Sam is in trouble. Dean doesn't know what to do. Castiel does.

Pairing: Created with Destiel intent, although you can view this as a friendship if you'd like. Whatever goggles you want to wear :)

[Co-authored with user fighting-john-watsons-war, also posted on LJ]

[Rating/Warnings: T for character whump, mild cursing: Be prepared for angst and feelings]

-oOo-

"It's a trap," Dean breathed as Sam whirled, taking in the amount of demons closing in on them with disbelief.

"Hello, boys," came a smooth voice from above. Dean and Sam looked up to see Crowley standing on the upper level of the large warehouse, leaning against the railing casually and grinning at them. "Good to see you again! You've been ruining my plans for far too long, Winchesters, and now it's my turn to get some payback."

"Like hell you will," Dean growled, refusing to let his fright show in his tone. Sam was clenching the demon knife, but it was only enough to kill three, maybe four of the dozens of demons circling.

Cas, now would be a good time to -

Immediately, the flapping of wings filled the air. Dean turned to see Castiel standing in the middle of the two, taking in the surroundings quickly.

Crowley screamed to "Grab them!" at the same instant Castiel reached to grab on to both of the brothers. The demons pounced, each headed for a different Winchester. But at the same instant Cas grabbed Sam's shoulder and raised his wings, ready to disappear, one of the demons grabbed on to the other arm, wrenching him away a millisecond before Cas launched into the air.

Flap.

Dean stumbled away from the angel, leaning against the cheap motel room's wall for support. "God," he gasped, "I'm still not used to the whole -" his vision focused on Castiel, who was looking at his other arm as if something very important was missing.

Well. Something very important was missing.

"Cas," he said quietly, "Where's Sam?"

Castiel looked straight at Dean, his eyes filled with guilt. "He... a demon ripped him away," he mumbled. "Dean, Crowley has him."

Dean grabbed Cas by the shoulder roughly, suddenly filled with burning heat and rage. "Take us back."

Cas moved away, shaking his head. "No, Dean! I can't smite all those demons at the same time, and Sam had our only knife. We'd be captured before we took a step."

"You're a frickin angel, Cas! You're fine! They can't kill you!" Dean tried to bargain angrily, taking another desperate step his way.

Castiel's eyes flashed angrily. "I don't know if you remember, Dean," he spat, "but Crowley captured and tortured Samandriel without too much difficulty. Obviously he has some kind of upper hand against angels. Besides, going back now would mean they would have you, too. We can't take that chance!"

"So, what you're telling me is you can't save my brother," Dean said bitterly, slumping into a chair. He felt helplessness creeping through him. The warehouse they had broken into had been hard enough to infiltrate when Crowley had, apparently, wanted them to. Now, with demons literally crawling the place, Dean had no idea how to save Sam.

He had no idea how to save his little brother.

"Dean, I'm sorry," Cas said softly from his side - Cas, the angel who couldn't do a single freaking thing -

"If you can't save people, what good are you? What's the point of you?" Dean snapped without thinking, head buried in his hands. "Flying around, talking about free will this and free will that, and when it comes down to it you can't even save one human! You're useless!"

There was a thick silence as Dean's words hung in the air. Dean was shaking from anger, anger at Crowley and at the situation, anger at Cas for being so useless and -

"You really can't live without him, can you," came the quiet voice from his left. Dean turned to look at Castiel, who was staring at him, sadness mirrored in his deep blue eyes. Dean just looked at him.

"He's my brother," he said hoarsely. "There's nobody more important to me."

There was a dark flash, like sharp pain, in Castiel's gaze before he dropped his head. "Okay."

Dean glared. "Okay what?"

"Okay, I'll get him back. Just wait here."

Dean stood abruptly. "Wait, Cas -"

He was gone.

Dean sat back down, rubbing his face. When the pure adrenaline and fear began to wear off, he replayed the scene in his head, realized just how harsh his words must have sounded. Wondered what the hell the angel was trying to do now. "Shit, Cas," he mumbled, alone in the darkening motel room.

"I'm sorry."

Too late.

-oOo-

"Isn't the one enough for you, sir?"

Crowley threw the lesser demon against the wall harshly. "I wanted them both!" he snapped ferociously. "Why didn't you useless little worms tell me they had their angel in tow?"

Sam closed his eyes from where he was strapped to a chair. His chin was dropped to his chest and he tried to ignore the screaming head demon.

