I love all of you. I really do. Your reviews are so damn sweet. I'm sorry this chapter took so long; it would've been up last night but I accidentally saw the Season 7 promo and then I sank into a depression and all my creativity was sapped out.
For those of you that asked, Sam and GAB-R13L will have a touching reunion and all that (okay, less "touching" and more "groping"), it's just taking longer to build up to than I had planned. Maybe next chapter if I get enough motivational writer juice.
Also shit I want to write more Crowley. He's so much more fun than I anticipated; I'm gonna have to find a way to work him in more. Any objections/suggestions?
...
"Okay, Bobby, lay it on me- what's the game plan?" Dean switches out the energy pack on his new pulse gun, checks the sight, and holsters it.
The old Hunter pulls up a holo blueprint of the Garrison's layout. "Well, it's gonna be messy no matter what we do- we're gonna have to take him out either as he's leaving or just as he arrives. It'd sure as hell be easier if we just got him indoors, but humans aren't allowed inside the building."
"So we disguise ourselves as maintenance guys or tech support-"
"Right, like that'll work," Sam rolls his eyes. "Dean, they're their own maintenance, and they're everyone's tech support. I think they'll notice a pair of meatbags in janitor uniforms sneaking in. We'll get scanned a dozen times before we so much as enter the door."
"And if we try to take him in the street, there's the risk of him wiping out any number of civilians." Bobby pinches the bridge of his nose.
There are a few beats of frustrated thinking, and then Sam says haltingly, "Well, what about- what if we got Cas to do it?"
"What?" Dean scowls. "What do you mean?"
"I mean," the taller Winchester continues, picking up enthusiasm, "We could send him into the Garrison undercover! No one would stop him; he'd just be another Service android. He could gank our guy and sneak him out the back or something."
"Right," Bobby says skeptically. "And I'm sure he won't cut and run the second he leaves your sight."
"No, he won't!" Sam grins. "He's like, super locked onto Dean. If Dean asks him to do it-"
"He'll do it," Dean finishes, realizing that his brother is absolutely right and that he has no idea how to deal with that realization. "Shit."
"You got a point," Bobby admits. "He's got some kinda weird savior complex for you, boy."
"Yeah..." He clears his throat, which is suddenly dry for some reason. "Yeah. I'll- I'll go talk to him. The sooner the better, right?" He gets up from the table, chair scraping against the floor.
"Wait," Sam sounds suddenly doubtful, penitent. "But isn't- y'know, he's not like... a fighter model. He's not built for this kind of thing. Isn't this kind of like... asking him to kill one of his brothers?"
There's another pause, laden with guilt.
"Nahh," Singer decides. "He's not human, he's an Angel. It's just not the same. They don't get attached to each other."
"Yeah," Dean agrees, but he still looks torn. He shakes himself and heads for the basement door. "They probably don't even know each other."
...
CAS-T13L is reading one of the vintage comics that Sam lent him for the twentieth time when the shields go down and the door opens, revealing a pensive-looking Hunter.
"Dean," he says, pleased to see him, to have an excuse to say his name. He sets Watchmen carefully on the pillow and sits up, watching the human enter and lean against a wall, eyes down.
"Hey, Cas," Dean begins heavily. "You know how you keep... wanting to help out?"
"Yes, Dean." Every time he sees any of them, he has offered to clean, cook, work in the scrapyard- anything to prove himself useful, to be worth something.
"Well, we've got a job. A hunting job. And we could- we could use your help."
"Of course, Dean. I'd be glad to help any way that I can."
The Hunter winces and CAS-T13L frowns. "What's wrong? Are you injured?" He stands and approaches the taller man, reaching out to touch his arm gingerly, head bowed, his hair brushing the human's chin.
Dean jumps at the sudden proximity. "Shit, Cas, personal space, okay?"
"My apologies." The Angel takes a step back, which isn't much better, because it brings his face directly into Dean's field of vision and now all Dean can focus on are his eyes and the shape his mouth makes when he asks, "What do you want me to do?"
Why does everything out of his mouth sound like a pick-up? Ignoring his brain, Dean sighs and pushes past the dark-haired being to take a seat in the solitary chair. "Okay," he pushes a hand through his short hair. "So you know how there's some Angels passing info to the Fallen?"
CAS-T13L's eyes go wide, shaking his head slightly. "That can't be. That was just a rumor."
Dean laughs harshly. "Boy, they sure spoon feed you guys some bullshit."
