Chapter 10 MoD

The saddest thing about betrayal is that it never comes from your enemies.

Ash Sweeney

S-S-S-S-S

"Dean," was all the angel could think to say. He'd been caught well and truly.

"What the fuck man?" his hunter looked at him with betrayal. Cas had only been trying to keep Dean safe from this Knight of Hell.

"I apologize." What else was there to say? Ever since he had been assigned the task to pull Righteous man from Hell it seemed everything had changed. He followed Dean. It had cost him his faith, his brothers, and at one time even his sanity.

All his brothers thought he'd lost his mind when he would leave at the drop of a hat whenever Dean called. They called him crazy when he forsaken his grace to remain at his human charge's side.

"You followed me?" the hunter asked.

"Yes," Cas replied. Of course he followed Dean – he would follow wherever Dean led him. Furthermore, he would follow wherever Dean went.

Once the angel had accepted that he could not be swayed from Dean's side, he had been forced to ask himself why. Act of disobedience were foreign to the angel. It was not love nor was it lust. They were not brothers, and Cas was most certainly not Dean's mentor. Not his keeper either.

He was simply Dean's.

"And?" Dean started to pace. Sam had always said pacing was a bad sign from Dean. "Just when I think I can trust you I find out you're keeping shit from me about Heaven's plans and now you're spying for them?"

Spying for Heaven – never. He was loyal to Dean in all ways. He'd been changed in the most fundamental way; no angel had ever changed allegiances like this. Never to follow a human.

"I would never do that to you Dean. You must know that," the angel frowned.

"Bullshit."

"You must believe me," Cas started before he was cut off with a snort of disbelief. And that was the biggest problem between Dean and himself.

While he was Dean's, Dean was not his.

The angel had watched as Sam had thrown away what Castiel would have cherished. He had felt crushed to know his charge would not come to him for help; instead the preordained Vessel of Michael now bore the Mark. Instead of trusting and relying on Cas, the Righteous Man's soul was now twisted in agony as it struggled with that damned Mark.

"You – I must believe you?"

"You should believe me?" he asked, hopeful. Before the Mark, the hunter rarely listened when first angered. Ranting yes; listening no.

"Holding back the truth is the same as lying. I thought we'd gone beyond that crap – I know you were pissed when I needed space after I left, but damn it…" A look crossed his hunters face. Sometimes he would see Dean just stare into the distance with a similar expression – the man hadn't asked for any of this.

"I was not pissed. I was worried," Cas felt it was important to clarify that one point.

"One question Castiel," Dean only used his full name when it was of vital importance. Cas' full name was a line in the sand.

"Yes?"

"How long did you know?" From the moment the yellow eyed demon had dropped blood into Sam's infant mouth, Dean's life had been set on this course no man had ever suffered.

"Know?"

"Don't play stupid – how long did you know that Heaven wanted Abaddon to win this spat in Hell?"

Cas closed his eyed and stepped outside of time for a moment. He saw the Knight of Hell raise an eyebrow, but Dean remained frozen.

He just needed a moment to think. Had he know? Of course – it was the only logical step Heaven would have taken. The war for the souls on Earth was the only goal either side was after. To win.

Cas knew that somewhere right now was a new prophet sitting and writing – being driven like Chuck Shirley had been. Driven to write and write the journey of an epic hero's journey to save people.

The Winchester gospels.

When the gospels of the Winchesters were completed, the figure of Dean Winchester and his labors would become the most famous story ever told save that of the son of God. More famous than Orpheus descent in the underworld for his love. Dean had not only gone to Hell, he'd stayed in Purgatory and made it out of both without the help of a Greek god.

The journey had almost driven him as mad as Hercules was after his Twelve Labors – almost killing Sam. But what set Dean apart was the fact that he overcame the call of madness.

Dean had been punished by Heaven like Poseidon punished Odysseus with a ten year journey to return home. The tests of bravery, skill, honor – Dean had them all.

The man was the embodiment of everything a man should be. He stood by an ungrateful father, fought for the soul of a brother who did not want his help, and saved the innocent and never asked for so much a thank you. He was humble and did not even see himself as such; in fact, he saw himself as unworthy. He was willing to stand between the damned and still try to save them. Who did that?

Dean Winchester.

That was why his soul shone; it was why Castiel followed him. It was why Dean could change the course of history. What was the course of a river when a dam was placed in front of it? The dam could destroy the past or save the starving. It could change the world.

The heart of a warrior, the soul of a saint. Was it any wonder Castiel, Angel of Thursday, had followed Dean Winchester?

The moment the man had entered his life, Castiel had started his own journey on the path to true free will – he ended up being the Angel of Winchester. When the gospels were complete Castiel's devotion to Dean Winchester would be compared to that of Abraham. The angel had not offered his only son - he'd offered up his entire existence as an angel of the Lord.

