Castiel didn't make Dean help him prepare for the spell. All it involved, really, was drawing some symbols on the wall in the blood they had collected. He would've had Dean do something, at least, but right now, Cas knew he was only thinking about his brother.
He wasn't wrong. Deans mind kept going back to Sam's little apartment. It was small, but it was furnished more than any house Dean had ever lived in since he was four. When Castiel had been talking to Sam, Dean took the opportunity to look around.
It was his, really truly his. There were books on the shelves; with everything from mechanic 101 guides to rituals by ancient civilizations.
There were dishes in the sink, including two wine glasses that led him to believe he had some sort of girlfriend. The bed in his room was made neatly on only one side.
The TV had been on some news channel, and empty beer bottles laid on their side on the coffee table.
It was weird, seeing how Sam had moved on. He was surprised when Castiel originally told him Sam had continued hunting. Even then he figured it wasn't going to last.
The whole experience reminded him of that day 6 years ago, when he broke into Sam's college apartment. It looked somewhat the same, minus the beer.
Back then, he was a little offended that Sam had moved on so easily. Now it made Dean feel pretty good. He was going to be okay without his big brother, which may have been bittersweet, but it was for the best.
"Dean," Castiel's voice brought him back to the present. "We're ready."
Dean nodded, walking over to Cas. He looked over the symbols he had drawn, but he didn't recognize any of them. "So, what, you just read out some Latin, and we get this show on the road?"
"I suppose so. I have to be honest with you, Dean. I have no idea what to expect. No angel I know has ever been to Purgatory."
"I guess you'll be making history, then, huh?" Dean joked, but Cas didn't smile.
"Not if she's really in there."
Dean frowned. "Let's do this, Cas."
Castiel unfolded the piece of paper and cleared his throat.
"Ianua Magna Purgatorii
Clausa Est Ob Nos
Lumine Eius Ab Oculis
Nostris Retento
Sed Nunc Stamus Ad Limen Huius
Ianuae Magnae Et Demisse
Fideliter Perhonorifice
Paramus Aperire Eam
Creaturae Terrificae Quarum
Et Dentes Nunquam Tetigerunt
Carnem Humanam Aperit Fauces
Eius Ad Mundum Nostrum Nunc
Ianua Magna
Aperta Tandem!"
(Great door of Purgatory
That is closed for us
Its light is kept away
From our eyes
But now we're standing on this threshold
Of the Great door, and humbly
Faithfully, respectfully
Are preparing for its opening
Terrible creature, whose claws
And teeth have never touched
Human flesh, is opening its jaws
Toward our world now
Great door
Open at last!)
The markings on the wall began to glow with a bright light. Dean covered his eyes, but Castiel stared straight into the white abyss. "I can feel her," Castiel shouted, although Dean could barely make out his words. "She's in here. We have to go."
"Come on, then. Let's do this!" Dean closed his eyes and held his breath. He walked forward, expecting to be jolted forward, or flung through, or to just disappear. Instead, the portal exploded in another flash, and immediately dissipated. "Wait, wait, what happened?"
Castiel frowned. "The portal was not made to accept human souls. It rejected you." He had feared this would happen. It was why he initially elected to go by himself.
"What do we do?"
"I'll reopen the portal. There is still time. But i'll have to go alone."
"No! We already talked about this! I have to come with you! There has to be another way..."
Dean could tell Castiel was frustrated with his obstinacy, but he had to put his foot down. He had to be part of this fight, of this rescue. Dean Winchester was not born to wait around and let others take care of things. "There... there may be a way to trick the portal into letting you in. But you will not like it, and the angels will really not like it."
"Okay, I'll do whatever. Screw the angels."
"If we could put you back in your body... I could... join you. My grace may adequately hide your soul, and let us both in."
"Join me? As in possess me?"
"I realize its not a great option. And the angels will not want me to put you back in your body. But it may be the only way..."
Dean groaned. It seemed like his whole life was a series of no-win choices. "If you really think it will work..."
"I wouldn't have suggested it, otherwise. But we must hurry. We don't have much time."
…
When Dean awoke, his first thought was of Hell. The last time woke up from the dead, his memories plagued his every thought as he climbed desperately out of the wooden coffin.
This time around, it was different. He didn't have to climb out of anything- he simply opened his eyes to see Castiel staring at him. And yet Hell was still his first thought.
"Are you okay?" Castiel extended his arm, in what he thought to be a very human gesture, to help Dean up. Dean, however, just shook his head, and stood himself. "Is everything... working correctly? No problems?"
Dean took a moment to shake the memories from downstairs. He cleared his throat, and for the first time realized how strange it was to be alive again. "Yeah. Yeah, man, thanks. I'm good."
"Good, because there's no time. You have to give me verbal permission, and them we can go."
"Fine. I give you permission. But as soon as we're out, you gotta go."
"Agreed."
Dean mentally argued with himself about what a dumbass decision this was, as Castiel grabbed his shoulders. Before he could say anything, a white light that Dean recognized as an angelic grace flew from Castiel, and into him.
He could feel another presence inside him, but at first, it was only that. He could still control his body, and everything seemed to be normal. Jimmy Novak's body had fallen to the ground, empty. Dean checked it for some hint of life, but Jimmy was long gone. "Castiel?" He asked aloud. "Are you... are you in there?"
Suddenly, he felt paralyzed. His arms and legs wouldn't move, but somehow he stayed upright. His mouth began to move, and his voice came out, but it wasn't his words. "Yes, I am here. Are you okay?"
"Yeah, except I can't move!" Dean complained, but his body didn't follow. Somehow, Cas still heard him.
"I know, sorry. We can't both control the body, and I must redo the ritual."
"Whatever. I hate this. Let's just get it over with."
Castiel, in Dean's voice, read the ritual again. "Ianua Magna Aperta Tandem!" The portal reopened, and this time, they were able to pass through.
And thus began a journey full of blood, danger, monsters, and "God damn it, Castiel! Stop moving me!"'s.