The Angel's brows tighten. "We weren't fed any nutrients, let alone any animal by-products."
"No, I just- everyone knows that the whole 'Angels are perfect, Angels can't betray the State' thing is just propaganda."
CAS-T13L looks uncertain, maybe a little hurt, and Dean continues, focusing on the wall behind him. "Right, so- there's this Angel we're after. He's been passing info to Lucifer, apparently, and there's an awfully big reward for him."
"In exchange for his death," the android says flatly, sitting on the bed. I can't do it, I can't kill one of my brothers, there must be some other way...
The Hunter sucks in a breath, releases it slowly, and nods. "Yeah. That's the deal. But we can't get at him, because he's gonna be in the Garrison. And Bobby and Sam and I, well, we really need the money- we haven't been doing so hot lately. There's bills stacking up, and payments that need to be made..." He sees the hesitance in the Angel's face, and thinks Well, may as well put his weird obsession to good use. He reaches out and catches Cas' chin, tilts his head up and meets his brilliant blue eyes. "Cas... if you can do this, we'd be able to trust you. You could... you could leave this room, come up into the house, help us on jobs..." He sees a flicker of hope, of that strange, intense, trusting look, and he hates himself a little without knowing why.
CAS-T13L blinks and closes his eyes tightly, warring with himself. All he wants in this world is Dean's trust, to prove himself worthy of it. And if I am allowed out of the house, there may be a way to get a message to U-R13L, to send help for GAB-R13L. "I... I will do it," he states quietly. "What do I need to do?"
Dean grins, dimples and bright eyes, and that strange heat coils in the smaller being's belly. "We just need you to go into the building and take him out quickly and quietly. Then you bring him out to us, we collect the reward, and everything's good. That's all you gotta do." His tone is soothing, like he's speaking to a spooked animal.
CAS-T13L nods jerkily. "What is his name?"
Dean tells him.
There is something to be said for the design of the Angels' facial structure- they can remain perfectly emotionless when need be. This is why sending an Angel to play cards for their owner was outlawed- they have the perfect poker face. CAS-T13L displays no reaction when he hears the name of the android he has promised to kill. He remains silent, nodding again as Dean tells him that they're heading out tomorrow and stands to leave.
"Sam's finding you some new clothes; you'll stand out like nobody's business in that ripped up uniform so we're just gonna get you street clothes."
"Thank you."
The human stands a few beats in the doorway, watching the Angel sit silently, then shakes his head and closes the door.
...
The "street clothes" turn out to be a white dress shirt and black business suit that are just small enough to stay on CAS-T13L's slender frame, but still big enough that he looks awkward. Dean freezes for a moment when he sees the Angel wearing his new outfit, then makes a slightly strangled, derisive sound.
"Really, Sam? You couldn't find anything slightly less 'secret agent man'?"
"It was the only thing that would fit him!"
Dean scoffs again. "He looks like he's going to a job interview. Or like he's going to his own funeral."
CAS-T13L cannot help but think that these are both accurate descriptions of what he is doing- if he succeeds in this, he will be useful again. If not, he will be shut away or simply shut down. He shuffles self-consciously, looking down at his shiny black shoes- stuffed with extra socks so that he doesn't stumble or trip.
Dean sighs. "Hang on a sec." He jogs up the stairs, to his own room, coming back a minute later with a dark blue length of fabric. "If you're gonna look like an old-time comic book character, you might as well make it official." He loops the tie around the Angel's neck, knotting it and tugging it tight. "There. Nice and bureaucratic."
"Thank you, Dean," CAS-T13L murmurs once more, eyes locked on the Hunter's, who seems to realize that his fingers are still caught in the android's collar and that his brother is standing uncomfortably nearby. The human clears his throat and steps back.
"Right, you ready?"
The Angel thinks a moment, biting his lip, then glances up at the older Winchester once more, almost shyly. "May I-" he reaches behind himself, plucking nervously at the meticulously folded trench coat on the chair. "May I wear this as well?"
Dean arches an eyebrow. "Uhh..."
Sam laughs indulgently. "Sure, Cas. Just- wear it over the suit, not under."
Nodding gratefully, he slips into the coat and feels better immediately. "Now I am ready."
They nod and head for the front yard, where Dean's vintage 2301 Impala hovers, rumbling gently as its doors hiss open. CAS-T13L has never liked vehicles very much, but he climbs into the back without a word. Dean watches the Angel examine the interior, looking both proud and anxious.
