Chapter 3: Running Late

September 18th – Pontiac, Illinois

Castiel had been glad, happy even, that Sam had not listened to Bobby and Ellen when they had tried to convince him to cremate Dean's body. What he was about to do would have been slightly more difficult if he had. Returning a soul to a body that was not theirs sometimes created complications. And with Lilith breaking seals left and right, he needed Dean in fighting order as quickly as possible.

Chloe would help with that, he knew. He also knew he was putting an inexplicable amount of pressure on the blonde in this matter but he had looked at this situation from all angles and could not find an easier way.

Dean would turn to Sam and Bobby. But eventually Bobby would die. Eventually Sam would turn dark. Dean could not be alone at that most important time. Castiel did not always understand human beings and their emotions. He did understand compassion, even if he has never felt it himself. He knows that Chloe has an almost obscene amount of compassion for people in general. Castiel was sure that for the people lucky enough to be counted among those Chloe loved, the compassion she could provide would carry Dean through anything.

At a Phillip's Station a half a mile away from Dean's grave, Castiel stood outside the gas station, hands in the pockets of his trench coat. Chloe walked around the abandoned parking lot, using up her nervous energy. Occasionally she would kick a rock in her path. Castiel knew she was trying to be patient and he appreciated that. Chloe had come a very long way in 4 short months but patience was still not entirely a virtue of hers.

Castiel looked up at the sky. The sun hanging high above them, he straightened from his near perfected slouch and turned to Chloe. She had gone absolutely still as soon as he had looked up to the heavens.

"It is time."

Chloe nodded and entered the small gas station. She pushed herself up to sit on the checkout counter. Castiel followed her inside and stood off to her side, facing her. "Do not forget to wear these." His placed a pair of earplugs into her hand. He had warned her that he would try to speak to Dean in his heavenly voice just as he had on his first visit to Chloe.

Chloe licked her lips and nodded. "Okay." She let out a slow breath and rolled up the sleeves of her shirt, showing him her forearm. "I'm ready."

Castiel had needed the blood of a human to bind Dean to make the transition back into his body as seamless as possible. He had told Chloe of the bond that would most likely form between them upon first contact. Chloe had agreed upon it immediately. Her blind faith was near overwhelming.

Castiel took out a razor blade and pressed the corner to Chloe's skin, nicking it. Chloe barely flinched and instead watched in fascination as Castiel gathered a few drops of blood into a vial. He placed the cap back on and then pressed a handkerchief to the small cut.

Chloe held the cloth in place and watched Castiel cross the room to stand at the door. "Cas?"

Castiel looked over his shoulder at her. "It will be alright, Chloe. I will bring you Dean." And he walked out of the gas station.

Chloe nodded and let out the breath she had been holding.

For 4 months Chloe had waited for this. She remembered back to the day Castiel had first come to her. Dean had been alive that day. Running from the hell hounds hot on his heel. Chloe had hated Cas briefly in that moment. She hadn't been able to understand how he could know a man was about to die and not do something. Anything.

She now understood his reasons a little better. Fate was a tricky bitch. Sometimes you had to let certain events unravel in order to find the perfect moment in time when you could interfere and possibly change the outcome of destiny.

Chloe pulled her legs up under her and stared out the front door of the gas station, waiting. She wasn't sure what she would do the second she saw Dean in the flesh. She just hoped she didn't embarrass herself. She was only human after all.

A half a mile away in a small clearing Castiel stood staring at the wooden cross put in place in Dean's honor. What he wasn't aware of was whether Sam had known that this clearing was a gateway to hell. One of the very few left on earth. He was slightly unsure of himself and it was not a very welcome feeling. He rolled the vial of Chloe's blood in his pocket with his right hand. He prayed to his father above that he would get Dean out of hell. As he finished his mental "Amen" his left hand dipped down into the earth by his feet.

Second Circle of Hell – Underworld

Dean was licking the blood of a tortured soul off of his fingers when Castiel appeared in front of him. The guttural growl that rumbled up out of Dean's throat made Castiel's mind up for him

He had originally planned on trying to reason with Dean because removing him by force would possibly destroy part of his mind. Unfortunately, Dean didn't look all that interested in reasoning.

Castiel decided on his Plan B. He took the vial in his right hand and smashed it against Dean's bare arm. "Dean Winchester, may God himself have mercy on your soul." And with those words Dean was back in his corporeal body, 6 feet under his makeshift headstone.

A/N – I swear the chapters get longer.