grass.

Castiel. Oh god. It's you, isn't it?

The hand-print forever etched into my arm burns. The light. It was blue. It has to be you.


Breathe.

In.

Out.

Eyes flutter open.

I'm alive. Metatron must have prepared for this. Maybe he wanted me to suffer.

Another deep breath.

"Cas?!"

Am I hearing things?

"Dean?" I croaked out. Damn this human vessel.

A warm body slid to the ground next to mine. Large, calloused hands hovered over me, unsure of what to do.

"Cas? You alright?"

His Adam's apple bobbed. I followed the movement, unconsciously licking my lips.

"Earth to Cas?" A hand waves in front of my eyes.

Chapped lips. Freckles. Lots of freckles. And eyes so green. Like the purest emeralds. His beautiful soul shone through those emeralds, through the concern and worry.

Dean. This is you.

Beautiful.

"Dean, how many freckles do you have?"