Looking back at their friend, they could see how swiftly his strength was waning. The Angel's eyes stared ahead of him, unfocused, swerving from one brother to the other. They could feel him shaking under the hands resting on his shoulders, slowly slipping into a state of shock. Hooking an arm under Castiel's right shoulder, he motioned for Sam to do the same on the other side. Holstering his weapon, Sam looped the left arm around his shoulders, crouching down low in order to do so. All the while, the Angel had been struggling to keep his eyes open. "Cas? Castiel! Don't fall asleep now, man. Try to stay awake just a bit longer, okay?" Dean gently shook the Angel, trying to get his attention. Glassy blue eyes opened slowly, searching for Dean's face; the Angel nodded slowly to show he had heard the hunter.
"Sam, on the count of three we lift him, got it?" His brother acknowledged him with a headshake, attention focused on the Angel hanging in between them, his face pale and sweaty. Gently shaking Cas again, it took a bit longer this time before his eyes opened again, shifting from side to side, trying to find Dean again. After succeeding that task, he tried to keep his eyes focused, but the blue eyes were nearly dark with pain. Sighing worriedly at the Angel's weakened state, Dean gently shook him again. They could not risk Cas falling asleep again, in his condition it would be doubtful if he ever woke again…Seeing the blue eyes disappear behind the eyelids again, he raised his voice at the Angel. "Come on, Cas. You hear me? Huh? Don't leave me hanging here, man. Talk to me!"
Eyes opening to slits; the Angel visibly tried to make a sound, but instead the effort resulted in a coughing fit, eyes slipping closed again.
No longer able to watch the scene in front of him, Sam gently reminded him of what needed to be done. "Dean, it's no use. He's too tired. We've got to move now, get him somewhere we can take care of him. And I think if we lift him, it might be better for him to be out cold…"
Glaring at his brother for a moment, he soon sighed. Sam was right, he knew that. But he couldn't stand seeing Cas in this state. Turning his head to look at his brother, he saw the same worry he felt reflected in his brown eyes. "I know Sammy, you're right."
Despite the situation they were in, Sam could not help to feel pride swell up inside. It wasn't often that Dean went along with one of Sam's ideas these days, their strong bond broken and nearly shattered beyond repair after what he had done last year. To trust Sam now, with Castiel's life at stake, it felt as if a bit of that bond had been restored. It was a way for Dean to apologize for his behaviour recently and Sam knew to accept it for what it was…
Returning his attention to the Angel, Dean noticed he had already lost his battle to stay conscious in the short time he had talked to Sam. Eyes closed and jaw slack, the Angel look very young at that moment…
Sighing, Dean readjusted his grip on the Angel's shoulder. "On three, Sammy…" Nodding, Sam also took a better hold of the injured man. "One…two…three."
Slowly rising, they lifted Castiel until only his feet were resting on the floor, each grabbing hold of the man's waist to distribute the weight between the two of them. Not that the Angel was a heavy burden, he was surprisingly light, until they remembered that last time Jimmy admitted to not having eaten during the time Castiel had been inside of him. It was the sound that the Angel's back made when he was pulled upright, that had them feeling sick. That coupled with the scream that started to tear from Cas' throat, they paused for a few seconds, afraid they had done irreparable damage to him.
"I'm sorry Cas. We're doing this as painless as we can…"Dean whispered in the Angel's ear, hoping somehow it would be heard. Carefully manoeuvring the couple of yards to the exit of the warehouse, it seemed to take forever before the light of the moon was visible again, painting the Impala in a milky-white gleam. Carrying the Angel outside proved to be more difficult, the toes of his shoes scuffing the ground, getting stuck behind small plants and rocks. Adjusting his grip, Dean grunted with exertion. Because of the difference in height with Sam, most of Castiel's weight landed on his shoulders.
Reaching the backdoor of the Impala, Dean quickly unlocked it, before handing the keys over to Sam, who stared at them in near shock. "Sam? You mind driving her back?" Sam blinked, still staring at the keys in his hand, not believing Dean's words. He wanted him to drive his baby? He was only ever allowed to do that when Dean was injured, sick or drunk. Quickly nodding, he accepted the keys from Dean, who sighed, avoiding eye contact for the moment.