That youngest of brothers, the Angel of Thursday, had been wiped out. In its place stood Castiel, Angel of Dean. No, Dean would hate that name. It would be too 'cheesy'. Regardless, the point stood.

Castiel turned to the first son and drew a deep breath.

"I am his man," Cas said with conviction.

"I believe you believe that. You certainly want to be his something," Cain replied without condescension.

"It is not like that! It is not… We are not-"

"I truly don't care about your personal desires or lack thereof Castiel; please don't stumble through an explanation on my behalf," Cain gave a pained look before continuing. "You claim to be his, but you withhold information, many times it seems. You have secrets and distrust; trying to protect the other side friction. If you were truly his right hand man, there wouldn't be anything but submission to his will. But there isn't."

"I am not his right hand. He has his own," Cas said automatically. "But I understand your reference."

Cain sat staring at the angel without judgment. Cain. Without Judgment.

The Marked One did not judge the trials and struggles of an Angel of the Lord… Oh.

"Oh."

Cain nodded.

"I cannot have them both can I?" Castiel asked. "I cannot have free will and follow Dean and be his and be an Angel. I cannot be of the Host and claim to be his. It does not work like that does that?"

"It certainly creates a conflict of interest," Cain agreed.

Spilling back into the time stream Cas took a deep breath before opening his eyes and answering. The truth would set them free.

"I always knew what course of action they would ultimately follow. I have no direct knowledge of any plans, but it was never in question that Crowley's vision was not shared by the Host."

"And that didn't seem like something you should have shared with me? Not something that might have help… oh, I don't know – a million times in the past?"

"It did not occur to me that you would want to know," Cas hedged. Dean had not asked directly anyway. This was the line, and he was walking so close he was about to lose his balance and fall across.

"You're an asshole. How many plans have we fought for to keep Crowley in charge? How often have you sided with him behind our backs? Damn it Cas – you've been playing us like a fool for years now. Fucking years," Dean raged as he clinched his fists.

"Yes."

"What?" Dean looked confused.

"I am an asshole. Not a literal one of course, though my vessel still possesses one of course, but I behave-"

"Shut up." When Cas tried to respond, nothing came out.

The angel frowned. For their entire association, Castiel had been the one with the power. The ability to leave when he wished; the one who could walk into a room and clear it with nary a thought. Now… Now Dean was able to control Cas' vessel to an alarming degree without seeming to realizing that he had actually issued a command.

They had started attracting some undesired attention from those around them.

"Cain?" Dean asked with a look at the Knight of Hell. A small nod was all the reaction and the world shifted. Cas did not recognize the clearing – it was on the edge of an overgrown dark copse of trees and a fallow field.

With a slight nod of his head, Cain left the two of them there alone.

After looking all around, Dean started walking along the edge of the field and trees. Cas could tell by the brisk pace the hunter was setting he was not ready to talk yet.

"Ya' know what Cas?"

"What?" Cas found his voice has returned.

"It's never been about anything but family for me. Bobby, Ellen, Jo, Dad, Sa- whatever," Dean sighed. "We were taught never to let people in – never trust."

Castiel stayed silent. This conversation was not like any he had ever experienced with the man next to him.

"I would have done anything for you Cas – Hell, I did things for you I never thought I would," Dean said without looking at the angel. Coming from the hunter who never spoke about his feelings, this was huge.

"For a few years I was like… We were – um," Dean kept walking from closed his eyes for a moment to collect his thoughts.

"Fuck. Okay, so you got me out of Hell – we bonded or whatever. We had each other's backs. You never actually said you would… I don't know. Pick me? You never said you would turn your back on the angels and their cosmic shit, but you did. You gave up your powers; you fought with me. You fought for me."

Cas nodded. He had. He would do it again without a second thought.

"It's completely screwed up. I thought you were the one who would be next to me and stand by my side no matter what. God, that sounds stupid," Dean snorted.

"No, I will stand by your side Dean. I will follow you."

"But that's the point – you say you will, but when the rubber hits the road, you aren't exactly putting all your cards on the table."

"I – Rubber hitting the road in an allusion to a car going to a road on all four wheels, and cards on the table is in reference to the end of a hand of poker in which the winner puts his cards on table to claim the money in the center, but I am not sure how they are related…"

Human expressions were getting easier, but still weren't clear especially when they got mixed up like this.

"Cas," Dean stopped walking and turned to the angel. "I can never be sure which way you're going to go. Which side are you really fighting for – mine? Yours? Theirs? I don't know. And this keeping information from me? Honestly, I had dismissed it – You had promised to never lie."

