CHAPTER 8: Holding Out For A Hero

Two weeks have passed, two weeks since the Winchesters encounter with Famine, and the attack by Zachariah. The brothers were back on the road once again, going wherever they were needed. Hunting monsters, combating demons, and on the side they continued searching for clues on stopping the Apocalypse.

Bobby and Castiel joined along as well.

Several hours ago, they were on a hunt for a Rugaru in Coffey County, Kansas. But during their plan to ambush the creature, Bobby, Sam and Dean were injured. Luckily, Castiel showed up just in time to save them, and dispatched the Rugaru with ease.

When they returned to the motel, Bobby had patched up the boys the best he could. That Rugaru had done a great number on Dean, leaving deep gashes across his back and his right leg. As for Sam, his forearm had been broken when the Rugaru slapped his arm away when he attempted to shoot it. Bobby wrapped Sam's arm in a splint, and had it slung into a homemade support brace. And Bobby? He only sustained a minor concussion from being tossed around, along with a few cuts and bruises.

Sam knew they'd have to spend the night for Dean to recover before they could return to Sioux Falls. So while Dean rested, Sam and Bobby headed to the library to resume their research on Lucifer, and Castiel decided to stick with Dean for the time being.

Castiel Angel proofed the whole room, to ensure complete safety for them both. And from time to time, Castiel would check on his lover's wounds, clean them and bandage them up. Hell, the Angel may be low on power, but after long observations with the brothers, Cas learned how to use a medical kit pretty well.

Afterwards...

" Ow... fuck." Dean lets out a grunt, pain shooting to his back and feeling a burn across his wound. He only wanted to move just a little to get more comfortable to watch TV, which was easier said than done.

" Don't move too much." Castiel was immediately at his side. " Here, let me help." Cas carefully moves Dean forward to retrieve and adjust the pillows.

" You didn't have to do that, Cas. I'm used to this kind of pain." Dean chuckles, he felt like he was a sick child, and Cas was the mother nurturing him.

" You did the same for me, so I find it fair if I do it in return." Cas pulls the covers over Dean, then shuts off the television. " You should rest now."

Dean didn't argue with that, because one: he was too exhausted, and two: the darks under his eyes were evidence of his lack of sleep. Closing his eyes, Dean fell asleep within minutes.

Castiel watched him for a long while, smiling at Dean's almost peaceful expression as he slept. But right now wasn't the time to let down his guard, he had to keep watch. Cas never knows what dangers lay beyond that door. There could be more enemies out there, searching for them. So the Angel seated himself on the bed next to Dean's, his guard up and his senses heightened. Waiting for both Dean's recovery, and for Sam's return.

Two hours pass and all the hunter could think of was the dangers awaiting him in his dreams. Dean squirmed about, mumbling random things and calling out to Cas. He was still asleep, but stuck in a nightmare. Ones he's been having for several nights, which were also the cause of his sleep deprivation.

" Get away from him..." He gripped tightly at the sheets. " No..." He shook his head violently as the nightmare grew worse. " No!... don't... NO!"

" Dean!" Castiel's voice calls out. Dean awakes in utter shock. He grips onto Cas's coat, his body was shaking from the aftershock of the nightmare. This was a first for Castiel, the first time he's heard his lover cry in distress. " Another nightmare?..." He asked. Dean nods against Cas's chest, seeking comfort, which the Angel gave in an instant. Feeling arms embrace his shaking figure, Dean held onto his lover tighter, not wanting to let go.

" I can't tell if these dreams are real or not anymore..."

" Tell me about your dreams." Castiel makes Dean look at him, wiping away his tears. Dean shut his eyes, leaning into Cas's hand then gazed at him. His orbs suddenly widened as he catches a glimpse of a man standing behind the Angel. " Dean?..." Castiel backs up a bit.

Dean tries to warn the Angel, but the words couldn't come out.

" What's wrong?" Dean then tried to move, but a force was keeping him in place. " Dean?..." Blood suddenly splatters across Dean's face.

" No!" The words finally come out, he tightly shut his eyes, this had to be another nightmare. But every time he looked he can only see blood.

Castiel glances down, seeing a tip of an angel blade poking from his chest. Then out of the shadow, the man showed his face. Zachariah. Dean was speechless, staring at Zachariah with disbelief.

" You should've said yes." Zachariah says as he lunges the angel blade deeper into Cas, and a burst of blinding white light enveloped the room.