"Help me with Cas first, will ya. You get in from the other side and take him from me. I want him stretched out across the backseat. "Nodding again, Sam slowly eased himself out from under the Angel's arm, gently leaning him against the car. Hurrying towards the other side, he quickly opened it…
Holding the Angel upright against the car, he felt his head loll around until it rested on his shoulder. " O-Oliv…via" Frowning, Dean wondered what the Angel meant. Was that a name he just whispered or was it just a cry of pain. Steadying his hold on Cas, he sighed. "Just hang on, all right Cas. You're doing great…"
"Dean, you ready?" Sam questioned from inside the Impala. Blinking, Dean nodded, grabbing the Angel under his armpits. "You grab his feet, Sam" Together they gently manoeuvred Cas inside. While Sam pulled him as close to the door as possible, Dean tried to position him in a way that would hurt his back the least. Gently lowering the Angel's head on the backseat's leather, he noticed the blood that stuck to his hand as he pulled it back. He had thought that Cas had been able to heal all his bleeding wounds, but apparently that was not the case. But than again, maybe this one had reopened because of their movements. Taking off his jacket to use as a pillow, Dean softly closed the door, as Sam closed his, noticing that the smaller man fit precisely between them.
Adjusting his rear-view mirror, Sam cast a glance at the still form on the backseat. At least now he was no longer alone, now they were able to take care of him for once, after all the Angel had done for them…
XXX
Two hours later found them at the motel. The ride back had been quiet and a bit longer now that Sam was driving, being more careful with the law as Dean had been…
Now the unconscious Angel was lying on the bed closest to the heating. Sam cranked the heating up to its highest, while Dean made to untie the man's eternally present tie. The Angel was shaking like a leaf. But before they could do something about that, they had to check how serious his injuries really were. It was standard procedure by now for the brothers. First wounds, than rest.
The shaking worsened when Dean lifted his upper body from the matrass, peeling both the rain coat and the suit jacket of the slim shoulders; the spot under his head already colouring red with blood.
"It feels so wrong to undress an Angel, you know" Dean murmured, trying to lighten the mood a bit. "Seeing him like this is wrong in any way Dean" Sam responded, before straightening. "I'll go get the first aid kit"
"Righto. Don't forget to close her again!" Dean yelled after his brother's retreating form. After hearing the mumbled reply, he shouted again, grin lighting his face for a moment. "Don't you roll your eyes at me…Bitch!"
Taking up a position on the edge of the bed, he gently started unbuttoning the bloodied and cinched white dress shirt, while listening to the creaking of the Impala's doors. "She needs to be oiled" Dean briefly thought, before returning his attention back to Castiel, as his breathing suddenly became shallower. His face, which had been peaceful up to now, scrunched up in a pain filled frown. "Mhhmmm…."
"Cas? You there?"
The Angel visibly struggled to gain consciousness again. But just before the fluttering eyelids opened fully, Castiel's body suddenly went completely slack again and sighing, his body returned to his former state of being oblivious to the world around him…
Carefully keeping an eye on him, Dean continued with his task of undressing the Angel. He would have never lived it down if the Angel woke up to that…
Sam returned to the motel room with the first aid kit, just as Dean pulled Castiel's arm out of the left sleeve. "Wow…" Dean couldn't help but exclaim in shock, as huge bruises suddenly showed, the black and blue colours spreading out around the Angel's heart and lungs.
"What the Hell?" Dean exchanged a shocked look with his brother, not used to those words coming out of his little brother's mouth. "That must have been one hell of a beating, Dean. He's lucky to be alive if you ask me…"
XXX
A/N Aranna Undomiel:
Thank you for those who complemented me for the translation, that's always great to hear :D And as for EtherealSiren: I've taken your advice to heart, hope you'll find it easier to read now. And don't worry to give me advice, I'll gladly accept it. After all, English is not my first language, so I'm sure there will always be some things left that can be improved ;)
A/N 2:
Thanks for all the great reviews. Please continue to let me know what you think of this story!
X
Josi