Chapter 10 – Leave My Body
Dean woke up to Cas curled up against him, one hand resting on Dean's chest to feel his beating heart. He was still fast asleep, and he looked more at peace than Dean had ever seen him. Smiling to himself, Dean looked at the clock on the nightstand. Eight thirty. About time they got up and started preparing for tonight. But Dean couldn't bring himself to wake Cas. He gently ran his fingers through the ex-angel's messy dark hair, just watching as he breathed in and out.
About ten minutes later, Cas stirred and opened his eyes sleepily.
"G'morning," said Dean.
"Morning..." mumbled Cas.
He looked at Dean and smiled.
"Who's watching who sleep now?" he teased.
"Did you used to watch me sleep?" Dean asked.
"I, uh... I did a couple of times... I was watching over you," said Cas, suddenly embarrassed.
Dean smiled and kissed him.
"Let's have some breakfast and get ready for tonight."
Their day was spent gathering every possible weapon and defense they could possibly need. They made three pairs of the special glasses they had used during the first trial so that Sam, Dean, and Kevin would be able to see the hellhounds. Sam had the demon blade and each of the others had spare angel blades they had collected, including one set to the side for Crowley. They had decided it would be best to keep him locked up until it was absolutely necessary. They also made almost five gallons of holy water, splitting it into multiple bottles and distributing it between them.
"I just hope we won't have to use any of this stuff," said Sam, screwing the cap onto the last bottle of holy water.
"If it does come to that though, I'm not sure how much any of you can do for me," said Cas.
"We're gonna fight for you, Cas," Dean said adamantly.
"I know you will. Just please don't throw your lives away for me. I did this to save Sam, not get all of you killed. If things start to look too bad, just... let the hellhounds do their work," said Cas. "I was prepared for that fate when I made the deal. And I'm still prepared to face it if this doesn't work out."
"Well, let's just hope it does work and you get to live a little longer," said Dean.
"It's eleven thirty, guys," said Kevin suddenly. "Let's do this."
Blades tucked into belts and pockets full of holy water, all four of them went down to fetch Crowley.
"Ah, the fated hour has come at last," the demon said as they entered the dungeon.
Sam covered his head with a dark cloth so he couldn't spy on the bunker, then they led him out. They walked deep into the surrounding forest before they removed the bag.
"Hell of a place to face your potential death, Cas. Surely you didn't pick it?" Crowley said, glancing around at the dark trees.
"This is just a precaution," said Cas.
"What, don't you trust me?" said Crowley, in mock offense.
"Not particularly, no," Dean said.
"Then why'd you ask me to help you save your boyfriend?" said Crowley.
"We were desperate. Now shut up," said Dean.
He handed Crowley the spare angel blade.
"Have you got the ingredients I need?" Crowley asked, tucking the blade into his coat.
"Right here," said Sam, handing him a duffel bag.
"Very good. Now let's get to work."
Several minutes later, they all stood in silence, waiting. A demon summoning spell was prepared at Crowley's feet, but not yet activated. That too had to wait. Kevin looked at his watch.
"Three minutes..." he said quietly.
"Dean, if this doesn't work..." Cas said, his voice trembling slightly.
"Shut up, it's gonna work."
"No seriously, Dean, if this doesn't work, I just want you to know..." said Cas.
"I know, Cas," said Dean.
He pulled Cas toward him and kissed him for what he seriously hoped would not be the last time. When they broke apart, they stared at each other hungrily, drinking in every detail, just in case.
"It's time," said Kevin.
Crowley dropped a match into the bowl of ingredients and the flames leapt up. At the same time, a low growl echoed out of the surrounding trees. Cas stiffened.
"It's okay, Cas," Dean whispered soothingly.
"Glasses on," said Sam.
He, Dean, and Kevin put on their glasses and peered into the forest. But what emerged from the darkness was not a hellhound... yet. It was the demon who had taken Cas' deal.
"You called?" she said.
"Yes, I did," said Crowley. "I have a bone to pick with you."
"Is that so?" the crossroads demon said.
"Very so. You see, this is an old friend of mine whose soul you've come to collect. And I won't be having that. Not in my Hell," said Crowley.
"The King of Hell, friends with a fallen angel? You expect me to swallow that?" the demon scoffed.
"Seriously? Your plan was to sweet talk us out of this?" groaned Dean.