That is the moment Dean finally woke up. He wheezed, trying to catch his breath, his body was shaking violently. Sweat drenched his shirt, and salty tears flooded his vision. Dean glanced at every direction of the room in a panic.

The dawning sun peeked through the curtains but, his vision was still blurred from his tears. He blinks a few times then peered to his left, and there was Castiel, sleeping peacefully in the other bed. He exhales heavily in relief. Then he winced at the sting in his wound, groaning loud enough to wake the Angel.

" You're awake..." Castiel moves onto the bed with Dean. He rested the back of his hand against Dean's forehead. " Dean?... What's wrong? why are you shaking?..." Castiel asks.

Dean did not answer, he just pulled the Angel into a strong embrace in response, which Castiel confusingly returned. " I don't want to sleep anymore..."

" I don't understand.." Cas pulls away.

" I keep dreaming of you dying. Every time I close my eyes, I see Zachariah kill you. And every single time... I'm too late to save you..."

Castiel sighed, and hugs Dean once more. " It's okay... I'm here, and I won't leave your side... They are only dreams, don't let them get to you."

Dean holds Cas a little tighter before saying, " Can you stay with me until I fall back to sleep?"

" As you wish." Cas lays Dean down, then rest his head on the Hunter's shoulder, and wrapped an arm around him. " Now rest." Dean hesitantly shut his eyes, falling quickly into slumber. With his Angel close to him he was more at ease.

Meanwhile...

Sam and Bobby were still at the library, and at this point they believed they may never find the answers they needed. Everything they came across ended with the same conclusion: that Lucifer is defeated by Michael. The answer is somewhere out there, Sam knows it. There's always another way, there's always that plan B if the original plan doesn't pan out. And Sam will find it.

The young hunter yawns from a sleepless night, doing nothing but search on his laptop, while Bobby stepped out to buy some breakfast. Sam sighs in frustration, he needed to get his mind off this whole Lucifer thing, just for a little while. Pulling out his phone, he wanted to know how Dean was doing, so he calls up Castiel.

The line on the other side picks up. " Sam?" Cas answers.

" Hey, Cas... um, how's Dean? is he getting better?"

" His injury is healing well..."

" I feel a but coming on, what is it?"

" Apparently, he is bothered by the nightmares he's been having."

Sam furrows his brows. " He's remembering hell again? I thought that passed."

" No, not about hell... he dreams about me dying..."

Sam can hear the worry in Castiel's voice, it made Sam feel the same. " Is he sleeping now?"

" Not at the moment... I'm accompanying him to the coffee shop, he refuses to rest..."

" Have you tried knocking him out?"

" I would, but not in front of a crowd, Dean says I'll freak them out."

" Will you two stop talking about me, I'm right here... AND SAM, STOP WORRYING ABOUT ME!" Sam hears Dean yell over Cas's phone.

Sam sighs, leaving the safety of the motel is the greatest mistake Dean could make. With him hurt, and every Angel in Heaven hunting down Castiel, who knows what can happen with them out in the open. " Listen, Cas, get Dean back to the motel... I don't care if you have to zap him there."

" I will- AAH!"

Sam pulls the phone away from his ear from the high pitch whine that followed Cas's scream. " Cas?... Cas what happened?!" Sam can hear Dean calling out the Angel's name in the background. " Dean?! Hello?!"

Concurrently...

Dean scrambles for the phone. " Sam, Cas is gone!... he's gone, he just vanished." Dean panicked.

" I told you to stay at the motel, Dean!... dammit, hold on I'll call Bobby. We're on our way." Sam hangs up.

" Dammit... what was I thinking?" Dean's eyes widen.

He was so busy being afraid of his nightmares that he had completely ignored the true danger that awaited in the real world. This was the work of Angels, Dean knows it. Castiel had warned Dean that Heaven would hunt them down, and now they have taken Castiel away from him. What's worse, is that Dean doesn't have the slightest idea where the bastards have taken Cas.

Later...

Dean paced back and forth in the room, rubbing his face in frustration and anxiety. His eyes would drift to the clock every five minutes. He was angry, very angry. Dean was seriously going to kill Zachariah for kidnapping his Angel. But he was mostly mad at himself for not listening to Cas's warnings of wandering out the room, and away from the barrier that protected them both.

Dean throws one enraged punch at the wall, leaving behind a pretty big hole. He didn't care about the cuts on his fingers, nor the sting on his knuckles that came with it.

Suddenly, there's a knock at the door.