"There was never a lie," Cas promised. "I truthfully answered every question you asked Dean."

"Right. But that's not the point – and maybe it's the whole not human thing," Dean started walking again. "You don't get how it's almost like a lie. Damnit – I didn't get it, and it cost me a brother."

"Is it going to cost me you?" Cas whispered.

During his time as a human, Cas had come to understand a few things about humans. As an angel, time had no meaning, but as a human… A minute could last a second or stretch in to an hour. This was one of the latter as Dean took his time to think carefully about the answer.

"I don't know. Probably not – but I just need some time away from you. I'm figuring stuff out and I need…," he trailed off.

"I can help you," Cas offered. "I will help you. Anything you need. Anything at all. I am at your disposal. There is no question for me anymore. I forsake Heaven without Falling, because there is no Falling to protect that which is God's most favored. You. Mankind, humans."

He cringed inside; that sounded a little too much like a love sick puppy. This was not love; it was devotion.

"I'll think about it. For now, I think I need a little more reassurance than your word," Dean stopped as they finally reached a road that seemed to lead nowhere in particular.

"Crowley!" Dean shouted into the air. Castiel hated the sound of that demon's name on his Winchester's lips.

S-S-S-S-S

"At your service squirrel – I wasn't busy with a war or anything," Crowley scowled at Cas as the angel scowled right back. He really hated that stupid feathered git. It wasn't because Dean was obviously so close to him either. It was because… he was a git.

"I need to be hidden from Cas again," his weapon said with a sigh.

"Do you promise not to give him a midnight booty call this time? I find it tiring to keep redoing my work when you undo it just to see your boyfriend," the demon asked, carefully keeping his internal cheering to himself. That's right you sanctimonious angel – Dean preferred the company of the King of Hell to a lowly angel who kept falling.

"Shut up. What's the price?" Dean asked already thoroughly irritated.

"Well, since you asked so sweetly." Crowley kept a vague smirk on his face while he thought. There were several things he wanted from his weapon ranging from answers to seeing the God sent body naked, pardon the French.

"You do not need to involve Crowley in this Dean," the feathered freak begged. It would be moving if Crowley didn't have a vested interest in getting Dean away from Sparkles.

"Cas, space. I just need space," Dean said. That didn't sound good. That wasn't exactly a rejection or rebuff of whatever they'd been talking about that had Castiel's feather's all ruffled.

"What would you have me do while you have space?" Cas asked, eyes downcast. Fucking bloody Hell.

"Uh, I dunno'. What do you wanna' do?" the Hunter asked. Were they doing some sort of BDSM thing?

"I will tend bees with Cain if that is acceptable to him?"

"Bees? Sure," Cain said looking mildly amused.

"Fine, with that figured out, Dean – my price is you spread out on my bed," Crowley laughed at the outraged gasp from Dean's boyfriend. It was so easy to rile the uptight little puritanical idiot.

"Seventh grade make out rules, three minutes," and with that Dean leaned in to whisper in Crowley's ear. "And if you don't accept those term's, I'll let Cas over there take me back to my motel and do the things I know you want. Twice."

Dean stood back up. It was always dangerous to show your hand, and it was also clear the King of Hell had done exactly that. When had that happened? How long had Dean known? He'd been saving it – that much was clear. And now, he had a bit of an upper hand.

The perfect Weapon.

"Done." Crowley snapped his fingers.

S-S-S-S-S

AN:

Okay – This chapter is heavy in Biblical and Hellenic figures of classic Greek Mythology. I'm just going to start at the beginning in order of mention with a brief touch on what they did. As with all Mythology, they did a whole bunch of stuff, and it's all crazy interlaced.

Orpheus – Greek legendary musician, poet, and prophet. Known for charming all living things, and his quest to retrieve his wife from the underworld. He was also an Argonaut under Jason.

Jason - Leader of the Argonauts quest for the Golden fleece.

Hercules – Come on, I'm not going into the history of this guy.

Abraham – commanded by God to kill his only son. As he was ready to kill him God spoke and commanded him to stop. It had been a test of his devotion to God – Genesis 22:1-19

Dams – I feel stupid including this but… China recently built the Three Gorges Dam and displaced over 1.3 million people (disputed); it covered an ancient area that had been lived in for 4000 years with temples. The Hoover Dam was built to provide water and energy. (Maybe the save reason for Three Gorges Dam?) Both had a major Impact in the course of history in their areas and countries.

Also, just a person note – do you have any idea how difficult it is to write for Cas without contractions? His speech patterns traditionally don't include things like slang, comparisons, similes, or contractions. Unfortunately, grammar check thinks all those things are just fine, so… Next time you read, try to remember after a few paragraphs to edit out contractions! *Smacks Head*