10

Coming Home

Cas felt something was wrong all of a sudden, like a he needed to throw up. He was alone in his room trying to get a little bit of rest before they left in the morning for the rescue. Immediately he thought of Dean, and knew he was in anguish. Needing air, he left his room and went outside where he ran into Ezekiel. Seeing that he was in distress, Ezekiel came to his side and supported him while he took deep gulping breathes of air.

"Castiel, are you all right," Ezekiel softly asked once he regained his breathe.

"I…I'm not certain, I suddenly felt…sick and breathless. Something happened, I know it has, to Dean." He calmed himself down so he can think clearly. "Thank you, I am not certain what came over me." Looking around, "what brings you outside?"

"Just doing tai chi to relax." Ezekiel let go of him and resumed his stance. "Dean means a great deal to you does he not?"

Cas smiled, "he means the world to me." He recalled all the fond happy memories of the past several years. He walked over and leaned on the Impala. "Ezekiel, have you chosen to stay on Earth?" Castiel knew that a great deal of angels had chosen to return to Heaven, but some weren't able yet or choose to stay.

Not pausing his movements, Ezekiel responded, "I have not yet felt the need to return to Heaven, and even if I do, I am not certain I would return."

"Because of Aaron?" Cas knew he tried to innocently set them up as a diversion from Aarons attraction to Dean, but Ezekiel and Aaron really 'hit it off' as the saying goes.

"Partially. I do care for Aaron and he has opened up a great deal of experiences I never knew about. Though I do not know if I share the same level of bonding you and Dean have. I still feel I have a great deal of work to do on Earth before I can return as well." Ezekiel sighed, "the bond between you and Dean, what does it feel like?"

He had to think, the latest was of course that ache and pain that made him sick, but that was passing though he still felt a great deal of worry on the cause of it. "It feels…it is difficult to describe in human words. When I am near him, I am relaxed, happy. That is not to say he is the source of my happiness, rather…he makes it easier to access. And when he is gone…I feel a sense of loss and, as you have just seen, sometimes I feel ill. We're connected, but I am still my own person, I just feel more complete when he is around." He looked down, "I miss him, and I feel guilt since I was the one who got him captured. My heart feels heavy Ezekiel, and I want him back it hurts."

Ezekiel paused and joined him on leaning on the Impala side by side. "We all know that pain Castiel, when father left. I never wish to feel that loss again. We will get them back though." He looked over at him. "Are you ready for tomorrow?"

"As I'll ever be. And Ezekiel?" His brother nodded, "I am not all acquainted with human relationships still, but I believe, if it's meant to be, you'll both find a way. It took Dean and I years to reach the point we are at now, and it's been, as he would say, a wild ride. Patience is all I can advise."

Ezekiel nodded, "that is something father gave us an abundance of."

Cas chuckled, "I like to think that he always intended us to interact with humanity, otherwise, why give us so much patience?"

After they were done, they left him with Balthazar for an indeterminate amount of time before he was unchained and taken back into his cell. He and Balthazar said nothing after the angel told him how Cas found him, for which he was grateful for. He was barely keeping the sick feeling in his stomach down, and as soon as they closed the door, he did throw up. Walking over to the bed, he saw that there was a new set of clothes for him. Putting them on, he curled up in the bed under the thin covers.

He'd been through much much worse in hell, on Alistair's rack. He endured every conceivable torture and violation known. Yet, this was affecting him more than thought. All he wished was to get Amelia and Balthazar and get the hell out of here. More importantly, he wanted Cas. Trying to think happy thoughts, he drifted off the sleep eventually.

He was woken up violently by being yanked out of bed. On reflex, he swung a punch and it connected with the masked henchmen's face. However, it was like punching a frozen carcass and all it did was cause the henchman to punch back, sending him into a daze. He felt them lift him up and he heard that her voice, causing him to cringe, then burn hot with anger. Defiantly, he looked her right in the eye.

"Sorry to wake you up. But there was an unexpected development. Amelia's water has broken."

He struggled against the iron grip of the henchmen, "let me see her!"

"You're in no position to demand anything Dean. Good news though, your results look very promising. So, I propose a little trade."

"Lady, once my boyfriend gets here, he's gonna come down all wrathful so hard on you, you're going to wish you weren't born."

She staggered back like he struck her, and he became confused. "Boyfriend?"

"Yeah, got a problem with that?"

Her face became red and she was obviously angered. "In fact I do. A boyfriend? We can't allow deviants into the gene pool." She threw him a disgusted look, "take him to Amelia and lock them both up. If that brat is born, we can maybe salvage it if it survives."

He stopped fighting while he was dragged away to Amelia. He didn't understand what him being with Cas made her upset, but he thanked Cas for helping him out. There was fear that her 'request' was something he would rather not think about.

He did not know how long he was…wherever he was. All he could recall was the thousands of voices jockeying to be heard, sprouting ideas and images of both beautiful and immense. It was mayhem for a while before he could feel a common idea being envisioned. It was actually a large square at first, but the more they concentrated, trees grew, pathways were laid, streams were directed. From there, it actually become easier, with the amphitheaters and libraries. At first the buildings were squat and unadorned, but then details began to appear. Columns and arches, gilded roofs and glass domes grew from the buildings. There was no discernible architecture, it almost seemed that a balance of all styles all across history found a way to co-exist. It was like this for a long time, as they all began to think of newer and intricate details to be added.