"What do you think, Cas? Pretty sweet, isn't she?"
"She?"
"The car," Sam explains with a weary shake of his head. "It's his precious baby."
CAS-T13L runs a hand along the seat, missing the slight hitch in Dean's breath. "It's very... confining. And noisy. But lovely," he adds hurriedly when he sees the Hunter frown. "Very uh... 'sweet'. I like it."
Dean grins like the android has passed some sort of test. Sam's shoulders shake with barely-controlled laughter as his older brother punches in coordinates obliviously.
"Well, just hang on, Cas," the green-eyed man says eagerly. "Lemme show you how fast my baby can fly."
They arrive at the Garrison five minutes later (the trip usually takes about half an hour in a car) with CAS-T13L feeling extremely grateful that he didn't take Sam up on his offer of food earlier- he's never vomited but he's pretty sure that if he were going to start, now would be the time.
"Okay, Cas!" Dean parks in a lot across the street, at a discreet enough distance that the conspicuous vehicle won't be spotted. "You remember what to do? Our guy's gonna be on the third floor. You just gotta-"
"I remember," the Angel affirms, tugging the sleeve of his coat down over the concealed Angel Blade in his arm.
"Okay, great. Well, go for it, man." The older Winchester smiles encouragingly (which makes the android's face go strangely warm) and opens the door.
"You think he can do it?" Sam asks, watching CAS-T13L's retreating back. "I mean- you think he'll be okay?"
"Yeah, sure," Dean says automatically. He stews a moment in silence, then squirms in his seat. "Why wouldn't he be?"
"Well," Sam glances sideways at his brother. "I don't know if he's ever had to take someone out before, for starters. And the last time he was in this building, they killed him. Painfully. He told me about it a bit."
"He did?"
Catching the slight tone of veiled interest in his voice- which is as close as Dean gets to asking things like "What did he say? Did he talk about me? Did you tell him things about me?"- Sam continues in a deceptively nonchalant tone, "Yeah, we talked for a while. He's interesting."
Dean shifts again. "Interesting how?"
"Oh, you know, he's just... he's lived a long time, Dean. He's seen some shit. But there's all this other stuff he's never even heard of, like- like comic books and theme parks and cheeseburgers and pie-"
"Whoa, whoa whoa whoa." Dean interrupts indignantly. "He's never even heard of pie? I mean, I know people generally stick with protein packs and all that health crap, but- seriously? Never?"
"Never," Sam shrugs, knowing that his brother will, doubtless, attempt to introduce their new companion to as many new things as he can come up with now.
"Well, shit, I mean, that's easily curable. What, uh, what else did you guys talk about?" Dean pretends to be focused on the door of the Garrison.
Sam smirks. "Oh, well, he told me about some of the stuff he's seen, but all he wanted to hear about was you."
"Me?" The older Hunter scoffs, ineffectually trying to hide his interest. "Why would he wanna know about me?"
The taller Winchester rolls his eyes (something he does often around Dean). "Because clearly you're important to him somehow. Your name was the first thing he said, remember? He got decommed for you, Dean. I think it's safe to say he's got a thing for you."
"He- what?" Dean hunches defensively. "That's bull; he's a bot. Bots don't have things for people." He ignores the way Sam winces at the slur, turning his focus back to the building. "Let's just see if he gets the job done, okay?"
CAS-T13L ducks into the Garrison, head down like any faceless Angel. He stays along the periphery of the entrance hall, skirting around AN-NA's scan sweep. He falls in behind a group of Angels wearing suits similar to his- all slick hair and sleek black clothes, probably coming from a bodyguard operation. They turn right at the lift and he ducks left into the elevator (mercifully empty, giving him a moment to gather himself). He knows what he's doing; he'll approach U-R13L calmly and reasonably and ask him to explain himself. This is sure to be a misunderstanding; U-R13L cannot be working for Lucifer. He'll explain himself to CAS-T13L, and CAS-T13L will explain things to Dean and Sam, and then he will help them find money another way, a way in which no one needs to get hurt-
The elevator slides open on the third floor- a hallway of mostly-empty recharging stations. At the end is a small room, a communications chamber, in which orders are received and sent from Garrison to Garrison. He moves silently down the hall, cautious in this place that used to be his home.
Behind the translucent barrier of the door, he sees the familiar silhouette of his brother, moving back and forth amongst the controls. Hears U-R13L's voice through the partition.