" Dean... it's us, open up." Sam's voice fractured Dean's thoughts. Dean quickly lets them in. " We came as fast as we could... now, tell us exactly what happened before Cas disappeared."

Dean shrugged his shoulders, " We were just walking, and suddenly there was this bright flash of light, and a loud bang. I was knocked back. Then I heard Cas scream, and when I looked, he just vanished right in front of me."

" Damn... that's not a lot to go on." Sam says.

Dean rolled his eyes angrily. " No Shit Sherlock!... how the Hell are we supposed to find him, when we don't even know where he was taken?!"

The whole time Dean was hollering and cussing, Sam was staring wide eyed behind his brother. " Dean... The TV..." The young Hunter pointed out, and Dean turned his gaze to the Television.

The box had turned on entirely on its own, and Zachariah suddenly came into view. " Well hello, boys." He greets with a cocky smirk.

" You son of a bitch! What did you do with Cas?!" Dean spat.

" Oh, don't worry, he's alive... for the most part." Zachariah replied. He smirks mockingly at Dean and says, " Since our previous discussion didn't go quite as planned, I decided to do something more drastic..."

Zachariah then maneuvered slightly, gesturing someone off screen to come. Two more Angels suddenly come forth, each one gripping at either side of Cas's arms as they dragged him into view. Zachariah saunters up to Castiel, grabs a handful of his hair and yanks his head upward.

" Smile for Dean, Castiel..." Zachariah then returns his attention to the boys. " You will meet me at the Methodist church in Gary, Indiana... You have exactly ten hours. Any later and... Well, you get the picture. See you soon." After that, the television powers down.

Dean doesn't waste any time being surprised, and says, " We better head out now." He immediately gathers his things into his duffle.

" Right. We should stick to the back roads to avoid traffic." Sam adds as he quickly packs away his belongings as well.

" You boys do that, I'll stay behind and call a hunting buddy I know out there. I'll see if he can stake out the place and inform me if anything happens." Bobby says, immediately pulling out his cellphone and starts dialing.

" Thanks, Bobby... Let's go then." Dean grabs his duffle bag and his key as the two storm out the motel room.

Meanwhile, At Gary, Indiana...

" Aaahh!" Castiel's agonizing screams echoed throughout the abandoned structure. " Ahh!!"

Castiel's hands were bound together in chains that were embedded with Enochian sigils, preventing him from breaking lose. He was hung up like some slab of meat at a butcher's factory. Castiel was stripped of his trench coat and blazer, and his dress shirt was ripped open. His chest and abdomen were lined with deep cuts that were made by an Angel blade.

And standing before Castiel, was Zachariah, whistling to himself as he cleaned the fresh blood off his Angel blade. Not an hour has passed and the bastard was passing his boredom by abusing Cas.

Castiel glared furiously at him as he returned.

" Don't you dare look at me like that!... If you hadn't decided to betray your own brethren, you wouldn't be in this situation!" Blinded by outrage, Zachariah slashed the blade across Castiel's cheek.

" Nh!" Castiel strained to hold in his voice.

" Now look what you made me do... The stress you and those boys put me through... It's exhausting." He sighs. " I guess I should've picked a closer location for them to find... but, then again... that would spoil the punishment I have in store for you." Zachariah then leans in and whispered into his ear, " I'll let you in on a little secret... Once Dean says yes, Michael wishes to take it upon himself to execute you."

Castiel's eyes widened, and he thrashes about fearfully. Zachariah chuckles amusingly as he watched the helpless Angel struggle. Castiel tugs and pulled at the unbreakable chains, his heart racing with anxiety. In his thoughts he prayed that for once God was hearing his pleas for help. But no answer came. Castiel felt more helpless, and ceased his flailing in defeat. No one was going to help him. The only ones he can believe in now was the Winchesters, they'll find him.

" Go to Hell." He mumbled.

" Huh? I didn't catch that." Zachariah leans a bit closer. " Say again..."

" I said, go to hell." He spits blood at his face.

Zachariah grits his teeth, enraged. Then pounds his fist to Cas's face a few times, roaring aloud, " How dare you disrespect me!"

Castiel only chortles, completely ignoring the pain. " Dean will come for me... and when he does... he's going to kill you..."

" Why you little-" Zachariah takes the blade and slashes down Castiel's chest.

" AAAHH!"