Cas, if you're out there, don't come looking. Crowley's defenses are dozens of times worse than the first time. Tell Dean I'll be okay, just don't come back.

He hoped the prayer had reached the angel, wherever he was, but his thoughts were interrupted by a fist impacting with his face. He felt the pain shock through his jaw as his eyes flew open to see Crowley standing above him, a dark glare on his face.

"Listen here, moose," Crowley muttered. He started pacing, the room empty save for the two. "I'm sick and tired of you stupid little Winchesters ruining all my plans. I meant to have both of you to dispose of, but it looks like I'll have to keep you around until your brother comes storming back to save you."

"He won't," Sam muttered through gritted teeth as the shock waves lessened. "Dean's not that stupid."

"Oh, he is when it comes to his little brother," Crowley mocked. "Little Sammy, the only thing Dean cares about in the whole wide world. How much do you want to bet he'll come racing in here with naught but a knife and his angel pet?"

"Almost right," came a horribly familiar voice from behind Crowley. He spun around as Castiel appeared, arms hanging limply at his sides.

Crowley grinned widely. "I hoped you'd come here, Castiel. Didn't even bother to put up angel-proofing, as you could obviously tell." He suddenly produced a long, thin blade that Sam registered as an angel blade.

Sam pulled at his bonds desperately. "Cas, no," he pleaded, "just get out of here -"

Crowley waved his hand and Sam's throat tightened, rendering him silent. Castiel was looking at the blade sadly, but not with concern. He slowly looked back up at Crowley. "You can't kill me with that now. I'll be gone before you have a chance."

"True," Crowley said, "but come any closer and I'll bury it in your pretty little head." He twirled it threateningly. "Though somehow I doubt you came here to fight."

Castiel paused before shaking his head slowly. "I'm here to make a deal."

Sam furrowed his brow in confusion while Crowley clapped his hands excitedly. "Ooh, good! I love deals!" he smirked. "So, what's the offer? Sam's life for...?"

"Something much more valuable." Cas looked Crowley dead in the eye. Crowley's eyebrows raised; he obviously knew where this was going, but said nothing, waiting for Castiel to say it out loud.

Sam shook his head desperately as Cas raised his arms in resignation, looking down at himself. "Well... me," he said. "Let Sam go and I'll let you do whatever you want with me."

Crowley couldn't stop beaming. "Are you kidding?" he asked gleefully. "Half of the Winchester brothers for a slice at another Angel of the Lord? And their pet, on top of that? I can just imagine their faces! You've got yourself a deal!" He turned, grinning gleefully at Sam, who was straining desperately, shaking his head. "Hear that, moose? Your angel friend really did save you after all!"

He snapped his fingers and the bonds holding Sam down were released. Sam attempted to jump at him immediately, but Crowley just flicked him back to the chair. He turned to Cas, whose eyes were dark and resigned. "So, what, I just let Sam go from here and keep you?"

"Let me bring him back to where Dean is," Castiel said. "I'll be back immediately after that, but I'd prefer to know that they're both safe before turning myself over."

"Riiight," Crowley said, pressing his lips together. "Except, dear, that makes it all too easy for you to just flap away once you've dropped Sam off. If I know you, you're not one for keeping promises with demons."

Castiel looked Crowley dead in the eyes, angel to demon. "I am an Angel of the Lord, and I give you my word," he said seriously, and something in his voice was - different. Stronger. Ringing with - well, it seemed like it was literally ringing with truth.

Sam wasn't sure what just happened, although Crowley seemed impressed. "Okay, okay, I believe you," he said. "I'll let you bring little Sammy home. And not that I don't believe you, but you should know that if you do break your promise, next time I see you I'll put a bullet through both of your humans' brains! Understood?" His light tone didn't match the severity of his words, but Cas only nodded.

"Understood." He made his way around Crowley to where Sam sat, shaking his head, trying to say something around Crowley's voice block. "Come on, Sam," Cas said, reaching for his arm, and when he was that close Sam could just see the sadness and fear in his eyes, "I'm taking you home."

Flap.

-oOo-

The two reappeared near the motel. Cas was breathing heavily now and somewhat stumbled away from Sam, all the flying and transporting wearying him. Sam just stared at him in horror.

"Cas," he whispered, the pressure on his throat having disappeared, "what did you do?"

Castiel grimaced. "I just saved you from a lot of torture and, more than likely, death," he answered matter-of-factly. At the stunned silence from Sam, he added snarkily, "You're welcome."

