Chapter 10
It was way past midnight and still, Titan ran. He panted and sprinted as fast as his four legs would carry him. He jumped over trees as he bounded out of the nearby woods and onto the main dirt road. The headlights of a truck barreled down the nearly deserted road and they landed on Titan. He froze a moment, his eyes flaring up white and then jumped into the brush nearby, taking off once again. The truck driver slammed on his brakes for a moment, contemplating what they just saw: wolf, fox, or something they just couldn't explain? Then the truck driver moved on, slower than before.
The Angelhound could feel his heart beating fast. In Heaven he could cover twice as much ground as on earth, but he didn't mind. Titan had enjoyed his time on earth with the Winchester brothers. They'd shown him such kindness and lots of belly rubs and ear scratches so the hound ultimately felt satisfied with his choice to permanently leave his former master, Balthazar, and stay with Dean. It had been hard on the hound after his master had been killed, by none other than Castiel, in fact Titan had found it hard to trust Castiel for the longest time until Castiel proved to him he was no threat.
Titan zoomed as fast as light as he drew closer to his desired location. He then suddenly stopped and sniffed the air before his eyes lit up white once again and a small box with everything he needed appeared in front of him. There was just one ingredient missing. Titan took off again, faster than light this time and returned, trying hard not to taste the plant in between his jaws. Hemlock, Titan quickly dropped it into the box. Not that he was susceptible to any poisons on earth, but he never took a chance. Titan picked the wooden box up in between his teeth after shutting the top of it and trotted over to the middle of the crossroads. He buried it and waited for a moment.
"Well hello there love," Titan's head spun around to find Crowley standing there. Crowley looked down beneath him. "No devils' trap huh? That's ballsy of you?"
"You won't try to escape," Titan said to him through his mind, he stepped closer. "Not when the Winchesters are so high up on your priority list."
Crowley paused a moment.
"Well," he said. "You've got me there."
"What have you done to Dean?" Titan asked.
"Oh Dean," Crowley smirked playfully a bit, staring down the hound. "He did that all to himself mutt."
"Lies," Titan exclaimed and growled, snapping his jaw and baring his teeth for emphasis. "What have you done to my master?"
"I told you, you bloody mutt, Squirrel did this to himself," Crowley explained again. "I simply provided him with new life."
Crowley suddenly found that he was down on the ground. He had an angry, growling Angelhound looming over him and he was quite close to said Angelhound's giant fangs. Crowley knew better than to piss off angels, but Angelhounds were a different story. At least an angel you could outsmart and they weren't packing industrial sized and strength teeth. Titan shifted into his human form and grabbed Crowley by the collar, lifting him up so they were face to face, inches from each other.
"Well then if you won't tell me what you did to Dean," Titan glared and bared his teeth once again, even though they were human teeth as of that moment. "Then at least tell me how to fix him."
"Sorry no can do," Crowley shrugged, seemingly innocently. "I'm afraid that job is already spoken for."
"What do you mean?" Titan asked, worried a bit, he backed up and let Crowley's collar go. The King of Hell brushed himself off and straightened his tie.
"Well mutt," Crowley turned his head slightly; there was a glimmer of deceit in his eyes. "Let's just say between you and me, that Squirrel has quite the guardian angel."
Crowley disappeared before Titan's eyes and the Angelhound was taken aback. What had Crowley meant by what he said? Had Castiel done something to help Dean? Had another angel? Titan shifted back into his hound form and grunted before turning tail and running back in the direction of the bunker. He and Dean had much to discuss when his master awoke.
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Dean awoke the next morning to a grimy taste in his mouth and a slight headache. He'd pounded a few beers and even some whiskey the night before after his little session with the bathroom mirror. He hated when his mind worked that way. Self loathing seemed to be all he knew nowadays and all of his life for that matter.
He was also awoken by the sound of his brother walking down the hallway towards his open door. Damn it, had he forgotten to close the door the night before? Dean rubbed his aching temples, trying to ignore everything else. Trying, until he felt a bottle of Aspirin hit the bed in front of him and Sam looking over at him.
"Rough night," Sam asked, crossing his arms and leaning against the door frame. "Huh? So what chick flaked on yah at what bar this time?"
"I stayed in." Dean graciously dry swallowed two Aspirin and pinched his nose. His head pounded every time he moved.
"I'm not gonna ask," Sam said. "Anyway, Cas is in the living room waiting to talk to the both of us. Jody called me earlier today and requested our help with something. So once you're ready to be coherent meet us out there and we'll make a game plan."