" Ramble that mouth of yours like that again and I'll just kill you now." He pulls at Cas's hair. " You hear me, you little disobedient worm!" Zachariah then vanishes to cool himself off.

Castiel took this moment and ganders to his surroundings, it was dark, but he can count how many Angels were there with him; monitoring him closely. He counted six so far, but who knows how many more were outside.

Back With The Winchesters...

" You do know you're going 65 on a 45 limit road right?!..." Sam yelled nervously as Dean swerved around the road, racing passed any car they came by. People honked their horns whenever the Impala cut them off. Dean was determined to get to Indiana, and Dean didn't care if they ended up being pulled over by cops. " Dean, you need to calm down with the peddle please, you'll get us killed!"

" I know what I'm doing Sam... stop fussing." Dean cuts in front of a mini van. " Crap!" Dean suddenly spots a sharp turn about a hundred yards ahead of them. He glances to the passenger seat at his panicking brother, and warns him, " Hang on, Sammy."

" What?!"

And without warning, Dean slams on the breaks, and the Impala skids to an abrupt deceleration. Sam yelped in horror, bracing his uninjured hand against the dashboard as he was lurched forward. Dean then expertly turns the steering wheel just as the car was coming to a stop, and the stern swings harshly to the side, cutting perfectly into the turn. Dean quickly accelerates, and the engine roars in response, tires screeching loudly against the pavement. The Impala immediately resumed its original speed, racing down the countryside roads.

Sam tried to buckle up, but with the Impala's constant swerves and turns, it was a little difficult. " Don't do that! You almost got us killed back there!"

" Baby is capable of anything, Sam... she never lets me down." Easy for him to say while Sam's practically having a heart attack. They were now on a long straight road, and Dean accelerates to 85 mph. " Let's hope this road stays straight for a bit." Dean says, peering to Sam who still held a terrified expression.

" Dean! Watch the road!" Sam squeals, and Dean listened as he returned his focus on the road. Sam sighs in relief. " Please, Dean, slow down a bit!"

" Not yet, our exits coming up soon."

Meanwhile, Back At The Motel...

Bobby was stuck on the phone with an old hunting buddy who lived not too far outside Gary, Indiana, and had asked that friend to have a lookout at the Methodist Church for him. At the moment, Bobby was receiving updates.

" Really?... How many exactly?... No, no, don't do anything crazy. The boys are on their way there as we speak... Alright, I'll let them know right away... okay, thanks a bunch, Ron. I owe you one..." Bobby then hangs up.

He pinches the bridge of his nose. It was a good thing Bobby knew a friend out there, and giving him the info he needs to pass on to the Winchesters. Bobby now had to call Sam to inform him on everything Ron had told him.

" Sam, tell your brother to keep speeding... Ron tells me he's been hearing things coming out from the church... says it sounded like someone being tortured."

" Thanks a lot Bobby." Sam replies.

" Do me a favor... you bring that other idjit home... alive, you hear me?..."

" Yes, sir, we will..." Sam answered, then hangs up.

Bobby sits back, burying himself in his shell of thought. If anything terrible ever happens to the boys, he'd have nothing to live for. He'd be alone. Those boys are like sons to him. And when Castiel entered the picture, it was like having an added member to the family. After Bobby had gotten the news of the Angel being kidnapped, he didn't know what else to feel besides anger.

Bobby sighed, shutting his eyes and says, " Castiel, I hope you can hear me, hang in there, kid... They're coming for ya."

At The Church...

Castiel's eyes open slowly when he hears Bobby's prayer. " Dean..." He whispered to himself.

Cas peers over to Zachariah who was busy picking out a new torture weapon. The Angel could try wiggling himself loose from the chains, if only his body wasn't in so much pain. The wounds on his body had yet to heal themselves due to his shortage of Grace. Castiel only had enough energy to keep himself conscious.

Suddenly, his heart began to race as Zachariah made his way back with a new weapon. One Castiel was very familiar with. Something he feared more than the Angel blade. Zachariah smirks, waving the torture tool around to heighten Castiel's distress.

" Hm... the spear of destiny... it took a while for me to find this. Those Nazis surely knew how to hide away precious artifacts..." He lays the cold steel pike against Castiel's neck, then nicks at the flesh.

Castiel hissed as a wave of pain shot throughout his body, hitting the core of his grace. It was like having a thousand red hot pokers jabbing his insides simultaneously. Castiel held his breath to keep himself from screaming as this pain shot through him. His vision blurred for a moment before he finally gasped for air.

