Chapter 9

A Grace for a Grace

Gabriel stabbed his angel blade down on Raphael with all his might and the angel fell against the floor, holding the wound as light threatened to pass from it. Gabriel quickly grabbed the archangel and dragged him back to the living room with Bobby and Sam fallowing close behind. The fight had been bloody, but they had all survived with a few cuts and bruises.

"Cas, hold on, Brother! We've got him…" Gabriel dropped the archangel as they came into the room. Far in the corner sat Dean, humming softly to a limp figure in his arms. "Cas…" Gabriel squeaked, slowly making his way to his baby brother. Dean looked up at the angel, still humming softly. The hunter had tears streaming down his face along with blood that wasn't his. A ragged sob burst from the hunter's lips and his head pressed against the limp body. Gabriel felt his heart shatter and he smacked to his knees. Tears burned down his face as he stared at his dead brother. They were too late. Sam and Bobby stood off to the side, watching as the two grieved. Sammy slumped against the wall, hands pressed to his face and Bobby swore, smashing a stack of books off one of the cluttered tables in anger. All that fighting to survive and he died anyway. How could something be so horrible?

Gabriel lifted out a hand to pull the dead Grace away from his throat when his fingers felt something warm pulse faintly beneath his shirt. A spark of hope sprang to life in the archangel and he pulled the Grace dangling around his throat away from his neck. Everyone stared at the faint red glow of Cas' Grace. Gabriel let a shriek of relief and kissed the glass contained Grace.

"He's still fighting!" Gabriel announced. Dean stared at the angel in his arms hopefully and then glanced at Raphael dying in the corner of the room.

"Let's save ourselves an angel!" Dean shouted. Gabriel nodded, walking over to Raphael, Grace dangling in his hands. Raphael tried to pull away, but Bobby and Sam grabbed the weakened archangel and held him down.

"Brother, no!" Raphael shouted, but his voice fell on deft ears.

"An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, and a Grace for a Grace," Gabriel hissed. Raphael paled and Gabriel let a wicked smile curl over his lips before he began. He chanted, letting the enochian words spill from his lips. Cas' Grace shimmered as the red drained away into Raphael. The archangel screamed in pain, wings erupting from his back and burns suddenly appearing over his skin. Gabe's smile widened and he chanted one last time before leaving Raphael screaming in pain. The hunters pulled away and stared at the now bright blue grace floating elegantly in the vile. Gabe turned around, staring at the body of his little brother.

Dean took the vile gently as Gabe handed it to him. He stared at the swirling Grace, feeling the warmth through the vile as he rubbed his thumb across it gently. Dean opened the vile and pressed it to Cas' still lips.

"Come on, Cas, come back to me," he whispered, watching as the healed Grace drained back into the angel. Light erupted from Castiel's eyes as the Grace filled the body and a scream echoed through the room. Dean and the others closed their eyes as the light exploded through the room and two large shadows shot up from Castiel's shoulder blades.

When the light finally faded Dean didn't hold back his tears as the angel sat up and stared at him with those beautiful sapphire blue eyes.

"Dean?" Cas gasped, staring at the hunter with pure happiness. Dean wrapped his arms around the angel's waist, pulling the angel close. The angel did the same and buried his face into Dean's neck. Dean ran his hands along Cas' back, his fingers brushing against something so smooth it felt like silk. He glanced down at Cas' back and gasped in awe.

"Cas, y…your wings!" Dean announced. The angel sat upright again and flexed his wings span wide so he could see them. His eyes widened at the sight and even Gabriel looked startled. The once snow white wings were now raven black with gold flecks decorating each feather tip.

"What…"

"It's the mark of a returned fallen angel," Gabriel gasped. Cas flapped his wings a few times and smiled widely. Dean then pulled the angel to his feet and embraced him once more before letting the others have their turn.

"P…please, Brother, mercy," a croaked voice squeaked from the other side of the room. Everyone turned to see Raphael on his hands and knees. His wings were just as atrocious Cas' had been. They looked like they had gone through a meat grinder and the flesh was melting slowly from the bone. Dean closed his eyes, forcing the horrible memory of Cas' pain away. "Mercy," the ninja named angel pleaded. Dean held back a laugh. Oh, the Irony. Raphael was getting a taste of everything Cas had ever gone through.

They watched as Cas walked over to Raphael. The angel's dark wings glinted from the light bouncing off the broken windows. They folded down as he kneeled down to his brother. His piercing blue eyes cut into Raphael's. Cas let out a small sigh before pressing his lips close to his brother's ear.

"Come after me, my friends, or Gabriel and I will make sure that you feel exactly what I did, but a thousand times worse," Cas hissed in a darkly cruel voice. Dean had heard him use it more than once, but it was still frightening. When Raphael nodded Cas pressed his finger tips to the archangel's forehead and he was gone.

"Awe, Cassy!" Gabriel whined. "We were so close on ridding ourselves of him!" Cas stared at his brother.

"There's been enough misery lately," Cas sighed. The others nodded, deciding that Cas was right. The angel turned then, glancing at his wings and flapping them gently, turning his head side to side. Dean's heart warmed at the familiar smile spreading across the angel's face. He never thought he was going to see that smile again. Cas turned to him, eyes beaming brightly.

"I think I need a test run…as you would call it," he stated, folding his wings against his back.

Ring!

Everyone turned as one of Bobby's phones started ringing. The old hunter lifted the phone to his ear, answering with his name. When Bobby put down the phone he looked directly at Cas.

"Looks like you're going to get your test drive," he sighed, grabbing his gun from the desk. "We've got a string of odd deaths in Green Bay, Wisconsin." Dean turned his head, staring at his angel with a growing smile.

"Let's go then," Dean stated, putting his hand on Cas's shoulder and winking devilishly. Cas' smile spread wider and he nodded to his friend. The angel's black wings rose into the air, wind swirling around them. The flutter of wings echoed through the room and the two were gone, leaving the two hunters and Gabriel to the messy house. Gabriel sighed, brushing his face with a hand and then glanced at the other two.

"My GOD! Will they ever admit it to each other?!" he stated, snapping his fingers. A stick of gum appeared between his fingers and he popped it into his mouth.

"They could have given us a lift before they flew off," Sammy grumbled, grabbing the keys to the Impala and ignoring Gabriel's words.

"How can they not see it?!" raved the archangel. "Did you see the way they looked at each other?!"

"Come one, Gabe, do you really think they actually went to the case?" Sam asked, raising a brow. A smirk lifted at the corners of Gabriel's mouth and a spark of curiosity blazed in his eyes.

"Yeah, well we still need to work on the case. With or without Romeo and Juliet," Bobby snapped. "First though, we need to straighten up this place. It looks like a war went on in here." The three glanced around the room and Bobby tossed Sam a broom. "Get cleaning," he snapped. Sam paled as he stared at the demolished shack. The walls were broken through and glass cluttered the cracked floor. Sam glanced at Gabe and the angel gave him a wink.

"Sorry, but I think Sammy still has to show me that video of Dean singing to Cas," Gabe said, snapping his fingers. Bobby let out a shout, but he was too late. Sam and the archangel were gone.

Bobby glared around the now empty room, grumbling as he picked up the broom from the floor.

"Idjits."


Well, that was very fun. Should I write more Supernatural fics? What do you guys think? I think it went well for my first. I've started writing another, but it'll be a while before it's up. Any suggestions for other fics send me a message. Thank you to everyone who has Read, Reviewed, followed, or favorited!