"But you're not going to actually go back, are you?" Sam asked as Castiel started walking towards the motel room where Dean must be waiting. Cas didn't answer. Sam grabbed his shoulder and stopped him. "Cas," he said seriously. "You're not going to go back, are you?"

"Of course I'm going to go back," Castiel snapped angrily, glaring at Sam. "You heard what Crowley would do to you two if I didn't. Besides, I gave my word."

"Yeah, and what the hell does that count for?"

Castiel rolled his eyes. "I gave a promise. An angel's promise? You heard how it sounded different. I'm basically bound to it now."

"Then break the deal. Just take me back and none of this will happen," Sam tried to bargain as Cas pushed by, walking faster. Sam fell into step behind him, still pressing his point. "Cas, just listen. I don't want you to have to do this for me. Crowley knows how to torture angels, he'll -"

"I know what he'll do, Sam!" Castiel yelled, whirling. He stopped, closed his eyes, and took a breath. "Listen," he continued, quieter, "as much as I don't want you to be hurt, I'm... I'm doing this for Dean. He can't... you're the only thing that matters to him. And I can't bear to see him missing a part of himself like that. He..." Cas paused, looking at his feet. "Dean won't miss me. He never has. But without you, Dean isn't Dean. And I can't be responsible for hurting him like that." There was a pause as Sam began to realize something, began to see something hidden in Castiel's eyes, but the angel turned.

"So, end of discussion."

-oOo-

Dean bolted up out of his chair as the door opened, eyes widening in shock as he saw both Cas in the doorway and his brother.

"Sam!" he half-shouted in relief, rushing forward to make sure he was okay. Sam just slumped on the closest bed, staring off into space. Dean stared at him for a moment before turning to Castiel, who was looking at him sadly.

"Cas," he said quietly, dangerously, because this was wrong, this was impossible, "What did you do?"

Castiel did not say a word. He looked at Dean and he didn't say a word.

"Cas, tell me," Dean said, now becoming really frightened, taking a step towards his friend, "tell me what you -"

"Goodbye, Dean," Cas said simply, and he was gone.

"Cas!" Dean shouted, moving forward aimlessly. He whirled, cursing into thin air. "Sam, what the hell is he doing?"

"He's going to Crowley," Sam said, not taking his eyes off the wall. Dean stared at him in disbelief. "He made a deal."

Dean didn't register what he said for a long moment. "He... what? He made a deal?"

"Dean, Cas gave himself up for me." He laughed shortly. "Or, if what he said was true... he gave himself up for you. And now he's - I don't know. He's dying."

Dean stood, shocked, for a moment before grabbing Sam's shoulder and forcing him to face him.

"You tell me everything that angel said."

Cas.

Cas, I'm sorry.

-oOo-

It was very quick, once Castiel stopped to think about it.

All it took was another very draining flap of the wings to appear in Crowley's warehouse, where a horde of demons was ready to restrain him.

It wasn't all necessary. Not at that point, at least. Castiel had no intention of running - he might later, but for now he was living up to his promise.

But it did hurt.

It hurt when he allowed himself to be forced into a chair, looking almost exactly like the one they had kept Samandriel in.

It hurt when he saw the angel-restraining tools they had used to make the straps holding him upright.

It hurt to realize that he was really and truly captured.

Castiel closed his eyes as they fit the last chain around his leg too tight, rendering him absolutely helpless. He reminded himself why he was doing this. Who he was doing this for.

For the Winchesters.

(For Dean.)

And yes, it hurt when they fit the helmet around his head. When he felt the first screw break his skin, pushing deeper and deeper into his forehead. And when they put in the next one. And the next one.

And Castiel screamed.

He screamed because it hurt, because it hurt more than he could have imagined, and because it was reaching not only his vessel's body but the very essence of himself, drilling deeper and deeper and twisting and scraping and hurting -

(for Dean)

When he opened his eyes, the world swum and twisted, focusing vaguely on one face that was always there, always gleefully grinning, having the time of his life.

And so Crowley brought another Angel of the Lord to desperation.

Over a human.

(for Dean)

They left him for a bit. Let him sit there, gasping for breath, his "angel radio" disabled, alone (alone alone alone) with screws in his head and he cried.

Castiel cried.

-oOo-

Stay tuned: Chapter 2 will be coming very soon.

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