" Wow, I already like this one." Zachariah laughs, sliding the blade down to Cas's chest, made a few cuts there, then moved it to the side of his ribs.

Castiel withered around at every incision that was made, trying his best to hold in the screams that begged to be released. Tears began to cascade down his cheeks, his face reddening from holding his breath, trying so desperately to fend off the waves of agony pulsating within him.

" You can't hold in those screams forever, Castiel... it doesn't amuse me if you're not crying out in pain..." Zachariah then rests the blade at his stomach. " I want to hear your screams." He pushes in hard, and Castiel's voice is forced out with a shout. Zachariah grins wickedly. " That's much better."

This is by far the worst form of pain Castiel has felt in his existence. He wanted it to stop, all of it, the torturing, the pain. " Stop..." Words were hard to speak from the blood seeping from his mouth.

Zachariah removes the spear. " Guess that was a bit too much."

" Please... stop... stop... I'm begging you..." Castiel shakes his head weakly.

" You're begging me?... ha ha ha, it's too late for that."

Castiel peers at him, tears still falling, pleading. " Please... please..." Is the only word he can utter, he was barely able to breathe, or even remain awake at this point.

" You're starting to irritate me..." Zachariah says as he pinches the bridge of his nose, becoming annoyed. But Castiel kept repeating his plea. Zachariah then shouts, " Shut up!" He raises the blade over the Angel's heart.

Just as he was about to impale Castiel, he was interrupted. " Zachariah... They've arrived."

Zach glances to his follower with raised brows, then looked to the clock. " Seven and a half hours? I'm impressed." He lays the blade with the rest of his torturing tools. " Excuse me while I step out for a bit... I'll get back to you in a moment." He then points to one of the other Angels. " You, keep an eye on him..." After that, Zachariah vanishes.

Concurrently...

Sam and Dean make their way inside the abandoned church. The brothers cautiously walked down the aisle, it was empty and quiet. A little too quiet.

" Hey, chuckles!... we're here, now come out!" Dean shouted.

" I do have a name." The brothers swing around, facing Zachariah. " Glad you can make it... oh..." He snaps his finger, and four Angels appear, grabbing hold of the hunters.

They began searching them. Dean rolls his eyes when one of them found an Angel blade hidden in his jacket sleeve. The other Angels found one hidden in Sam's sleeve as well. Both weapons were handed to Zachariah.

" Wouldn't want you two doing something to break the deal now, don't we..."

" Fine... you have us, now where's Cas?" Dean demanded.

" Castiel won't be joining us at the moment, he's being held someplace else... Now can we get this over with? say yes, then Castiel goes free."

" I already know that you're lying, just like every other time you have, you junkless bastard."

" Watch your tongue around me, boy!" Zachariah takes a deep breath to calm himself. " Listen to me, you worthless ape... this is your destiny, you can't change that..." He says through gritted teeth.

Elsewhere...

Castiel is woken by the sounds of screams outside the room, a struggle between the Angel's, and an unknown intruder. The only Angel in the room with him, stood his ground, blade in hand, and ready to fight. Soon, the yells eventually fall silent.

Suddenly, the doors fly off their hinges and are thrown across the room.

A dark aura filled the air, so powerful, and fearsome. Castiel felt this energy before, his eyes drifted towards the door. He couldn't make out the intruders face, though deep down he already knew who it was. He only hoped he was wrong. Castiel watched the Angel position himself for battle.

" Easy there tiger... don't force me to kill you." The intruder cautioned.

That voice, Castiel's eyes widen with fear.

" Lucifer, what are you doing here?" The Angel kept up his guard. And Lucifer kept his calm composure, moving closer, until he was face to face with his celestial brother.

" Is it wrong for me to visit my baby brother?... Hope you don't mind." Lucifer makes his way to Cas.

Castiel wiggles with whatever energy he had left, after the last visit from Lucifer, he only tried to convince Cas into joining his side.

" I can't let you do that..." The Angel pressed his blade to Lucifer's back. The devil shut his eyes, sighing.

" Do me a favor... just don't..." He warns.

But when the Angel refused to take heed of his words, Lucifer rolled his eyes, clicking his finger and the Angel explodes before he could land a blow. Blood and chunks of flesh splatter all over the place, even on Lucifer's back.

" Yuck... Always so messy." He says as he flicks an ear off his shoulder. Lucifer returns his attention to Castiel. " Hello little brother... it's been a while..." He strolls to the table of blood stained blades, playfully gliding a finger over each and every one of them. " I've been hearing rumors about you and Dean lately..." He then looked to the Angel. " I gotta say... not really impressed."

