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Cas swung around and stared wide-eyed at Elba, who was now lying in a heap on the floor.
In a flash he was crouched down at her side, brushing back sticky hair from her face, as Dean and Sam rushed over.
"What happened? Is she okay?" asked Sam breathlessly.
"She has fallen unconscious," said Castiel in a dark tone. "There is something wrong here."
He stared down at his angel friend, as her eyes slowly began to flutter open.
"W-What happened?" said Elba, a little startled at the faces peering down at her.
But Castiel leant over her and cupped her cheek with his hand, causing her fear and timidity to lessen slightly.
Carefully she lifted herself up into a sitting position, her cheeks reddening slightly at Castiel's touch as she clutched her arms around herself a little self-consciously.
Castiel quickly stood, gazing across at the two Winchesters.
"I need some time alone with Elba, there is much we need to discuss," he said glancing down at her for a moment.
Dean looked uncertainly at Sam before nodding. "Alright, we'll give you a half hour, but then we really need to sleep, man."
Castiel nodded, understanding the two brothers need for rest, as they quietly left the motel room, leaving Elba and Castiel alone together.
With a small gulp, Castiel turned back to Elba who was staring down at the floor catching her breath. He moved gently over to her, offered her his hand and helped her over to the nearest bed, where she perched a little uncertainly, avoiding Castiel's eye.
After a moment, Castiel sat down next to her and the Elba felt his cool hand touch hers.
She glanced up and gazed into his eyes. Eyes that burned as hot as the sun and raged like the heart of a storm.
"I'm so sorry Castiel," she whispered, almost in awe of this angel she once knew so well.
Castiel furrowed his brow. "What is the matter?"
Elba gazed down into her lap, tears slowly forming at her eyes. "I don't have much time Cas..."
Castiel turned to her, his eyes widening. "What do you mean?"
Elba sighed painfully. "I told you my grace was diminishing..." she whispered. "But it seems...it is happening sooner than I thought."
Castiel did not say a word and merely stared at the angel sat beside him.
"I believe it will only be a matter of weeks..." she continued, trembling, "...and I will be human."
A single tear rolled down her cheek and dropped down into her lap, shattering the silence like broken glass.
Elba's whole body shook with emotion, as the tears began to fall thick and fast.
"I am so sorry Castiel," she said in a whisper. "I would understand completely in you wished to cast me out...for I am no use to you like this...I am becoming just so...human."
Elba trembled slightly.
She knew that she would only be a burden on him if he kept contact with her. He could no longer be her protector, she knew that. Now that she was human, she was useless to him. But it broke her heart to tell him this.
Elba closed her eyes, knowing that when she opened them again Castiel would probably be gone.
...
Castiel turned his head and gazed at Elba as she spoke. The words tearing him apart.
He had been with Elba for thousands of years. The angel of Christianity. Born from human faith alone.
He had been with her for so long, yet feelings such as these had never risen within him before.
Feelings of hope, joy and contentment in her presence.
Plus one more feeling he believed he would never feel for anyone but God...
Castiel stared at Elba for a moment watching as tears rolled down her pale cheeks, before slowly and carefully entwining his hand with hers.
Elba jumped slightly and stared unbelieving at their interlocked hands, before gazing up at Castiel.
Tilting his head a little, Castiel reached up and gently wiped away falling tears from Elba's face with his free hand.
"If you are to be human, then so am I," Cas said quietly, as Elba's eyes widened. "I rebelled against heaven Elba...against the will of the other angels. That is why I did not come back for you ...I can never return. My grace will someday leave me too."
Elba gasped and shook her head in disbelief. "Truly?"
Castiel nodded sadly, as Elba squeezed his hand gently within her own.
"You should not worry. I will not leave you..." uttered Castiel, stroking back a stray strand of hair from Elba's face, causing her to tremble slightly beneath his touch. "You mean too much to me..."
They stared into each other's eyes as something passed between them.
Something beautiful.
Something they had never felt before
Castiel's breath grew shallow as he gazed into Elba's wide green eyes, his lips drawing closer to hers.
Neither angel was barely aware of what they were doing. They just knew it felt right.
Elba closed her eyes as Castiel's lips drew nearer and nearer...
"Honey were home!" said a sudden loud voice, causing Castiel and Elba to pull away from each other embarrassedly, swinging around to see Dean and Sam come sauntering into the room.
Elba sprung to her feet as Castiel did the same, his eyes flashing darkly in Dean's direction.
"Did you guys have your chat?" asked Dean flinging the keys to the Impala down onto the table.
But there was no reply, for as Elba looked around to glance at Castiel, she found that the angel was nowhere to be seen.
He had gone.
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