A/N: Phase Five killed me a little bit ngl. I have such a wing!kink though unf. Love you guys x

Sam looked helplessly around the dark room, the musty, damp air clogging in his throat as he tried to take level breaths. He took in the terrified faces of the man and woman tied together on the other side of the underground cavern. Sam vaguely recognised them as two of Bobby's hunter pals he hadn't seen in years. He thought he could dredge up a memory of John getting into a car with them, telling him and Dean he'd be back in a few days, and to stay with Uncle Bobby till then.

Dean and Cas were over on his left, also tied together, back to back, sitting on the floor like the rest of them. Sam himself was tied to a complete stranger, a young man, judging by the tone of the little whimpering noises emanating from behind him. All in all, Sam wasn't entirely sure how they'd ended up in such a predicament.

If he peered hard at the earthy, greyish walls, he could vaguely make out some very Egyptian-looking hieroglyphics. Well, at least Bobby hadn't been barking up the wrong tree. Within moments of entering the dark, underground room at the end of the tunnel, the Winchesters and Cas had been knocked to the ground by a screeching blur of something distinctly ectoplasmic, which in hindsight was probably this Pharaoh ghost/spirit/whatever they were supposedly here to find.

That was about five minutes ago. Sam caught Dean's eye across the room, wordlessly asking him if he was alright. Dean nodded, looking mildly annoyed at the predicament, but otherwise fine, and glanced over at the shaking man and woman tied together on the other side of the room.

At that moment, a dreadful screech rang through the air again, and Sam wished he had his hands free to clamp them over his ears. The boy he was tied to began struggling furiously at the sound, and clearly that meant bad news.

A very old, very angry looking man flickered into life in front of Sam, and the hunter had to stop himself from exclaiming how cool it was that he was actually wearing a Pharaoh's headdress like the ones he'd read about in history books like the true nerd he was.

"You will pay for interrupting King Khaman's slumber!" The spirit announced in a crackling voice. "One of you! Sacrifice yourself to the God Osiris and let me continue my journey to the afterlife in peace."

Wow, this guy behind him sure could struggle, thought Sam, wincing as the rope tying their hands together chafed his wrists. The Pharaoh-spirit narrowed his eyes when nobody spoke.

"You!" It said, pointing a flickering finger towards the boy behind Sam. Dammit, thought Sam, this is why you should just lay low in these situations.

The spirit disappeared and materialised again closer to Sam and the boy, stretching out a chalky, thin hand towards his victim. The boy started to scream.

"Wait!" Yelled Sam over the noise, his heart hammering, and a desperate plan half-forming in his mind. "Take my brother, Dean! He loves being sacrificed, he's always banging on about how much he wants to be killed and offered up to Egyptian Gods!"

The spirit froze, and the boy's screaming dulled to a whining whimper once more.

"WHAT?! Sam are you out of your goddamn mind?!" Dean yelled from across the room, starting to struggle himself now.

"Sam, I must agree with Dean, here! We cannot let the boy die, I see that, but there must be an alternative-"

Dean's yell of panic interrupted Cas as the spirit appeared beside him, it's bony fingers reaching out to him menacingly.

"It's okay, Dean!" Sam yelled, trying to sound sure of himself when his heart was racing. Oh fuck please don't let me accidentally kill my brother because I want him to be gay for an Angel "Cas will save you!"

Castiel stared at Sam, dumbfounded and incredulous, but started to try and struggle out of his bonds anyway. The spirit's fingers edged towards Dean's exposed neck, brushing his skin so that he yelped.

It happened in a flash, and Sam was so glad he got front row seats because man, this was a once in a lifetime thing to see. Castiel looked around him helplessly, seeming to be practically on the brink of tears, and tried one last futile attempt to release himself from what Sam was starting to suspect were cursed bonds wrapped around his and Dean's wrists.

Then, in an explosive flash of near-blinding white, two enormous ebony wings shot out from Castiel's shoulder blades, their span nearly reaching halfway across the room, the minimal light from the tunnel sliding over the glossy feathers in a magnificent technicolour sheen.

The spirit roared and reeled backwards, giving Castiel enough space to wrap the wings securely around Dean, still sat behind him, enveloping him in the dark black masses. The Pharaoh was not easily put off however, and with a second louder roar he charged at the now completely obscured Dean, only to be ripped apart by flames as the feathery extensions of Cas's grace touched his ghostly flesh.