" Why are you really here, Lucifer?..." Castiel says with an attitude.

" My deal is still on the table, you know..." He crosses his arms over his chest, leaning against the wall.

" I would rather die than join you..."

" Oh please, save your chivalry for someone else." Lucifer takes a step closer to Cas. " Come on, little brother, we'll have the time of our lives. You and me against the world, partners in crime... It'll be more fun than playing doll house with Dean."

" Don't speak ill of Dean!..." Castiel grits his teeth, the fear he had earlier had ceased when Lucifer decided to insult his lover.

Lucifer looks away, putting his hands up in defense, and chuckled. " Oh, well excuse me, my apologies for making fun of your princess." A small smile then crept across his lips. " Let's be serious, Castiel. Have you asked yourself why Dad chose Dean to be your mate? Even though it was 'him' that banned Human/Angel coupling... I mean... Heaven was after you before, but now? Whoo... and here I thought I was public enemy number one." He says with a look that was a mix of being intrigued and puzzled at the same time, his eyes peering to nothing.

" Why do you even care?"

" Just curious, I guess..."

Castiel looks away, refusing to say another word.

" Don't want to talk? Fine... how about this... You tell me where I can find Sam, and in return, I'll spare you and Dean. You two can have the white picket fence life, no one to bother you... No demons, no Angels. Just you and Dean... How's that sound?"

Castiel peered back to his fallen brother, he was beginning to get annoyed. " I would never betray Sam like that."

" Oh Well... Can't say I didn't try..." Lucifer then grabbed an Angel blade from the table. Lucifer looks into his brother's eyes, and Castiel stared right back. He did not bother struggling, his body was far too weak to do so anyway. All he could do was watch as his brother raised that blade. " Goodbye... Castiel..."

Before Lucifer could even thrust down the blade, he was suddenly sent flying across the room. Castiel was baffled at what happen next. A flutter of wings sounded next to him, and Castiel looks over.

" Sorry I'm late."

" Gabriel?..."

The Archangel snapped his finger and the chains vanished into thin air, and Castiel collapsed to the ground. Too weak to stand on his own, Gabriel aided him to his feet.

" How'd you find me?"

" Never mind that... Let's get you out of here first..." He grabs his brother's coat and blazer.

" Gabriel?!... is it really you?..." Lucifer walks into the room, slightly enraged, but surprised to see the ex-trickster.

" Sorry, Lucy... I'll deal with you next time." And with that, Gabriel and Cas disappeared.

Lucifer stands there for a moment, chuckling to himself. Before leaving the premises Lucifer says under his breath, " We certainly will."

Meanwhile...

Dean and Zachariah so far had spent six minutes arguing back and forth. And frankly, Zachariah was beginning to lose his patience.

" I've had enough of your babbling, Dean... is it yes or no... annoy me any further and I'll order Castiel's death sentence!"

" Screw you!" Dean knows it was dangerous to taunt the Angel. But he also knows that Zachariah won't kill Cas, because then he'd lose his trump card against Dean.

Zachariah began to lose his temper. Lightening flashed outside the structure, powerful winds clatter the stained windows to the point of exploding. The ground rumbled violently beneath their feet. Zachariah and his followers were unfazed, but the Winchesters were having trouble staying on their feet.

" I've... Had it up to here with you two!" His voice boomed like thunder. " You're going to say yes, even if I have to beat the word out your mouths." With the snap of his finger, the brothers fell over onto their knees, vomiting blood. " Say it!" He kicks Dean in the stomach. " Say it!... now!"

" Bite me!..." Dean spat, giving him a bloody grin.

Zachariah grips at Dean's throat, lifting him at least a foot off the floor. " Very well..." He points at one Angel without removing eye contact from the hunter. " Bring me Castiel!"

" Sir!" An Angel comes running into the chapel.

" What is it?!" He shouted, finally glancing over his shoulder.

" It's Castiel!... He's gone!"

Zachariah releases Dean, and stared wide eyed at his associate. " That's impossible! The chains were specifically designed to hold an Angel, how could he escape?!"

" He didn't, sir... Someone released him."

" Who?!"

" That would be me." Announced a voice in back of the chapel. All eyes fell upon the source of that voice, and out from the shadows steps out Gabriel. " Hey there."

