Disparity

E/O Challenge - Withdraw. Set sometime during S4. As I started writing this, it basically kept coming. So, multi parter here I go.

Disclaimer - If only...


Everywhere, water. In his nose, in his mouth.

In his lungs.

Pressing down on him.

Choking him.

Killing him.

He didn't have the strength left to fight against the inevitable.

He didn't have the strength to live, not with his guilt.

The ice above him flickered with pale light and Dean prayed Sam had made it back to the motel.

Either way, it was Dean's own damn fault for chasing the Selkie onto the ice.

The cold no longer ate at his bones, and his sight began to cloud and fade.

So he simply withdrew into himself.

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Part 2

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Castiel sat silently on the cold stone bench, watching the children play happily on the park structures.

For just a moment, he could spend time in peace, away from the ranks of Heaven.

Just a moment.

But a second later, a feeling of dread washed over him. Instantly, he knew it was Dean.

Then Castiel was under water and watching a closed-eye, pale Dean withdraw slowly into the depths of the river.

Not daring to acknowledge the swirl of something in his chest, Castiel reached out and grasped Dean's wrist.

And appeared on the floor of the Winchester's motel room, ignoring Sam's surprised shout.

With Dean sprawled on the floor, cold and limp, Castiel frowned and took a breath.

Sam hovered anxiously nearby, fear welling instantly at the sight of his brother.

"Cas? What happened?" Sam asked shakily.

"I do not know," Castiel responded. "Hush."

Concentrating, Castel reached out again and placed his forefinger against Dean's clammy forehead, willing life back into the boy with a broken soul.

The pain Castiel could feel radiating from Dean's essence was astounding.

Wild green eyes shot open in panic and Dean came up swinging. Castiel simply reached out and pulled who he considered a friend into what the humans called a hug.

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Part 3.

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Dean shot back to consciousness with the screams of hell in his ears and ash in his mouth. He struggled blindly, water sloughing off in cold waves and bit back a moan when strong arms encircled him.

Trapped him.

But, as hard as he fought, there was no breaking their grip and eventually, the scent of wet angel penetrated the haze of hell.

And on instinct, Dean reached out and hugged back, latching on tightly. After long second, he could feel Sam's presence join them.

"Cas, Cas, Cas," Dean chanted mournfully. "Why?" He asked, not expecting an answer. Waves of grief and phantom pain washed over him.

"I do not know Dean. I do not know," Castiel murmured, wishing briefly there was more he could do. But he knew there was not.

"It hurts," Dean whispered.

Beside the two hunched together on the floor, Sam went still and stopped breathing.

"I am sorry Dean."

While he knew to accept it after his time from watching Dean, it still felt like a sting to Castiel when Dean withdrew.

But he just nodded, leaving Dean seated on the floor as he rose. With a quick flick of his wrist, Castiel drew a blanket around Dean's shoulders

And vanished.