Back outside the hole, Dean seemed to be in some kind of trance. Castiel transported them all back outside with a couple of his special forehead taps, the bonds around their wrists having broken as soon as the spirit was vanquished.

Sam took it upon himself to ensure the physical wellbeing of everyone who had been down in the burial site, and get the full story from the other hunters. They'd discovered the site three days ago, and had narrowly escaped the spirit then. Today they'd decided to return, armed with salt and iron etc, only to be immediately captured and held prisoner until the arrival of the Winchester's and Cas. The boy had apparently been there since this morning, having noticed the open tunnel and decided to explore. He had been bunking off school at the time.

Sam turned back to Dean once they were all on their way, (actually receiving a grateful hug from the boy who's life he'd saved) only to find him staring into space, and unresponsive to any questions asked of him.

Castiel appeared suddenly, and… okay wow. His wings in the light of day – well the light of early evening – were nothing short of spectacular. They were huge, stretching way above his head, the feathers trembling in the slight breeze. The setting sun cast an orangey glow over one of them, giving the illusion of an amber gradient. Sam couldn't take his eyes off them.

Dean whirled around, took in the sight of Cas standing suddenly before them, his wings folded over into his back, and promptly crumpled to the floor.

"Dean!" Cas exclaimed, and immediately reached down to assist him. Dean scrambled along the floor, away from his outstretched hand, and that was the moment Sam noticed the prominent bulge in the front of his jeans.

"Woaaaaaah!" Sam cried, shielding his brother's erection from view with his hand and letting out a high pitched laugh. "I did not need to see that, dude."

"Shut up, Sam!" Dean growled from down on the ground, quickly getting up and turning away to preserve his modesty.

"What's wrong, Dean?" Cas asked, sounding distressed. "Sam, what's happening?"

"Cas, could you maybe tuck the wings away now?" Sam asked, near helpless with laughter as Dean tried to keep his back turned to Castiel, who was desperately trying to turn him around.

Cas stopped and looked at Sam. "Of course." He replied simply, and in seconds the wings vanished. Dean breathed a sigh of relief, but still didn't turn around.

"Cas." Dean said, through gritted teeth, staring vehemently at the barren landscape in front of him, the city of Detroit just visible through a haze in the distance.

"Yes?"

"Could you take us to a motel or something?" Dean asked.

Dean burst into the tiny room and headed straight for the bathroom, locking the door behind him with a loud thunk. Sam followed soon after him, and Dean swore he hadn't stopped laughing throughout the entire check-in process, making it extremely difficult for Dean to concentrate on paying, under the circumstances.

Castiel entered the room behind Sam, watching the younger Winchester flop down on one of the beds, rolling over onto his side to let more giggles escape.

"Sam, I don't understand. Is Dean angry with me?" Cas asked, frustrated, walking towards the bathroom door. He turned back to Sam, who had sat up now politely, but was unable to keep the smile off his face. "Is he angry because I saved him again from that spirit? I already told him, I can't help it if my wings decide to manifest themselves of their own accord, and I was so distressed-"

"Cas! Stop, jeez!" Sam cried, standing up and walking towards him, palms outstretched. "Dean's not mad at you. Far from it in fact." He spluttered again there. God he made himself laugh. "Maybe you should go in there and talk to him?" Sam slipped in smoothly, inclining his head towards the bathroom.

"NO NO NO NO, CAS DON'T COME IN HERE!" Dean's shout came loudly through the bathroom door, wiping the hopeful expression on Cas's face clean off.

"Oh, I'm never going to understand him." Cas sighed, walking away to sit on one of the beds. Sam opened his mouth to protest. "Tell him I'm sorry he's upset for whatever reason. I'll be back in the morning to take you to your car."

"You did great, Cas. He really appreciates it." Sam said, looking at him meaningfully. A loud, drawn out moan suddenly pierced through the tense atmosphere, undoubtedly coming from the locked bathroom. Sam bit his lip to keep from falling about laughing again. Castiel looked vaguely concerned, but there was a hint of recognition at the sound in his eyes. Hmm, maybe there was hope for him yet.

"Fuck. Cas…" Dean's voice was hoarse as it snaked out under the door. Castiel turned slightly pink again. "Cas."

"I'll um, see you in the morning? Thankyou Sam." Cas said, wait was he smirking, and then he was gone.

Sam grinned for a moment, breathed out, and then went to pound on the bathroom door to tell his brother to shut the fuck up because he so did not need to hear that.