Sam walked away and Dean groaned quietly. He hated migraines, he hated it when Sam talked to him like he was a helpless child, and also he hated not knowing why anything was happening to him lately. Dean stood and stomped over to the bathroom, rubbing his tired eyes before turning on the light and washing off his face with cold water. His eyes met the mirror and he squinted before lifting one open wider with his finger and thumb.
The bloodlust, it was fading and fading rapidly at that.
Dean had no explanation and that was scaring him ever so slightly. He didn't know what could've possibly caused his healing or who for that matter. Dean shook away his thoughts, not wanting to go there right in that moment and picked out his clothes for the day. Slipping on his black faded ACDC t-shirt and some worn blue jeans, Dean walked out of his room and to his awaiting companions.
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Dean found Castiel seated in the same armchair he'd been in the night they'd watched Dr Sexy together. Sam was standing, leaned up against a barstool, a cup of coffee between his lips. Dean poured himself a cup and gingerly sipped it down. His stomach still churned, he knew it would until the pill kicked in.
"Metatron is definitely nearby," Castiel spoke up after silence filled the room for too long. "I have narrowed down a possible location."
"Well don't just sit there Cas," Dean chugged his coffee and wiped his lips. "Tell us."
"There is an abandoned warehouse nearby," Castiel explained. "His grace is there in traces, showing that he has been visiting it. I believe if I can catch him at the right time there, I can ambush him and return him to his rightful prison."
"Sounds good Cas," Sam nodded, he turned to Dean. "Jody told me of a potential werewolf case near her place. She was wondering if you were in or not."
"Uh," Dean weighed his options, go with Sam and be interrogated again, by both his brother and probably Jody or stay with Castiel and not be judged or asked questions he didn't feel like answering. "Actually Sam, I think I'm gonna stay here…with Cas."
Castiel was taken aback. It wasn't the first time that Dean had gone with him on a hunt or a case or anything else for that matter, but it was the first time Dean had vocalized it was what he wanted to do. Sam's eyebrows lifted a moment and he rubbed the back of his neck for a moment.
"Oh," Sam replied. "Well ok Dean. I mean, yeah that's…good. I'll tell Jody it's just gonna be me then."
Sam walked off to call their police officer friend leaving Dean with Castiel. Dean looked over at his old friend with heavy eyes. Castiel sighed; his pain had doubled since the week before and he trying harder and harder to hide it. Eventually he knew he couldn't, but for now what Dean didn't know wouldn't hurt him.
"Tell me when you are ready Dean," Castiel said, his fingers covering his eyes and rubbing at them. "I'll fly us to the warehouse after Sam leaves. I…need a moment."
Dean gave Castiel a confused look, but he nodded. He observed how tense Castiel's shoulders were. The angel was clearly in some kind of pain. Dean considered asking his friend what was wrong, but he anticipated the answer already. The same one Castiel had been giving him for the past weeks: "I'm fine Dean." So he didn't.
Moments later Sam had a packed back slung over his left shoulder and he was walking towards the door of the bunker. He waved at the pair and walked out the door without a second glance. Castiel stood from his chair and strode over to Dean. Dean barely had time to register what was happening before Castiel zapped them to the front door of the warehouse. He had somehow zapped boots onto Dean's feet and a gun into his belt.
"I sensed Metatron's grace here multiple times," Castiel explained, lowering his voice a bit. Dean checked himself over and stepped forward. "I want to catch him by surprise if at all possible."
"Makes sense," Dean replied. "So how do you reckon we get inside Cas?"
"I was thinking the front door would suffice," Castiel pointed in the direction of the slightly ajar door that seemed stuck halfway. "Unless you have a better plan?"
"Well geez Cas," Dean smirked a tiny bit as he followed the angel to the entrance. "Who taught you sarcasm?"
"You." Castiel replied as he tried to work open the door. The old metal door groaned a bit, but refused to budge. Castiel let out a frustrated sigh. Dean walked up next to him.
"Here," Dean offered. "Let's try together."
Dean pushed too at the same time as Castiel. The door opened enough for one of them to try to sneak through; unfortunately they both tried at the same time and ended up very stuck. Dean's knee was wedged somewhere near Castiel's crotch and Castiel was pinned to the wall. Dean grunted and tried to shift forward. Castiel did the same thing at the same time though and prevented either one of them from moving once again. Dean looked down and saw nothing, but blue eyes inches from his.
"Cas," Dean grunted and shifted again. "We were never good at the whole personal space thing weren't we?"
"Now is hardly the time Dean," Castiel moved his arms up so he wasn't quite so pinned. "On three. We push."
