Cas stayed curled around Dean as the other man slept. The Angel had been sleeping less and less lately and now he rarely slept because of fatigue. His eyes eventually slipped closed anyway after a while longer, Dean's body heat warming him to the depth of his heart.

He woke in a room. A beautiful room decorated in ornate paintings and even more ornate moldings. The paintings were of Angels, and Cas could name them. Michael, there were several of Michael, Gabriel, Raphael…The room was filled with sparkling gold and lovely creamy white. There was a chair upholstered in red crushed velvet, only one chair at the table, and the pattern of tiles covering the floor was so clean they reflected almost like a mirror.

Cas stood silently, turning slowly to take everything in. He remembered this place, vaguely.

"Hey bro."

Standing across the room from him was another person he remembered with gathering clarity.

"Gabriel."

"Long time no see. Did you miss me?"

Castiel shoved his hands in his pockets. "Not particularly."

Gabriel winced theatrically, striding around the table and throwing his arm around Cas. "That's rude little brother, and I came bearing good news too."

Cas sank his teeth into his lip, shrinking away from Gabriel's embrace. "Just tell me Gabriel, I have things I should be doing."

The Archangel chuckled. "Oh yes, like partaking in plenty of sin with that lovely surgeon."

Cas felt his posture stiffen even more, shaking off the awkward embrace. "What do you want Gabriel?"

Gabriel grinned. "I've been told to bring you back to Heaven. You did something right apparently and they're welcoming you back. Though maybe not quite with open arms, you know our family."

Castiel nodded, he did remember how they could be. "They'll take me to prison."

"Most likely. That'll be fun, don't you think?" Gabriel grabbed his shoulder, turning to face him, as his expression grew serious. "Castiel, this is serious. I'm here to give you a heads up. Get your things together. They're coming to pick you up tonight. I know about you and that human, and I wanted to give you a chance to say goodbye. You can't stay on Earth Castiel, Angels don't belong there, and things will just get worse and worse unless you return to Heaven. If you try to resist they will come after you. You know our family."

Cas stared at him for a long moment before he nodded. "Yes…thank you Gabriel…"

The Archangel nodded, squeezing his brother's shoulder. "Go."

The flutter of wings filled the room and Castiel disappeared, the settings on the table shaking with the force of his departure.

Dean woke to a kiss, smiling and curling into the Angel's warmth as the dew gathered on their blankets. They hadn't meant to stay out all night, but it hadn't been worth driving back.

"Morning." He buried his nose in Castiel's shoulder and breathed in happily. "You smell like ozone, where have you been?" He looked up.

Castiel's expression turned sad and he shook his head, immediately covering it up with a soft smile. "Just off looking around. I made breakfast for us." He pressed their lips together gently once more.

Dean pulled Cas back into bed with his arms around his waist, burying his nose in the back of the Angel's neck. "What would you like to do today?"

Cas snuggled into his chest. "Whatever you'd like to do." He tried to breath in as much of the human's scent as possible. Just the thought of leaving made it hard to breathe.

"Well before we do anything I need my shower and my cup of coffee." Dean pressed their lips together again. "Let's get back to civilization."

The ride back was silent, Cas stared blankly out the window, the worried swirling around his head and making hos headache start even earlier for today.

Dean helped Cas lug everything back inside, then he bounced off claiming the need for an immediate shower.

Cas curled up on the couch, trying not to think about the few hours he had left with Dean ticking away.

Plodding up the stairs Cas intercepted Dean on his way out of the shower, a towel clinging to his waist.

"What do you think Angel, this one?" he held up two shirts. "Or this one?"

Cas smiled. "The green one." He kissed Dean's nose. "Brings out your eyes."

Dean smiled, tipping Castiel's chin up to kiss him again. "You're turning me into a sap Cas."

The Angel chuckled. "Get dressed. I'd like to go to the park."

Dean grinned. "Alright, I'm hurrying."

The creak of the Impala's doors closing was a now familiar sound that Cas found almost comforting. He found himself noticing even the littlest things, trying to commit them all to memory. Curling up in the warm leather seat of Dean's car Cas enjoyed even the short drive to the park.

Dean twined their hands together as they wandered along the path, coming to a wrought-iron bench and perching on it. "You've seemed preoccupied today, what's wrong?"

Cas blinked at him. "Nothing Dean, don't worry."

They spent a few hours at the park, just enjoying each other's company silently, Cas resting his head on Dean's shoulder.

Even when they got home Cas felt the tumult of emotions swirling through his chest. "Dean…"

Dean looked up from his mouthful of hamburger, smiling sweetly. "Mmm?"

Cas popped a fry in his mouth. "Nothing, don't worry."

They curled up together in bed, Dean carding his fingers absently through Castiel's hair. "Love you…"

Cas twisted, pressing their lips together and snuggling closer. "I love you too Dean."

Dean chuckled when the Angel's fingers tickled over his ribs. "Tease~"

Castiel's smile widened into their kiss.

Cas pulled away as the clock ticked down his final minutes, brushing his fingers over Dean's cheek before slipping down the stairs.

After he set his folded coat carefully on the table, tacking the note to the top and standing for a moment as he tried to compose himself before he disappeared in a flutter of wings.

When Dean woke the sun was leaking in through his window. He was surprised to find the other side of the bed was cold. "Mmm?"

Pulling himself up he tottered down the stairs. "Cas?"

When there was no answer he looked around, making his way into the kitchen and spying the coat on the table. Tearing the note off the top Dean felt his heart sink as he read it.

Dean,

I'll be back as soon as I can. I know that I promised I wouldn't leave, but I wasn't given a choice. Thank you for showing me the beauty that still exists on Earth.

You saved me,

Castiel

Dean reread the note a few times, the words sinking in slowly. In the next breath he was tearing through the house, looking desperately for his Angel. "Cas! Where are you? I know you can hear me! Get your feathery ass down here!"

He stood in the hall, feeling his heart threaten to shatter. "Cas…" He swayed, leaning against the wall to keep from collapsing. He felt tears burn in his eyes and he swallowed hard to keep them back.

Cas was gone.

Author's notes: Thank you for everyone who has stuck around for already 10 chapters!