Dean, on the other side of town, was doing all he could to be heard. In a bare barn, that was covered with sigils on the floor and walls, he rolled a sleeve down over his bloodied arm.

'You son of a bitch!' Dean shouted at thin air, 'Com'on, I know you're listening, this is your town!'

Nothing, so he tried again. 'Znochkaial, Zednoahinal. Aww hell, I'm just going to call you Znoah. Come and face me you son of a bitch! I'm the guy that was so important that your superior left you for me! Who would have thought that a human was more important than an angel, a warrior of Heaven!'

There was a brief breeze and someone appeared behind Dean.

'It's pronounced Znoahoniel,' the angel said and hit him with such force that Dean landed a hundred feet away.

'Za no ah oh nee el,' the angel pronounced his name slowly so that Dean could hear it clearly as he beat on him. He said it again, and with each syllable he punched Dean in the face until he was a bloody mess.

'Say it!' Znoahoniel demanded.

Through fresh bruises and a swollen lip, Dean mouthed the name.

'Say it!' the angel repeated louder.

Dean began to say the angel's name over and over again.

'This will be the last word on your cursed lips!' and he plunged his hand into Dean's chest. Dean screamed in agony, the angel's name no longer on his lips. He took a breath through the pain and screamed out another name:

'Castiel!'

His prayer was answered as Castiel appeared behind Znoahoniel and flung him away from Dean. The hunter went silent. Castiel risked a glance at him before he faced Znoahoniel again.

'Znoahoniel,' Castiel said in greeting.

'Castiel,' the rogue angel replied, and then without stopping a beat, he added, 'You left me in Hell!'

'It was not my intention to leave any of my garrison behind.' Castiel said, 'I did the task that God had given me, I thought that everyone else was lost.'

'You didn't stop to check.' Znoahoniel said, 'As soon as you laid a hand on that human, you were gone.' He glanced at Dean, who was staring at the two of them fearfully.

'That was the plan,' Castiel said flatly, 'The orders were specific.'

'You're trespassing here,' Znoahoniel said, 'As your pet so accurately put it, this is my town.'

'This place does not belong to you and the humans in your charge are free to leave here.' Castiel stated.

'Ah free will,' Znoahoniel said with a smile. He looked up, 'Why did he bother?' When he looked back to Castiel, there was a grimace on his face, 'These humans are a gift to me, for my services.'

Castiel narrowed his eyes, 'Humans are not a commodity to be exchanged. Who gave them to you?'

Znoahoniel laughed, but then his lips thinned and his smile vanished, 'You left me behind. You left me to rot for thousands of years amongst the abominations of Hell.' He moved swiftly to where Castiel stood, pinning him with an angel blade that appeared from nowhere. But Castiel was ready for him and his blade was immediately in his hand. Blades clashed and the two angels were flung apart.

'Did you not think I would find a way out, make a deal for my freedom?' Znoahoniel spat.

'I didn't mean to leave you,' Castiel said as he got himself up from the floor, 'I finished the task I was sent to do, to rescue Dean Winchester from Hell.'

'Yes, you did your duty, didn't you?' Znoahoniel retorted. 'You were so blinkered by that shining little soul that you didn't look back to see what mess you had left behind!'

'I thought that everyone else had withdrawn.' Castiel shook his head. 'If I had known, I would have returned.'

'I doubt that!' Znoahoniel remarked. 'You were only supposed to raise him from Hell, not reveal yourself to him!'

'It was the best way to protect him from those that would harm him,' Castiel admitted. He turned his attention back to Znoahoniel, 'I'm sorry for what you have been through.'

'I very much doubt that,' Znoahoniel replied.

Castiel scowled. 'Perhaps we should take this elsewhere. Perhaps we should step outside.'

'No,' Znoahoniel replied, 'I think I'm owed something.' He looked at Dean.

Castiel stepped between them, holding his angel blade tightly, 'The human no longer concerns you. So why don't we step outside.' He said firmly, his eyes narrow.

'Very well,' Znoahoniel said.

Castiel could feel the power building in his opponent, energy was radiating from the angel. He shouted a warning at Dean, 'Shut your eyes!' seconds before Znoahoniel exploded in a flare of white light.

Dean covered his eyes with his arm. When the light had subsided, he uncovered his face to find that the angel's vessel had dropped to the ground.

Castiel turned quickly to Dean, healing him in an instant with a touch to his face.

'Help me,' Castiel said, grabbing hold of the body and dragging it. Dean looked flustered for a moment and then grabbed the body's legs and helped Castiel move it.

'Where are we taking it? And why?' Dean asked.

'We need to hide his vessel before he notices.'

They locked the body in a metal cabinet and warded it against angels.

'Stay here, and look after the vessel,' Castiel said.

'What?' Dean replied, 'You expect me to look after this piece of crap?'

'No, Dean, I need you to look after my vessel. This is one fight that I need to do in my real form.'

Dean was dumbstruck for a moment. He watched as Castiel, angel of the Lord removed himself from Jimmy Novac's body, which slumped to the floor. Dean caught it and laid him down on a bale of hay.

'Good luck,' he said to the roof, 'I hope you know what you're doing.'

A roll of thunder boomed overhead and the roof of the barn was suddenly pelted by rain and hail. Dean rushed outside. The wind had picked up and now blew leaves and hail into his face, but in the clouds high overhead, he could see shadows moving. Two enormous winged figures fighting. Where their blades met, lightening flashed and the rattle of thunder echoed out moments later. Dean stood and watched for as long as he could stand the stinging hailstones. Eventually, shivering, he went back inside the barn, not knowing whether Castiel had won or lost. Knowing he could do nothing to help Castiel nor hinder his opponent, he dropped down on the hay, pulled his coat over his head and waited.