Dean was walking down a dark street with a torch in his hand, heading back to his baby after a successful hunt. Sam had stayed in the hotel this time, He was sick, and Dean couldn't help but worry.

There was a noise behind him, but it was familiar by now. He didn't flinch as the hand caught him by the shoulder.

"Dean..." The deep voice came out raspy "Hold on."

Dean paused, and turned to face the Angel he considered a friend, even family. "What is it?" He asked

The Angel, Castiel, looked around, eyes narrowed "Someone is here." He stated, stepping in front of the man in an almost protective manner.

There was a chuckle from the darkness, and a man in a black suit and red tie stepped into view, hair slicked back and smooth "Well...If it isn't an Angel of the lord. Long time no see, Castiel." The man said in a smooth velvety voice.

Castiel shifted a little, taking in the man "Narcisse...? I didn't expect to see you back on the surface so soon." He said as loudly as the shock would allow, He'd sent this Demon back to hell with no intention of ever seeing him again.

Narcisse smiled "I pulled a few strings here and there. You know how persuasive I can be." He muttered casually, staring straight at the Winchester boy behind the Angels back. "I see you're still running around with the clueless-"

Castiel was quick to cut him off, not wanting that sentence to go any further "Narcisse, What do you want?" His voice was stressed, and Dean couldn't held but catch the exchange the Demon had with the Angel, the eye contact that said I know things you don't.

"I'm just a messenger." Narcisse straightened his red tie, a smug smile on his lips "A lot has been happening down below. It seems two boys have teamed up and been fighting their way out of hell for more than 200 years. Just the thing none of us wanted to happen, right Castiel?"

"You don't mean-"

"That is exactly what I mean. Your little mistake...We thought we could handle it...but unfortunately...it's gotten out of control. I was sent to warn you, because, as far as we know, when they get out, they're bound to find your Winchesters soon enough."

Dean couldn't help but feel very out of the loop, but something told him that this was unstable ground, and so he stayed silent, worried about the way that sentence made Castiel's shoulders fall.

"You said When they get out...So there's no stopping it?" Castiel said in a far too calm voice. This was not good, not in the slightest.

The Demon shook his head, and then turned to leave "That was the message, so I'll be on my way."

Castiel stood still for a moment too long, and the Demon was gone, and he was left alone with the knowledge, and the one person he never wanted to share it with. He knew he had to.

Dean shifted his weight on to his other leg, and crossed his arms, face impassive "What was that about?" He demanded, staring down the Angel whose eyes were pleading, begging for this to not happen. "Cas, What. was. that?" He emphasized his curiosity, inching closer to the Angel.

Castiel did not know where to start, or even how to find the words, he hoped he'd never have to tell the Winchester this, because he knew it would change everything, it would change Dean, and their relationship, and his life.

"CAS!"

The angels eyes went to the floor, he was a coward for not looking at him, but he could not look him in the eye "Dean...When I fought my way to raise you from Perdition-" The swallowed hard, feeling like he was about to choke, which scared him, he'd never been so scared, this heart was pumping in his chest and in his throat, but he pressed on "-You didn't want to come with me."

Dean stared at the Angels down-turned face, not quite understanding "What...?" It was quiet, almost inaudible. The Winchester backed up a little and leaned against a car, eyes still on the Angel

Castiel owed him more than he was giving him, and so he forced himself to look the man in the eye "You would not come with me." He paused, watching his face as it slowly sank in "You didn't."

The Winchester sick, weak and the knees, what does that mean?! He screamed, and it took him far too long to realize he had failed to say it aloud, and so he tried again "W-What the hell does that mean? I didn't?! I'm here, aren't I? I DID!" He was struggling with his words, struggling to stay standing, struggling to think.

Castiel blinked as it began to rain "I had a job to do. You would not allow me to do it, and I did not know you at the time. I did what was necessary." He said quietly, voice void of emotion, because it hurt too much. "I asked you something, and you agreed, a way to make Sam happy, a way to make everyone happy...and you could stay in hell, all at the same time. You did bad things down there, and you believed you deserved to stay. You said 'I can rot down here, and that son of a bitch can make Sammy happy, right? That's all I want.'"

Dean lunged forward and grabbed the angel by the collar, pulling his face forward until there were eye to eye "Why don't I remember it?" He hissed at the Angel, as his body shook with what he assumed was only anger, but it went so much deeper. The Winchester was scared, scared of what he would hear, scared of what he did, What he did for Sam.

Castiel did not fight against the grip on his coat collar, he only returned an uneasy and apologetic stare. "You do not remember because it wasn't you...You are Dean Winchester, but you're not the original." Castiel lurched forward with sudden confusion. The Winchester knees had given out, and he was now a pile of shock and disbelief on the floor, hands still tightly clenched around the Angels collar, Castiel continued, kneeling in front of him.

"You allowed me to copy you. To create a replica. I did it because I had no choice, I had my duty, and you believed you had your own. I created you...You with your funny legs and little flaws. It was impossible to get you perfect." The Angel then gripped the hands on his coat collar, and a tear ran down his cheek "But, The silly Angel was too curious, and followed you on many a quest...and slowly, he fell in love with the very flaws he created, because they weren't design flaws...They were the flaws of a damaged man who kept on going no matter what life threw his way..."

There was silence, and then the hands clutching his collar dropped, and the Winchester collapsed against him

"I'm not...W-" He gave up talking, and silent tears ran down his face, and his body shook his sobs. He didn't how much he'd actually heard vs how much he had imagined due to shock, but it was all too much, and so he collapsed into the Angel, his one solid link to the real world, and he breathed deeply before uttering some words of comfort to the worried Angel "You owe me a shit tonne of Pie."

And Castiel was assure, if not only for a moment, that this was still a Man who could keep going, and maybe, but maybe, they could ease him back up into strength together.