In time, he felt less and less voices until he was alone once again. Now though, instead of being in just the room where they started, he was in a courtyard they looked like Court of Lions in Alhambra. It was a place he always wanted to go to, even as a kid. Walking around, he marveled at the detail and beauty of the place, it was even better than he could have recalled. It was…peaceful.

"Yes, it is. I prefer Islamic architecture personally. They truly blend geometry and their building like no other." Ridwan said behind him.

Turning, he looked over at the angel who was accompanied by his mother. She was no longer wearing the nightgown she dies in, but a simply white dress. Looking at him, she smiled and held out her arms, inviting him into a hug which he rushed into.

"Sam…this is beautiful, so…beautiful." She said as he let go, her reaching to push his hair back.

"Mom…" was all he could muster for a moment. Regaining his composure, he explained his dream of coming to this place, to Spain and all of Europe, the history. She listened quietly while Ridwan and he conversed about the city they had made. When the overall vision was finally formed, the angels present maintained it while each person was let go into a part of it to add further detail. It was set up in such a way that it could grow as more people came. In time, it would be the new center of Heaven.

"So, you're saying my work here is done?" Sam asked hopefully.

"Well, until you come back of course." Ridwan replied.

"And heading back down home?"

"For that, Mary will guide you. Farewell until we meet again." Ridwan said has he flew away, literally for once, Sam saw him gently push off and flap his wings.

"Sam, take my hand." He held onto his mother while she lead him out of the gate, but instead of the street he found himself in a house. It took him a moment to realize it was their house, before it burned down. She sat him down in the living room where she settled in across from him.

"Sam, I want you to know that I am very proud of you, both of you. I never dreamed my sons would do anything like this. Still, it is not a life I wanted for you. It's not a life fit to raise children in, and I am sorry I wasn't there. And so is your father."

He perked up at that, "dad? You found him?"

"Henry did, and they went off to talk and made amends. It's because of you we can do that now."

"Yes, thank you son." John said from behind, making Sam jump up and look at his father face to face. "Because of you Sam, I can finally find peace, and be with your mother." He looked at his dad, who had kept his form as when he died, but he looked happy and healthy, a look he never saw on Earth. "Now, before you start talking, stop. I know what you boys have done, and I want to say, I'm sorry Sam."

Sam took a moment to digest that, there was a lot of bad water under the bridge between his dad and him. But they were in Heaven, why hold a grudge? "Dad, I know. It's…good to see you."

"Proud of you boys."

"We both are." Mary said as she stood next to her husband, reunited at long last. "But as I said, you can't stay here. Not yet. Your brother needs you still."

"And your mom filled me in, don't care much who Dean sleeps with, as long as they love each other." He could tell his dad was not entirely ok with it really, but it was a start. "and you Sam, take care of my grandkid."

He scrunched his face in confusion, "Dean's having a kid?"

Mary and John looked at each other worried before his dad spoke "you don't know?"

"Know what?"

"That girl you were with down there, what's her name?" He dad asked his mom.

"Amelia John."

"Yeah, her, she's…you know, it's supposed to be the other way around that the kid tells the parents his girl is pregnant." John said scratching his head.

"What!" he exclaimed. He's been up here for god knows how long and he's going to be a dad. He's going to be a dad. He sank back into the couch unbelieving. "I'm going to be a dad?"

His parent came over to him and they were just emanating happiness. "Yes, Sam you are," his mom said.

"But…but how am I supposed to get home?" he asked.

"Well, there's an idea." John paused before continuing, "fall to Earth."

"What? Fall to Earth?"

His mom nodded, "literally, the only thing keeping you tied up here was your task. Now that it's done, you can go back, to your next task. Being a father. We'll still be here, watching over you."

"Ok…so, do I jump off a cloud then? Do the entire Bastion dive in Neverending Story?"

"Word is, you have to want to be back home, then you simply are. Or so this writer guy told me." John said.

"Writer. By any chance was he called Chuck?" Sam asked.

John nodded, "yeah, you meet him."

Sam ran his hand over his face. Chuck was being too clever for his own good. "Yeah, I meet him. He's God."

"You're shitting me." John replied before Mary smacked him on the head. "No swearing!" she said before turning to Sam, "yes Sam, that's what he said. Just think about home and there you go. Now please, take care of your brother, Cas and the baby. And remember, we'll be waiting for you here." She walked over and made him bend down so she can kiss his forehead.

John held out his hand and Sam shook it, readying himself to go. "Tell everyone I'll be back," he said while he concentrated on returning to the bunker. The twisting feeling in his stomach began. Not looking forward to this, he tried to keep the image of the bunker, of Dean, Cas, of everyone.

"Not anytime soon you hear me?" John told him as he began to feel light.

"And Sam, do something about the hair." His mom told him before he felt like he was falling.