Zachariah gazes towards the Archangel. " It can't be..." He stares with a dumbfounded expression.

Sam looks over to see who it was. " Gabriel?" Sam and Dean said in unison.

" Be with you two in a second... Zach, you know what this is right?" Gabriel points to the wall beside him. Zachariah squints to get a better view of what it is, then let out an irritated groan. Gabriel had used his own blood and had drawn a banishing sigil. " Yep... adios, Zach." He then slams his hand on the spell to activate it.

" No!!" Zachariah shouts as he and his followers were suddenly banished from the area.

Gabriel wasted no time, and rushed to the hunters, quickly healing their wounds. " Good thing I came in time..."

In a panic, Dean grabs Gabriel by his shirt. " Where's Cas?... Is he okay?" Gabriel just stares at him, noticing the turmoil of emotions in Dean's eyes. Fear, sorrow, anger, guilt; he's never seen this many feelings in a person before. Gabriel was surprised by this. " Gabriel!..." Dean shakes him.

Gabriel looks away, he only touched Dean and Sam's shoulder, transporting them back to Bobby's house. Sam glances around, realizing that they were in the guest room. He then spotted Castiel laying half conscious on the mattress. The lower half of his body was covered in a blood stained sheet, and his upper frame was littered with deep cuts.

" Dean..." Sam taps his shoulder.

" What?" Dean follows his gaze to the Angel. His heart nearly stopped beating as he takes in the gruesome sight. " Cas?" He stumbled toward the bed, and kneels down beside his lover. " That son of a bitch... what did he do to you?..."

"..." Gabriel looks the other way to hide away his sorrow and rage from the brothers. " The blade Zachariah used, it's... it..." The Archangel could barely say it. " I'm sorry..."

" What are you just standing there for?! Heal him!..." Dean says.

Gabriel shakes his head. " You don't think I tried that already?... Cas was stabbed with the spear of destiny... There's nothing I can do..."

" There has to be!" Dean turns to him. " There's always a way..."

" I'm sorry, Dean, but-"

" Please!..." He begged.

" I can't!..." Gabriel hollered. " The spear's power drains the life from those stabbed by it, as well prevent others from healing them." Gabriel then raises his hand, showing the brothers his partially charred appendage. " I tried to heal him, and this is what happened... There is nothing we can do... I'm sorry."

Dean was speechless at this point, his eyes slowly drifting to the floor as he took in this information. Tears well up in his eyes, the overwhelming sorrow causes him to drop to a sitting position. Sam observed as his brother buried his face in the sheets and grip Castiel's hand into his own. Seeing Dean this way made Sam's chest throb with sorrow. This can't be happening, not when Dean and Cas were just starting out their relationship.

' No!' Sam thought. His jaw clenched, and his eyes flicker with determination as he rose to his feet. There had to be a way to save Castiel, Sam will find it. " Gabriel, I need you to go pick up Bobby."

" Why?" He asked.

Making his way out of the room, Sam answered, " I'll need his help."

An Hour Later...

" Coffee?" Bobby gestured to Sam, placing a mug before him.

Sam thanks the elder hunter and resumes skimming through the pile of books before him. Bobby returns moments later with another cup for himself, then joins digging through the books with Sam. The elder hunter has so many volumes of books: Demonic and Angelic lore, books about creatures of the world, but not much on the Spear of Destiny. Bobby owns a grand total of four books that mention this specific weapon, so he and Sam focused mainly on them. A little while later, Gabriel enters the study, seating himself by the window.

Sam looks over to the Archangel and asked, " How's Cas doing?"

Gabriel sighed, lightly shaking his head as he replies, " Not so good... He's getting worse." He then gestures his head to the books scattered across the table. " You find anything useful?"

" No... Nothing yet..." Sam answered.

Suddenly, they hear a loud bang from outside. Sam quickly rushed out of the house, and into the junk yard. Those noises were being made by Dean. Sam knows this, because his brother stomped out not long after Gabriel had said he couldn't help Castiel. The banging grew louder and louder the closer Sam got. He turns passed a wall of stacked cars, and finds a very drunk Dean with a sludge hammer, bashing in the hood of an old Volkswagen.

" Dean!" Sam yells. The other man ignored Sam, continuing to smash the car out of pure guilt and rage. Sam places a hand on Dean's shoulder, but he was still going at it. " Dean, stop!"

Dean shrugs him off, ceasing only to take a swig from the bottle of scotch he found in Bobby's cabinet, then hit the car one last time before loosing his balance. " What do you want?..."

