A/N: As promised, I'm back! See the first chapter for the disclaimer. I hope you guys enjoy this last chapter, and please review. :)
Out of Hope, Part 2
Sam was sitting on a bench, holding his cell phone in his hand. Three weeks, and he kept expecting the same thing- for Dean to call and say where he was. For Dean to let Sam know he was okay. For three weeks, Sam waited.
And for three weeks, Sam was disappointed.
Sam wasn't even sure where to look anymore. The list of people who wanted to torture or kill Dean wasn't exactly short. And, it wasn't entirely restricted to humans. Evil spirits, demons, witches… and that was only the beginning.
Sam wouldn't give up, though. Not until he had a solid answer. Because if the reverse had happened, Dean wouldn't give up until Sam was found.
Sam's phone rang, but it wasn't the number he was hoping for. "You got somethin', Cas?" he answered hopefully.
"Where are you?" Castiel replied, urgency in his voice while not answering the question.
"Riverfront Park, Daytona Beach, Florida."
Before another word could be spoken, Castiel was beside Sam. The younger man turned his head toward the angel.
"You find something?" Sam asked again.
Castiel sat down, looking more grave than usual. "Dean was abducted by an angel," he replied softly.
Sam turned sharply, glaring at Castiel as his temper flared. "It took you three weeks to find out that one of your own kidnapped Dean?"
"This angel no longer answers to God or anyone else," Castiel said, his voice even despite the hints of emotion swirling underneath him. "It makes him that much harder to figure out and track down, since he is on the run and afraid of being killed."
Sam's gaze eased a bit out of anger as confusion settled in too. "What angel doesn't answer to God?"
Castiel sighed softly. "Zachariah."
Sam tilted his head. "Zachariah has Dean?"
"Yes."
"Where?"
"Northern Maine."
"Where in Northern Maine, Cas? Dean's been missing for almost a month. He could be dead already."
Castiel shook his head. "He's not." He stood up, and Sam followed suit.
Before either could blink, they were standing outside an abandoned cabin. The air was frigid, and the ground was covered in a fresh blanket of snow. "Dean is in the basement," Castiel said gravely. "Go in through the broken window in the back, straight into the basement. I will come down for both of you when the time is right."
"Cas," Sam said softly, knowing that even if Zachariah was cut off and hiding, he was still stronger than Castiel, whose grace wasn't yet completely restored.
"Go," Castiel ordered.
Sam sighed and nodded, sneaking around the back of the house as Castiel walked straight through the front door.
"Zachariah," Castiel said, drawing the once-senior angel's attention.
Zachariah stiffened, turning around. "Castiel, what are you doing here?" he asked.
Castiel held his position as Zachariah stepped closer. "You are to be sent back to Heaven to be dealt with."
Zachariah scoffed. "You do not have the strength to fight me, even in my weakened state. And you, especially, cannot make me go back."
Castiel narrowed his eyes ever so slightly. "I am aware that I may not be strong enough. However, I did not come alone."
Zachariah shook his head. "Sam Winchester cannot help you now. He cannot even help his brother."
Castiel allowed himself the tiniest smirk of victory. "I never said that Sam Winchester was my backup."
Another figure made his way through the front door, causing Zachariah's mouth to drop open in utter shock.
*~*~*~*
Sam made his way into the backyard, finding a window with a hole in it. Just as Castiel said. He peered through it, finding the cage which held an extremely defeated Dean. "Dean," Sam called softly through the hole.
Dean refused to stir.
Sam kicked the window, shattering it further. The breaking glass got Dean's attention, and the older brother looked at the shards with wounded interest. Sam cleared out the jagged edges of the window before lowering himself down into the basement.
"Dean," Sam said again, standing up on the floor.
"S'mmy?" Dean asked, looking up through half-closed eyes.
"Yeah, it's me. I'm gonna get you out of here, okay?"
Dean shook his head slowly. "But…"
"Zach's gonna get what's coming to him." Sam broke the lock off the cage, throwing open the door.
Dean didn't make a move toward the open door, his current amount of pain too much for him to move. Sam made his way into the cage, kneeling next to his brother.