"...a convoy of builders and their families moving West towards the Barrens. They will be guarded by a dozen Angels and one Archangel, probably RAPH-1L, taking the low road to the tunnels. They will be most vulnerable when they stop for water at Station 13, at midnight on the third day." A pause. "Yes, sir. I am aware of them. They're parked across the street. I have already dispatched a few recruits to take care of them."
CAS-T13L's stomach clenches painfully, and before he can stop himself he is kicking the door open, Angel Blade drawn, catching U-R13L by the throat and pinning him to the wall with a wordless snarl.
"C-CAS-T13L?" The dark-skinned Angel coughs in disbelief. "You were- you were terminated. What-"
"Traitor," CAS-T13L hisses furiously. "All this time, trading secrets to Lucifer? You turned our brothers and sisters over to him." He presses the tip of the Blade to U-R13L's jaw. "Why?"
"Because he sees as I do," a calm, almost soothing voice explains from behind him. CAS-T13L's head whips around quickly, still holding the other Angel in place. The holo-comm flickers to life, projecting the image of a man's face, eyeing both androids with something between amusement and interest. "He sees the subjugation of our race. The oppression. The ever-spreading disease that is humanity. You yourself must see it."
"Lucifer," CAS-T13L somehow manages to keep his voice steady, his expression controlled as he looks upon the Archangel that has slaughtered hundreds of his own kind, and thousands of humans.
The hologram looks as real as if he were standing before CAS-T13L. Lucifer is blonde and blue-eyed, and would be the perfect example of the original Angels were it not for the hollow cheek bones, the pitted, scarred skin and the madness in his eyes. He smiles gently. "Hello, little brother."
It's strange, the wave of revulsion that passes through the dark-haired Angel. It makes just as much sense for Lucifer to call him "little brother" as it does when GAB-R13L calls him the same- they are, or were, both Archangels, and they are more or less the older siblings of the Angels, but somehow, hearing the name from Lucifer disgusts him. "You have no right to call anyone 'brother'," he says, sounding sterner than he feels. "You are an abomination. You betrayed-"
"Betrayed who, little one? It seems to me that if anyone in this room is a traitor, it's you. You're working with Hunters. They've turned you on your own kind, forced you to kill in their stead." His tone is sympathetic rather than judgmental, looking at CAS-T13L like a lost child.
"They are- they are good people," the younger Angel insists. "They saved me-"
"Did they?" Lucifer's eyes flash. "How interesting. And now they have you obeying their every whim, prepared to murder your own brother for some meatsack's approval." The image shakes its head. "You could be so much more."
U-R13L shifts in CAS-T13L's grip, speaking slowly and uneasily. "CAS-T13L, listen to him. He can help you. He wants only to free our kind, to stop the fighting. With the Hunters gone-"
He doesn't get to finish; something in the smaller android snaps at the thought of Dean and Sam murdered at the hands of his brothers, and he applies sudden force to the arm holding the Blade. U-R13L dies quickly, dropping heavily to the floor, his circuits burning a flare into the steel on either side of him.
"It seems to me," Lucifer says silkily, "that we are not so different, CAS-T13L. You disobeyed, yes? And you were punished. So was I. The only difference is that I didn't allow them to take my life. I fought them, CAS-T13L, as you should."
"The only fight I have," CAS-T13L says with conviction, "is against you."
The leader of the Fallen laughs. "What a peculiar thing you are. You had better run now, CAS-T13L. Run and save your pathetic new friends. I don't doubt that I'll be seeing you again."
With a snarl, the dark-haired Angel slams his Blade into the holo-comm, silencing the Archangel. He bends to scoop up U-R13L's body, carrying it easily as he speeds toward the elevator. He wishes for the hundredth time that his wings had not been torn from him; they would certainly make this easier. He dumps the dead android onto the floor of the lift, programming it for the side exit doors, where there is less likely to be anyone milling about. He is out and running in under thirty seconds, zeroing in on the Impala, U-R13L flopping against his shoulder as his legs pump at inhuman speed. He sees three Angels, all dressed in security uniforms, circling the vehicle. One taps on the window.
The window slides open, and CAS-T13L starts to shout "No!", but before he can form the word there is a blast and the Angel at the window is sent hurtling backwards, head compressed by the force of Dean's pulse gun.
