Previously the other night…

Cas walked around Bartholomew's headquarters. The other angels had all left when the angel died. Well, most of them. Two or four had stayed behind to join in the fight with Castiel. Not even they were here though. Cas had sent them all away for now. The angel tapped his finger against one of the computer keys, taking in the welcomed silence.

Cough

A hand flew to Castiel's throat as it was assaulted by the scraping sound. Another burst from his lips. Then there was another, and another, and another. Shaking fingers wrapped around the edge of a desk, trying to hold up Cas' choking body. Soon Cas felt something fly from his mouth and into the shaking hand he had pressed to his lips in attempt to hold in the coughs. His hand peeled away from his mouth and his eyes widened at the sight of scarlet slowly dripping down from his palm and to the sleeve of his trench coat. "No. Not yet."

"Oh, you don't look to hot, do you?" a voice asked from behind. Cas turned around, still clutching the table and met the eyes of Metetron. The angel was giving him a pitied look, but Cas could see in the angel's eyes that he was pleased with this outcome. "I suppose that's why angels don't just go stealing other angel's graces, huh?" the new ruler of heaven continued to tease. He paused, waiting for Cas to retort back, but the fallen angel made no move to comment. Metatron looked slightly disappointed about this and carefully shoved a hand into his breast pocket. "I've come to give you something." A blue light trapped in a small crystal container dangled from Metatron's hand and Castiel felt every bit of him tug towards the light.

"My…my…grace?" Cas choked, his coughing still holding him in a firm grip. Cas reached for it weakly as it was dangled in front of him, but it was pulled from his grasp.

"It's never that simple, Castiel. You should know that," Metarton chuckled. Cas' face fell and he stared at Metatron with hatred. Metatron pressed his palm against Cas' face. "I only ask one thing. Bring me Dean Winchester and your grace shall be returned." Cas pulled away from the opposing angel, barring his teeth angrily.

"I will never give Dean to you," Cas stated loyally. Metatron rolled his eyes and shoved Cas' grace back into his deep pocket. Cas sagged, tensing only when another coughing fit hit him. When he wobbled and almost crashed to the floor, Metarton caught him and helped the sick angel to the floor. Blood spilled from Cas' lips in even greater quantities now and fear was starting to shake the poor angel. Fire blazed inside him and he could feel his insides burning away to nothing. "Wh…What's happening?" Cas croaked, energy draining quickly.

"Oh, I'm just speeding up the process, Castiel," Cas' eyes widened and he fell onto his hands as another wave hit him. Metatron rubbed Cas' back, whispering soothingly in a sick sinister way that made Cas' skin crawl. "It doesn't have to though, Cas. Bring me your hunter and I will free you of your pain," Metatron whispered. Cas pushed Metatron away with bloodied hands and collapsed to the floor, energy spent.

"I won't betray, Dean," Cas whispered before closing his eyes. Metatron snorted and backed away from the angel.

"If you change your mind all you have to do is pray." Cas gasped as the pain drifted away from his body as Metatron disappeared and Cas' coughing slowed along with the blood oozing past his lips. The angel lay there on the tiles for a while, letting his breath return to his blood drowned lungs. What was he going to do? Should he tell Dean and Sam? No, they had enough problems. There was nothing for them to do about it anyway. He was going to drown in his own blood no matter what without his true grace.

"Castiel?" Cas opened his eyes to see that he was not alone anymore. Standing over his was one of his brothers that joined him after the fall of Bartholomew. "Are you alright? Where did all this blood come from?" Cas waved off his brother's questions and pushed himself onto his feat, allowing his brother to help steady him when he wobbled. "It is your grace. I…I can feel it. Castiel…"

"It is alright, brother," Castiel whispers, wiping a hand across his lips to smear away the blood that is still lingering on them. His brother stared at him with worry, something Castiel never thought to see from his family after the hell he's thrown them into.

"Castiel, what can I do?" Castiel stared at the blood on his hands for a moment before meeting his brother's eyes.

"Brother, there is…nothing to be done about my fate." The angel opened his mouth to argue, but Castiel continued speaking. "But there is something that I can do to protect our people when I am gone." Castiel squeezed his brother's shoulder. "There shall be no more following. Make sure of that for me? Angels must think for themselves now." Castiel's brother nodded and relief spread throughout Castiel's face. "Good, now what have you found out about Metatron?" The air around them instantly changed and the angel led Castiel towards one of the computers.

"We have not found much about Metatron, but Gadreel has been detected multiple times," the angel stated, pressing a button and bringing up several images of Gadreel. "He's been killing angels. From what we believe, most are the angels that tortured Gadreel in Heaven, but others are just random angels." Castiel frowned at the image of Gadreel on the screen. What was he up to?

Well, it definitely isn't a cold. Thanks for reviewing!