"Dean, talk to me," Sam said, concerned.
"I hate angels," Dean replied agonizingly, his voice dripping with malice.
Sam scoffed. "Me too. Let's get you out of this cage."
Dean lazily nodded, allowing for Sam to do most of the work. "How exactly are we getting out of here?" the older brother finally asked as Sam positioned himself to take the brunt of Dean's weight.
"Cas didn't explain that part," Sam replied carefully, starting to move his brother.
Dean hissed. "Oh, son of a bitch."
Sam frowned. "I'm sorry."
Dean shook his head again as Sam got both of them out of the cage. As the two of them stood up on the basement floor, with Dean leaning heavily against Sam, Castiel and Gabriel made their way into the basement.
"Hello, Dean," Gabriel, still wearing the face of the Trickster he had been hiding in, said.
"Are you okay?" Castiel asked, concerned.
"No," Dean answered honestly as he continued to rely on Sam to hold him up.
"My apologies."
Dean shook his head, not wanting to hear Castiel's words. "Not right now."
Castiel flinched lightly, but nodded.
"Well, rather than sit here, let's get you to the hospital," Gabriel said.
"Can't you just work your angel mojo and make him better?" Sam asked.
"Let's get you back to Daytona Beach and figure things out from there," Castiel said, looking first at Gabriel, then the brothers.
"Why?" Dean mumbled.
"That's where the car is," Sam said softly.
Dean nodded. "Get me to the car. I'll be okay."
"Dean, you're covered in blood," Gabriel said softly.
"Yeah, I'm aware of that," Dean replied. "Been that way for a few weeks now. Just get me the hell out of here."
Gabriel nodded as Castiel cringed slightly again. The archangel snapped his fingers, transporting the four of them to the park Castiel had met Sam.
"Daytona Beach?" Dean asked, looking at Sam.
Sam shrugged. "At least it's warm," he answered.
Dean tilted his head back and forth dismissively.
"Now what?" Gabriel asked, looking over at Castiel.
Castiel looked over to Dean.
"I'm fine," Dean muttered.
"You're leaning on Sam," Gabriel objected. "You're bleeding."
"I think I just want to heal this one on my own, okay?"
Gabriel shrugged as Castiel furrowed his brow.
"We'll get you to the hospital," Sam said.
Dean shook his head. "I don't need the hospital," he refuted. "I'm tired, I'm hurt, but I'm not dyin'. Zachariah had just reset and started again when you guys got there."
"What exactly does that mean?"
Dean just looked at him.
"Zachariah can be rather torturous when he wants," Castiel said, looking at Sam.
"If I'm not needed anymore, then I'm heading back," Gabriel said.
"Gabriel?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you."
Gabriel shook his head. "No thanks is needed, brother. I told you before, I like these guys." With a snap of his fingers, Gabriel was gone, leaving Sam and Castiel to lead Dean to the Impala.
"So, you got the Trickster to help you?" Dean asked, looking at Castiel.
Castiel shrugged. "He owed me after throwing me into Hell while you guys were in TV land," he said.
"He threw you into Hell?" Sam asked while Dean climbed slowly into the passenger's seat.
Castiel merely nodded.
"So now what?" Dean asked.
"Good question," Sam said. "We'll stay here for now, I guess."
"Good. I can use the warmth."
"I should be going," Castiel said, starting to back away.
"Hey Cas," Sam said.
Castiel stopped.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome," Castiel said.
"Does that mean you're done on Earth?" Dean asked.
Castiel shrugged with a slight smile. "I'm not sure my work will ever be done down here."
Dean nodded.
"Take care," Castiel said before flying away.
"Come on, Sam," Dean said. "Let's go."
"Yeah, okay," Sam said, walking around to the other side of the car and climbing in. "We'll get to the motel, you can shower, and I'll get something to eat."
"Sounds good."
Sam nodded, starting up the Impala.
After a few moments of silence, Dean shifted and groaned out, "I really hate Zachariah."
"Yeah," Sam breathed softly. "Me too."
The End