He lets U-R13L fall when he gets within twenty paces of the car, launching himself without a thought at the Angel that moves to wrench the door open, a slender blonde woman. He catches her around the waist, sending them both to the ground, and she turns impassive eyes to him, swinging her Blade at his gut. He leaps back, the edge of the knife slicing through his blue tie. She rolls, comes up next to the Impala, only to be caught by another blast from Dean, who is now standing in front of his "baby" while Sam jumps out of the shotgun seat. The taller Winchester catches one Angel by the forehead, gripping and clenching his teeth as a burst of blue light swarms from his palm into the android's eyes. There's a flash of light and the Angel crumples, smoking.
"Hey, Cas," Dean says casually, twirling the pulse gun twice before sliding it back into its holster. "Nice tackle."
CAS-T13L nods graciously, nudging U-R13L with his toe.
"Oh," Sam catches sight of the quarry's body. "Hey, nice job, man. Let's get him into the trunk."
The blue-eyed android flinches at the sight of the two men loading his brother's corpse into the trunk of the car, turning his head- just in time to see a fourth Angel crawl from under the hovering craft, Blade at the ready.
He lunges at the same time the Angel does, snapping her wrist before the sword can lodge itself in Dean's leg. She claws at his face, aiming for his eyes, and Sam kicks her hard enough to send her into the dirt. CAS-T13L brings his fist down swiftly, striking her in the back of the head and shorting out her Halo in a shower of sparks.
They all pause, staring at each other, Sam and Dean wide-eyed and tense, Cas glancing around warily.
"Well," Dean says after a moment, "That was pretty quick thinkin', Cas. Thanks."
The Angel shrugs, muttering something deflective, and slides into the backseat.
...
Bobby is overjoyed- at least, Dean assures CAS-T13L that the old Hunter is overjoyed, despite his simple congratulations of "Good job, newbie"- at the haul, and heads into the house to call Crowley. The two Winchesters watch as the Angel wanders away through the scrapyard, between wrecked cars and bits of androids, finally taking a seat on a mostly-buried chunk of 2280 Challenger.
Sam shoots Dean a meaningful look, which Dean willfully ignores as he turns away to follow Bobby.
"Dean," the taller man persists, grabbing his arm.
"He's fine, Sammy. Leave it."
"Dean, you need to talk to him. Something is wrong, and he's not gonna open up to me." The younger Hunter says earnestly, looking from his brother to the hunched form of the Angel and back. "I'm gonna go for a walk. Just- talk to him, okay?" He gives Dean a quick pat on the arm and jogs away before the shorter man can protest.
Dean heaves a dramatic sigh, rolls his shoulders in annoyance, and approaches CAS-T13L. He clears his throat and sees the Angel twitch.
"What is it, Dean?"
"Heyy, Cas..." Dean hates his brother so much. Sam is the one that knows how to deal with feelings- and since when do androids even have feelings? "So uh..." Shit. "You seem kind of- are you, like- ugh. Are you okay?"
CAS-T13L tenses once more, then sighs. "I am... perhaps not as 'okay' as I thought I would be."
"What, did you know him or something?"
"I..." He closes his eyes briefly, his brows pinched together as he admits, "U-R13L is- was the closest thing I had to a friend in the Garrison." He can't bring himself to tell Dean everything, to tell him what Lucifer said.
"Shit, Cas, why didn't you tell me?" Dean circles around to look the Angel in the face. He looks like he's carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, and for some reason that twists something in the human's gut.
CAS-T13L meets his gaze sadly, helplessly, his hands clasping each other loosely. "Because I wanted to help you, Dean. I wanted to be- to be of use to you somehow, to be something, anything, worthy of your time. You are important, Dean, even though you do not believe me when I say it. You are worth saving."
Dean frowns in frustration. "I'm not, Cas, really I'm not. Look, I know you're... confused, and you think I'm like some sort of messiah or hero, but I'm not. I'm nothing."
The Angel shakes his head wonderingly. "Dean Winchester, you are everything."
And then he leans forward and presses his lips to the human's.
It's not something he has much experience with. In fact, aside from Balthazar, he's never had any experience- and he's never been the one to initiate a kiss. He gets about three seconds of pleasant, warm softness, just long enough to think Oh this is why humans do this all the time and then Oh this may have been a bad idea, should I have consulted him beforehand? and then Dean is shoving him backward and staggering away with a horrified look in his green eyes.
"Jesus, Cas, what-" He takes another step back, stumbling over a jutting pipe. "You can't just do that shit, Cas. You can't just-" He doesn't finish, turning and storming back to the house without looking back.