" You're a mess..." Sam sits next to him.

" No shit... Cas is dying, and there's nothing we can do to save him..." He wipes away the tears. " You bring any beer?... I'm out." He asks, gesturing to the empty bottle in his hand.

" No... no more drinks, Dean... let's get inside, it's getting cold." Sam rises, then gestures to help Dean's drunk ass up.

" I don't care..." He slaps his hand away.

" Sam! Dean!" Gabriel came running towards them. " Bobby needs you guys inside... Now." He blurted, then transports them to the bedroom. The Archangel moves away to get a chair, and sets it beside Castiel. " Dean, you sit here." Dean was confused, but he did as he was told. " Okay, Old geezer, the floor is yours."

" Don't call me that, you idjit." Bobby retorts, then cleared his throat as he resumed, " I've found something that may help Cas."

" Really?" Dean says, leaning forward in the chair.

Bobby scans his eyes across the pages of the book he held. " I'm not exactly fluent in Enochian, but, it does mention something about the Spear-"

Gabriel rolls his eyes and cuts in, " Alright, Old man, you're boring me." Bobby shot him a glare, but Gabriel continues, " How much do you guys know about the human soul?" All three hunters stared at the Archangel, wordlessly telling him that they had no time for guessing games. " Souls are like power plants, and their properties are almost limitless."

" And that would mean?..." Dean asked.

Gabriel chuckled, rolling up his sleeves. " If I channel your soul into myself, it may give me enough strength to bypass the Spear's spell, and I'll be able to heal Cas."

Dean is taken aback by this news, which ignited a flicker of hope in his heart. Sam too was excited to hear this, but something bugged his mind, and had to ask, " What's the catch, Gabriel?" Sam adds.

" Well... it's uh... It's dangerous."

" How dangerous exactly?" Dean jumps in.

" Um... If I touch your soul the wrong way, even the slightest bit. You'll die... and not in the taking your final breath kinda way. I'm talking about the pop goes the weasel kind."

" Well, that sounds comforting." Sam says sarcastically.

" I'll do it." Dean muttered.

Sam glances to Dean. " Are you sure about this?" He asked. " I mean, you heard Gabriel, it's very dangerous... You could-"

Dean immediately interrupted him, blurting out, " You got any better ideas, Sam?... This is the only chance we've got to save Cas... and I'm taking it." He then peers to the Archangel, and nods. " Do it."

Gabriel immediately went to work. He hovered a hand over Dean's abdomen. " Brace yourself, because this part is where you're going to scream." He warns.

" I've felt worse..."

" No you haven't... just try to hold still." Gabriel presses into Dean's stomach, his grace suddenly opens a path to Dean's soul.

Dean lets out an agonizing scream. Well, at least Gabriel was right about the pain. Dean squeezed at the armrests, his eyes focused on Castiel in order to tune it out. Soon enough, the energy from Dean's soul started to course its way into Gabriel. The Archangel's eyes flashed in a white glow, he then carefully laid his other hand on Castiel's chest.

The Angel's eyes suddenly shot open, and he screamed as the energy intruded his weakened figure. Sam watched anxiously, praying that Gabriel didn't mess up. Sam then noticed that Castiel's wounds were beginning to mend, it was working, it's really working. And as the last of Cas's wounds are healed, Gabriel carefully pulls out of the hunter who instantly passes out after.

" That should do it."

" Dean!" Sam rushes over to brother.

" He'll be out cold for a while..." Gabriel mentions before moving over to Castiel " Hey... wake up baby bro..." Gabriel taps his cheek lightly. " Come on... that's it, Cas."

Castiel slowly opened his eyes, glancing at his surroundings, then at Gabriel. He sits up, and notices that his body had been healed. " What happened?"

" I just saved your life. Well, actually, Dean was a load of help." Gabriel pats his back then moves off the bed. Castiel looks to his unconscious lover a long moment before he too passed out. " Come on Sam, let them rest, it's been a long day for you all." Gabriel exits the room.

Sam is about to follow, but takes a last glance to Dean. His brother had just risked his own life to save Castiel's. Of course, Sam is glad that it worked, but doing something that dangerous, he could've easily lost his brother in the process. Although, Sam can't count out Dean's reckless driving from earlier either. Then Sam thought: it's insane, the great and impossible lengths people would go to for those they love.

And it is that thought that worried the young hunter.