Chapter 1

Everything seemed like it turned out in the end for the Winchester brothers. Metatron was finally dead, the veil repaired, angels were back in heaven, and Dean was no longer a demon. Still, there was one thing that hadn't been fixed during the never ending year. Cas' grace was still burning out. They had tried to find his grace, but it was no where they could find it. Cas didn't complain about it ever. He didn't want to be a burden to anyone. The only one he would really talk to about his condition was Hannah. His trusted sister. He couldn't talk to Dean or Sam. They had just been through the meat grinder and didn't need anything new to worry about. Instead he allowed Hannah to help him through it all, telling her about the pain and how tired he was. One day it finally happened though. It reached the point to where the truth of what was happening to Cas finally clicked. The angel of Thursday was dying. His face was sunken in from his grace no longer being able to nurture and heal Jimmy's body. His eyes didn't shine as brightly and at moments Cas would be too weak to move. It was that day that Hannah went to see the Winchesters.

"That son of a bitch!" Dean shouted, eyes blazing. "Why didn't he say something? We could have helped."

"Dean," Hannah whispered, gently squeezing the hunter's shoulder. "You know that you couldn't have. His grace is gone. Forever."

"Can't he just take a new grace?" Sam questioned. Hannah shook her head.

"That would only delay his demise. Also, do you really believe my brother would ever steal another angel's grace just to extend his own life?" Hannah spoke softly. Both Winchesters looked away from her and to their hands on the table. Hannah watched them, shaking her head. "He wants to be with you both when he goes. I know he does. I think he's just worried what it would do to you both-"

"Damn straight!" Dean shouted, pounding his fist against the table, causing the others to tense. "We've lost everybody in this god damn war, Hannah! Now we're going to lose him too!" Dean fell silent for a moment, taking a deep breath and willing himself to calm down. "I don't want to watch someone else die," the hunter whispered.

"Cas doesn't want you to either, but he's scared. He needs you. Both of you," Hannah encouraged. Dean looked up at Sam, eyes meeting and sending several different conversations back and forth. Finally they looked away and Sam finally spoke.

"We'll take care of him, Hannah. Just tell us where he is."


Dean and Sam pulled up to a hotel in Illinois. They got out of the Impala and made their way to the room number Hannah had given them along with a key. They knocked on the door when there and watched as the door slowly creaked open. Both brothers sucked in a breath. Cas stood in the doorway. His skin was paler than usual. His eyes red rimmed and watery, dark bruises from lack of sleep outlining them. Cas' body quickly straightened at the sight of them, but it did nothing to cover up how worn out the angel was.

"Hello, Dean." The angel paused. "Sam." His voice even sounded weak. Sam nodded at the angel, noticing how Dean only continued staring at Cas with widened eyes. "How did you-"

"Hannah told us, Cas," Sam stated gently. Cas lowered his head slightly and let out a long sigh. A minute passed before he finally stepped aside to let them in. The boys walked inside, taking in the room Cas has been staying in since he grew too sick to fly. It was empty except for the one bed in the room covered in several blankets and pillows. On the nightstand next to the bed was the phone Castiel had been given long ago. Cas sat down on his bed and pulled a blanket over his shoulders. He still refused to look at them.

"Cas, we know that you're...sick. Please come back with us to the bunker," Sam pleaded. He glanced at his brother in hope that Dean would say something, but the hunter only stood silently, watching the angel carefully. Cas shook his head.

"I don't want to-"

"You won't be," Sam reassured the angel. The air turned heavy then and the brothers waited for the angel to decline their offer again.

"Okay," Cas whispered softly, pulling his blanket closer and shivering as he tried to stand back up. Sam reached out to help Cas to his feet then, but Dean beat him to it. The older Winchester took one of Cas' clammy hands and pulled the angel up. Cas staggered slightly, but Dean let the angel lean on him a little for support. Cas looked up at Dean with his tired eyes, looking exhausted already from the amount of energy exerted from the small task. Dean smiled a little at the worn angel.

"Time to go home, huh, Cas?" Cas smiled and nodded. Allowing Dean to help him out of the room while Sam held the door.


NEW FIC! YAY! Please review and thanks for reading!