"Good. Cuz in reality," Dean's breath ghosted in the space between them as he looked at the angel before him, Castiel's too. "You're kinda crushing my ribs Cas."
"Whose fault is that Dean," Castiel said, accusatory. "You're the one who insisted we could both fit through this thing."
"That," Dean let out a breath he'd been holding rather harshly and struggled again for a few moments. "Was before we got stuck."
"On three." Castiel counted and the pair managed to painfully dislodged themselves from the doorway. They tumbled onto the concrete floor and each let out a groan. Castiel got up first, followed by the hunter. Dean looked around, rubbing at his wrist and his neck. This place seemed pretty abandoned, but he also knew Castiel and when Castiel had a lead, he didn't stop until he followed it.
"At least this warehouse," Castiel said, looking around as well. "Isn't guarded by insatiable intimidating prime numbers."
"What?" Dean gave Castiel a "what the hell" look.
"You weren't there that's right," Castiel walked forward, Dean quickly followed after him. "That was Sam."
"I," Dean was about to ask, but decided against it. "Never mind…"
Castiel and Dean carefully and quietly walked on through the halls of the warehouse. It creaked and groaned with age and every time Castiel jumped a bit. Dean looked around him in anticipation of some monster lurking in the darkness, but no ugly creatures jumped out to "greet" them. They finally reached a central area where there were a few doors leading to adjacent dark hallways and water dripped from the holes in the ceiling. Castiel stepped out into the center, looking all around him. Dean watched and waited.
"Face it Castiel," Metatron's voice echoed through Castiel's head and his only. "You think you're going to win, but you're wrong."
Castiel shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts and silently praying that Dean wouldn't ask questions.
"I've got plans for you Castiel," Metatron said, Castiel could almost see him smirking. "And that precious boy toy of yours too. It's about time he learned the truth isn't it Castiel? The truth about what you did."
"Shut up." Castiel muttered.
"What'd you say Cas?" Dean asked.
"Oh," Castiel looked over. "N-Nothing Dean."
He knew Dean didn't believe him, but the hunter didn't pry. Castiel continued to wait, searching for the source of the voice even though he knew it wasn't there at the warehouse.
"Just you wait Castiel," Metatron practically yelled and laughed in Castiel's head, Castiel, not thinking, held his ears and dropped his blade. "Just you wait now! I'll give you both what you deserve! Won't that be fun Castiel? Won't that be fun?!"
"Shut up!" Castiel practically screamed. "Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!"
Metatron's voice slowly faded and it was replaced by Dean's. Dean was staring down at the angel, who now leaned up on the wall on the dingy floor. Castiel shakily removed his hands from his ears and looked up at Dean, blue eyes meeting concerned green ones. Dean was shaking his shoulder lightly and trying to get him to stand up. Castiel slowly obliged, he felt the pain shoot up his back again, but he ignored it and focused on Dean.
"You ok man," Dean asked. "We need to get out of here. You're shaking Cas."
"Yes," Castiel nodded, gaining coherence. "We do Dean. Let's go."
Castiel led the way, followed by Dean once again who was acting like a bit of a concerned mother hen over the angel. The opposite of what Castiel wanted. He shrugged it off though and mostly ignored Dean. Not on purpose, but Metatron's words rang in his head. They wouldn't go away either.
"I've got plans for you Castiel and that precious boy toy of yours too."
"It's about time he learned the truth isn't it Castiel?"
"The truth about what you did."
"The truth about what you did…"
Castiel kept walking and ignoring. He feared he'd fall apart right there if he did.
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Sam blinked as he stared down the road. It was a long ride to Jody's house and he had planned to get there before midnight that night. Damn he was tired though. The radio hadn't been the best companion. He'd prefer a real person to the radio any day.
"I never meant to be so bad to you, one thing I said that I would never do."
Sam's attention suddenly returned.
"One look from you and I'd fall from grace, enough to wipe that smile right from your face."
Sam tried to change the station, but it wouldn't go. He began to panic a little. That song, anything but THAT song. Sam looked back up and saw a familiar golden eyed face standing in the middle of the deserted road, except for him. Sam gasped and hit the brakes before swerving off the road. He looked back and saw nothing, he panted and pushed his hair away from his now sweat laden forehead and re-opened his eyes moments later. Only to nearly jump out of his skin at who he saw.
"He yah Sammy boy." Gabriel said from the passenger seat.
Reviews are always appreciated! I hope you guys enjoyed who was brought into this chapter. And who was potentially brought back, or was he? Stay tuned for the next installment to find out the answers to all of your questions.