-Chapter Two-

There was a moment of pause as the two of them sat back in Dean's Impala, only a handful of miles away from the overtaken manor. Dean quietly entertained himself by flipping through a Busty Asians magazine.

"Seriously, man?" Sam complained, glaring at him with raised eyebrows. Dean didn't even look up. With a shrug, he flipped to the next page. Only when a thought came to mind did he turn away from the spray tanned pictures of barely clothed women.

"I want pie," he stated with urgency. Sam couldn't even try to hold back an eye roll. That was when Cas materialized in shotgun.

"There are twenty, maybe thirty demons posted in both the front and back entrances," he explained. "One door is left unprotected, but it will not be easy to get to, especially with the streets overrun with demons and blood hounds. I do not see how we are to make it back from this mission bodily intact."

Dean grunted, tossing the magazine aside. "Well, aren't you a bundle of angelic zeal. Sam, you ready for this?"

"Dean, I am not speaking in a matter of jest. We logically will not make it back from this," Castiel continued to add.

"You got the knife?" Dean shot back at his brother, who looked back and forth between them.

"Yeah," he answered at length.

Breathing in deeply, Dean smiled. "Let's go fight the Devil."

-O-O-O-O-

The drive down was only a half an hour long, with the building residing just outside of Denver. Of course, Dean parked the car a block away from the demon infested streets of Aurora, Colorado. Estimating a twenty minute walk that could easily be beaten by angel mojo, Dean slung a duffel bag full of supplies over his shoulder.

"All right, team. This is a quick, get in, get out plan of action. We're trying to avoid as many unneeded casualties as possible. Granted, we're killing every demon Buffy the Vampire Slayer style, but minus the hot blonde. Everyone on board so far?" Dean asked.

Castiel slowly shook his head, his eyebrows furrowed. Sam took a deep breath.

"I don't want to step all over our little compromise or anything, Dean, but this plan isn't making any sense. I'm all for saving people, but I have no intention of dying tonight," Sam explained.

Castiel scoffed very non-angelically. "Whether we die before or after we make it in the door does not matter. But if we wish to discuss details, then I would rather prefer death by demons inside than ripped to pieces by Hell Hounds outside. But it is no consolation."

Somewhere on the inside of Dean's head, a bruise was forming on his brain. "You know, Cas," Dean began tightly. "If you want to get voted off the island, you're performing flawlessly. I don't exactly feel like giving you a rose right now."

"Now you are just confusing me," Castiel replied almost matter-of-factly.

Sam slammed a hand down on Dean's shoulder. "Enough. We're on borrowed time. Cas, are you with us, or not?"

It took a short moment, but after a minor inner self inspection, Castiel nodded, once again retiring his hands into both pockets. "I am with you. Fortunate or unfortunately, I will follow you both to the grave. Whether that day is today or three years from now."

Sam struggled in-between smiling and cringing at the same time and Dean merely ticked his eyebrow. "Well, okay. Good. Glad to hear that." Dean bit his bottom lip and scoped the area once, as if searching for invisible threats.

"All right, the plan's simple. We go in through Cas's unprotected door. Distract the demons, Hell Hounds, Lucifer and whatever else he decides to throw at us while Cas pops around like a Tooth Fairy Usher to show everyone out. In simpler words: Sam, try not to die, I'll do the same, and Cas, by God, you get those people to safety. No matter what goes down, I want everyone else out of there and on one-way plan tickets to Vegas. Comprende?"

"Understood. I will do everything in my power," Castiel reassured.

Dean nodded. "This is a suicide mission, so try to use your brain. If that's even possible. We'll meet back out here at daybreak."

As much as Dean wanted to sit there in his car forever, he knew time was against him. If they were going to do this, they had to do it now. There was no going back. But fear still churned on. Little by little, Cas's words were eating away at him. Like ravenous wolves on a single steak. He could feel his heart being torn to shreds bit by bit. The one knife wasn't going to be enough. They needed more. Would they really survive this last case?

Tugging at the straps of his backpack, Dean nodded once to Cas, his eyes stone hard. He knew that his friend would not disappoint him. Even if he were to be the only one walking-or popping-home that evening, Castiel would not fail his task. He was an angel and therefor, following commands was his life. His existence was made merely to serve. It hurt him at times and Dean saw it, but now it would prove to be the brothers' greatest strength in winning this fight. Or at least surviving it.

"I trust you, Cas. When we get back from this, I swear I'm buying you a bell." Dean offered a brief, half smile.

Castiel returned it with numb enthusiasm before disappearing into thin air. A moment went by when he just stood there, staring at the empty space where his friend had once stood. Sam placed a hand on his shoulder and brought him back from his trance.

"We will make it out of this, Dean. We're doing the right thing."

"Yeah? Then why do I feel like I've just made the biggest mistake of my life."

What he said wasn't a question.

Author's note: Ah, jeez. These chapters are so short, they're killing me. I can't stand it. Anyhow, the next chapter I think will delve into Cas's part a little more before anything else. Really hope you all like! See you then! :D