Disclaimer: Not mine.
Chapter 9
Dean made his way downstairs once Adam was in a deep sleep, tensing when he saw Michael, edging past him to go to Sam's side, smiling when Sam wrapped an arm around him. He relaxed against him, soaking up the love and comfort Sam was radiating. Sam smiled at him, running gentle fingers through Dean's hair and Dean melted, he couldn't help it. His famous no chick-flick rule was long gone, he needed to feel Sam's love to stay sane. Michael was a seething mess of emotions that he had to struggle to ignore and Castiel was hovering between confused and grateful.
"How's Adam?" Sam asked gently and Dean shrugged.
"Confused, scared, currently asleep." Dean answered and Sam nodded. "Cas are you okay?"
"I am fine Dean, my Grace has been restored." The angel answered, smiling softly at him and Den's head shot around to stare at Michael in shock Michael nodded at him and Dean stared at him.
"Michael helped Cas, Dean. He's not going to hurt anyone. He wants to hurt Raphael as much as the rest of us for what he's done." Sam assured him and Dean nodded hesitantly. Michael took a deep breath, settling his emotions and inviting Dean to read them. Dean felt anger, concern, hope and….love. Love? Dean focused and found it was aimed at Sam and…..Gabriel, brotherly love. Michael smiled at him and Dean relaxed, accepting that he was on their side.
"You won't try to send Sam back?" Dean asked, needing to be positive.
"No. It nearly killed me to banish my younger brother the first time. Now…I could never do that again." Michael promised and Dean smiled at him, one hand clinging to Sam's shirt. Sam wrapped his arms around him and Dean leant into him instantly.
Michael watched them together and realised exactly what he was seeing. Sam Winchester may have seen Dean as his brother but Lucifer….that could be very interesting. His younger brother stared at him, his grip on Dean tightening slightly and he simply nodded in acceptance. Dean was the reason his little brother was willing to work with him instead of fighting him, for that he would protect Dean from everything.
Sam smiled as he saw Dean sitting on the porch. He opened the door and walked outside, sitting behind Dean, his legs either side of the mortal. Dean tensed at the position for a second but then lean back to lean against Sam and Sam wrapped his arms around Dean. Dean turned his head to look up at him and Sam smiled gently. Sam froze as Dean lent up, he wasn't sure what Dean was doing but his heart jumped in hope. Sam felt Dean's lips brush his and smiled in pure joy at the gentle touch. He tightened his grip on Dean briefly even as he returned the gentle kiss, letting Dean end it when he wanted to. When Dean pulled back Sam smiled again and gently ran a hand through the blonde hair. Dean smiled and relaxed in Sam's arms, enjoying the feeling of love and safety Sam gave him.
"Dean?" Sam asked and Dean looked back up at him again.
"Yeah Sam?"
"Is this…..you sure?" Sam asked hesitantly and Dean smiled, happy that for the first time since his world had been turned upside down he was the confident one and Sam was the one who wasn't sure.
"Yeah, I am. You love me, I can feel it all the time and…..I love you Sammy." Dean whispered and Sam smiled at him, kissing him softly.
"I love you Dean, so much." Sam whispered and Dean nodded, still smiling.
"I have made my choice." Castiel stated and both Archangels looked at him curiously. Dean and Adam looked over from where they were sitting on the couch, Dean showing him the few family photos they had.
"And that is?" Michael asked and Castiel swallowed heavily, looking down. "Castiel whatever choice you make you will not be punished in anyway." Michael assured him and Castiel nodded, meeting the Archangel's eyes.
"I wish to stay with Sam sir." Castile stated and Sam blinked in surprise but then smiled at the much younger angel.
"Are you sure?" Sam asked gently. "If I am ever forced back to hell, you would be too." Sam warned and Castiel nodded.
"I am sure. You are my friend, Sam or Lucifer, and I trust you." Castiel stated and the two older angels nodded.
"Sam you will need to hold Castiel down as this will hurt. Castiel I will do this as fast as possible but there will be pain." Michael warned seriously. "Dean and Adam should leave the room."
"You'll be okay Cas." Dean told the angel, feeling his nervousness as he helped Adam up and from the room.
Sam moved to wrap his arms around Castiel, hugging him before shifting his grip to restrain him. Castiel took a deep breath and then nodded at Michael who moved to place a hand on Castiel's chest over his Grace. At first Castiel felt nothing but then he felt a strange warmth that gradually increased to a burning pain. He struggled against it, crying out in pain but then it was gone and he felt something he hadn't felt in a while, another presence. The presence was powerful but soothing and calm and Castiel clung to it, slowly becoming more aware and realising who it was, he was now linked to Sam like he had once been to Heaven and the other angels. Castiel slumped in Sam's arms and then turned his head to stare at the Archangel who smiled gently at him.
"Are you alright?" Sam asked and Castiel nodded shakily.
"I can feel you." Castiel whispered and Sam nodded.
"I can feel you too."
Adam smiled nervously when Sam joined him on the porch. Sam sat beside him but not close enough to make Adam feel crowded. Adam watched him closely and Sam sighed.
"How are you feeling?" Sam asked quietly, trying not to scare him. He hated the fact that Adam was nervous around him just because the kid could somehow tell he was an angel.
"I…I don't know. Everything's so different and…I can't forget. It hurt so much." Adam admitted and Sam wrapped his arms around him.
"Raphael will never hurt you again Adam. We won't let him little brother." Sam promised the tense young man and then smiled as Adam gradually relaxed in his embrace, eventually hugging him back.
"I miss my Mom." Adam whispered and Sam nodded sadly.
"I know kiddo." Sam eventually let him go but Adam stayed right beside him, leaning against him and Sam smiled, keeping an arm around Adam's shoulders while they talked.
Raphael couldn't believe it, all the centuries of planning in ruins. He didn't understand why Michael had taken the boy as his vessel instead of demanding Dean allow him to use him. Why had Michael been upset with him? It was Michael's destiny to kill Lucifer and being about Paradise. So what if his vessel had been messed with a little. Did Michael no longer wish to bring about Paradise? But why not? And who had been the other angel with Lucifer? Not Castiel, that foolish child would be human soon. His plans were pretty much gone and now he was on the run from Michael and Lucifer, how had things gone so wrong?
TBC…
