Hello my faithful readers. I apologize for the delay and I thank you for your patience. I will try to knock out another chapter today. If not, I will definitely have a couple chapters for your reading pleasure in a couple of weeks once I return from vacation.
Sam groggily awakes as he hears his name called from a distance. "Sam? Sam!" Castiel shouts as he hurriedly stalks the bunker. "Is anyone here? Dean?" Castiel begins to believe Metatron was not lying and Dean is really dead. As he turns a corner, he sees Sam resting on his elbows, slowly trying to stand up.
"Sam! Are you alright?" Castiel asks as he runs to Sam and helps him to his feet. "Where is Dean?" Castiel inquires as he helps Sam to Dean's bed and takes a seat in the chair Crowley once occupied. "Is he?" Castiel hesitates. Partly because he does not want to know the answer if it is anything similar to what Metatron revealed to him. The other part of him does not want to face the other possibility.
Sam looks at Castiel. He sees the glint of hope in his eyes that everything is okay and does not want to destroy it. He knows Castiel cares a great deal for Dean and, maybe when he finds out what happened to Dean, will know of a solution. Either way, he knows Castiel can handle the truth and begins to tell him what happened.
"Cas," Sam begins as he leans forward and grips the foot of the bed, "When Dean and I left to confront Metatron…he sucker punched me and knocked me out. When I came to and found them…" Sam pauses. He does not want to finish the story. Castiel may be able to handle the truth but, he does not want to tell it.
"Sam. What happened after you found them?" Castiel pushes as he leans forward in the chair, clasping his hands.
Sam reluctantly continues. "When I found them, I saw Metatron stab Dean in the heart with an angel blade." Sam looks down to the floor avoiding eye contact with Castiel. He shakes his head and continues. "If stabbing him wasn't enough, he then twists the blade." Sam's eyes start to water as he turns to look at Castiel. "You should've seen the look on his face Cas when that bastard stabbed him. How he looked at me when he saw that I witnessed everything." He shakes his head and returns his gaze to the floor. "By the time I got to Dean, Metatron disappeared. I grabbed him off the floor and tried to get him to the hospital but it was too late. He died in my arms Cas." Sam rested his head in his hands and didn't say another word.
Castiel looks at Sam and slowly shakes his head as unshed tears fill his eyes. He hoped Metatron lied just to mess with him. A tear falls from his eyes as he learns Metatron was telling the truth. Dean, his best friend, his family, is dead. The one he dragged out of Hell and gave up Heaven for, would've done anything for, is dead. "Damn it Dean." Castiel somberly mutters as he glances around Dean's room. He notices the scattered and broken items on the floor. Before he could ask what happened, Sam speaks.
"This is my fault you know, what happened to Dean." Sam admits as he sits up. This would not have happened if I didn't shut him out and treat him the way I did."
"This is not your fault Sam. Dean's death is not your fault." Castiel reassures but to no avail as Sam shakes his head in disagreement.
"It is Cas! I'm the one who basically told him we weren't brothers. I told him I wouldn't do the same for him if he were dying." Sam replies, dramatically pointing to himself as he speaks; His tone rising in unison with his anger. "I let him walk away that night. He never would've teamed up with Crowley and took on that damned mark if I were there. I let him walk away Cas!"
Castiel deadpans as he answers Sam. "You were speaking out of hurt and anger Sam. Also, you don't know what would've happened if things were different. That's the thing with free will; you don't know the after affect of a decision until the decision is made. Dean would've done anything for you and I know for a fact you would do the same." Castiel calmly replies to Sam. "We are all at fault here. Dean didn't know the angel possessing you was Gadreel and not Ezekiel. I didn't know Naomi was telling the truth about Metatron. How could I? We each made a decision that had a bad outcome."
Sam exhales sharply and stands up. He then begins to straighten up Dean's room. "Yea, if you say so. All I know is Dean did not deserve what happened to him. There has to be a way to fix this." Sam flexes his jaw as Metatron runs across his mind. "If I ever get my hands on Metatron, I'll kill him." Castiel watches Sam as he reveals Metatron's current situation. "We have Metatron, Sam. We revealed his plan to all his followers and he was captured." Castiel saddens as he continues. "This was not accomplished without loss. Gadreel sacrificed himself for the cause. He was a good soldier."
All Sam focused on was Metatron being captured. He turns to face Castiel, rage and determination set in his eyes. "Take me to him, NOW!" Sam demands.
"No, Sam." Castiel retorts. "Not with the pure rage and murder I see in your eyes. That will not solve anything." Castiel's response shocks Sam, but only for a moment. Anger quickly replaces shock as he grabs Cas by the collar of his trench coat and lifts him from the chair. "Excuse me? Did you just say no?" Sam challenges.
"I will not take you to see Metatron Sam!" Castiel responds, accepting the challenge. "You need to calm down. Killing him will not solve anything. "We need to-"
Sam punches Castiel before he could finish his sentence. He falls onto the chair, knocking it over in the process. Sam leans over Castiel and grabs him again. "Need to do what? What the hell do we need Metatron for Cas? What, in the world, is he still useful for?" Sam spats out.
"In case you didn't know Sam, time isn't exactly on my side!" Cas yells. "My grace is almost gone and I'm dead once it's completely spent. Until I get my grace back and Heaven is completely restored, I'm not killing him." "If hitting me makes you feel better go right ahead, but I'm not taking you to Metatron."
Sam breathes heavily as he trembles with anger. So many emotions run through his head-anger, sadness, anxiety. He knows he shouldn't take it out on Cas. He's just so angry, it is hard for him to contain. His breathing begins to taper off and he loosens his grip on Cas' collar. He grabs Cas' arm and helps him on his feet. He then sets the chair back on its legs and sits down.
"I'm sorry Cas." Sam sighs, leaning back onto the chair. "I just want him to pay for what he did to Dean. Crowley will pay too, for that matter. I wasn't thinking about what he did to you. You're family too Cas."
"It's okay Sam, I understand." Castiel accepts Sam's apology, recognizing the burst of anger for what it was. "Metatron will pay for what he did to Dean." Castiel assures Sam. He then looks around the room and glances at a picture of Dean when he was a child. He walks up to the dresser and picks up the picture. His suspicion begins to grow as he wonders where Dean is and why Sam said Crowley will pay for what he did.
"Sam, what did you mean when you said Crowley will pay for what he did to Dean? Where is Dean, Sam?" He turns to Sam and awaits his answer.
Sam chortles slightly, shaking his head as he looks up at Castiel and responds.
"We got work to do Cas. We have to save Dean."