"Sweet talk? Hardly," said Crowley, raising an eyebrow at Dean.
Then he turned back to the crossroads demon and walked menacingly towards her until they were face to face.
"Listen to me, whore," he growled. "You will let Castiel off his deal, or I will kill you and your little pack of hellhounds before you can even think about screaming."
"I'd like to see you try," the demon hissed back, her eyes flashing red.
"You dare threaten your king?" Crowley said, his voice dangerously quiet.
"You've been locked away by a bunch of pretty-boy hunters for months. You're hardly even fully demon anymore. You dare call yourself my king?" the demon retorted.
"You little –"
"And besides," she continued. "If you do kill me, no one's gonna call off my hounds. And do you really think you and your pathetic band of humans can beat them?"
"Yes, I do," Crowley snarled.
There was a flash of bright metal, then the angel blade was embedded in the demon's chest. She gasped in pain, flickering dimly through the skin of her vessel. Then she collapsed, dead. Crowley walked back to join the others, kicking the still smoldering remains of his summoning spell out of the way.
"Get ready, boys. This is going to be a messy fight," he said calmly.
"Anyone see any hellhounds?" Sam asked, tightening his grip on the demon blade.
"There," Cas said, his voice almost inaudible.
He pointed to a place in the trees ahead. A dark shape was shifting restlessly in the shadows.
"Oh my god..." breathed Kevin.
The hellhound emerged from into the clearing, closely flanked by four others.
"Shit," muttered Dean.
"What do we do?" Kevin asked.
"We fight," said Sam.
The lead hound growled, crouching, his gleaming eyes fixed on Cas. Then he pounced.
"Oh no you don't," said Crowley.
He stepped calmly forward, raising the already bloody angel blade, only to be knocked viciously aside – but not before planting the blade firmly in the hellhound's throat. The hound staggered and fell over dead. The remaining four hounds snapped their teeth and prepared to pounce, but this time everyone was ready for them. As the beasts lunged forward, so did Sam, Dean, Cas, and Kevin. One by one, the hellhounds fell to the ground, their black blood dripping onto the leaves.
"Well done, boys," said Crowley, limping over to them and wiping a bit of blood from his face.
"That was too easy..." said Cas grimly.
"Come on, Cas, we beat them! It's fine!" said Dean.
"Don't be so sure about that, Squirrel," Crowley said. "We still haven't absolved Castiel's deal. He's still got a price on his –"
Suddenly, a hellhound sprang out of the darkness, knocking Cas roughly to the ground and tearing into him with its claws.
"NO!" shouted Dean.
He plunged his angel blade into the hellhound's neck and it collapsed, nearly crushing Cas. Sam rushed forward and helped push the massive body off of him. Dean fell to his knees next to Cas, horror in his eyes as he took in the bloody mess.
"Cas... Cas, hold on, it's gonna be okay, we can fix this," he said.
Cas looked up at him sadly, gasping painfully for breath.
"I... I'm sorry, Dean..." he managed to say through gritted teeth.
"No, Cas, please, don't give up on me! Don't you give up!" Dean said.
Tears were coming now but he didn't make any attempt to staunch them.
"Cas, please... please... I... I love you..." he whispered.
But Cas had gone still, his blue eyes glassy and frozen, still staring sorrowfully at Dean.
"No..."
Sam knelt down and gently closed Cas' eyes.
"I'm sorry, Dean. I am," said Crowley quietly.
Dean and Sam ignored him, but Kevin cast him a skeptical look.
"We should head back," said Sam.
"What about Cas?" Dean asked.
"We... we can bury him in the morning..."
Dean nodded and got to his feet.
"Do you want me to...?" Sam began.
"No, I'll take him."
Dean bent over and picked up Cas' body with a bit of effort.
"Get him," he said, jerking his head toward Crowley.
Sam expected Crowley to complain, but the demon let him cover his head again and lead him back to the bunker. While Sam took Crowley back to the dungeon, Kevin led Dean to a spare bedroom to keep Cas in until morning. Dean gently set Cas on the bed, brushing a few strands of dark hair off his forehead.
"Do you... want some time?" Kevin offered.
"Yeah... thanks," said Dean. "And Kevin? Thank you. And tell Sam thanks. Crowley too."
"I will," said Kevin.
Then he left Dean alone by Cas' side, where he stayed all night.