11. Another Night On Mars

If you can't control yourself, Castiel, then leave.

You just don't understand, do you?

I get it. You're pissed. So am I.

Dean cracked open his eyes.

He felt weird.

Like, not exactly in pain, but not really comfortable either. It was stickily hot and his stomach pitched from something that was rolling around in his chest. His cheek pressed against the concrete floor. Slowly, he sat up shakily and tried not to puke.

What if we're wrong, Cass? What if it's not Michael? Do you think he's okay? Maybe we shouldn't have put him in there… Bobby?

Hate to break it to ya, Sam, but if the idjit could do what you been sayin' he can do, what else could it be?

Dean's head jerked up at the voices. Sam? Where was he?

What was going on?

His brain finally caught up with his eyes. His eyebrows rose. So that's why it was so freaking hot. The flames flickered and cast long, sharp shadows around the room. Dean was sitting in a ring of fire. His confusion increased. In Bobby's panic room? The fan above him cut periodical slices of light that played across his lap. He was on the floor but he wasn't sore from his impromptu nap, however that had happened. He looked down at himself. His shirt had been ripped up the back (seriously? He like this shirt.) and it was covered in blood. But it must not be his blood because as far as he could tell, he was fine.

Wait.

Vampires. He'd been hunting vampires. How did he end up here?

And why the heck was he surrounded by holy fire? What kind of major miscommunicating screw up just went down and why did he not have even the slightest clue?

"SAM!" he shouted.

Was that Dean? I think I heard Dean.

It was strange how voices traveled in this house. Several sets of feet came clomping very loudly down the stairs. Then the door cranked open, and Sam peeked his head in. His clothes were bloody, and he looked exhausted, but that was not what startled Dean. Where his eyes ought to have been, a blue glow shined through.

Dean scrambled to his feet and tried to step backward, but the fire was way too hot. He stayed in the circle.

Sam (or whatever that thing was) entered the room and was followed quietly by both Cass and Bobby.

All of their eyes were glowing that same blue-white glow.

Well, it wasn't exactly the same, although he could not have pinned in words just what was different. And now that he looked at them, it wasn't just their eyes that glowed. In the center of their chests, just on the collar bone, the light pulsed and beat just like a heartbeat. The entire room lit up with the brilliance. He blinked and shook his head, but the lights wouldn't go away.

"What the heck is going on?!" He tried to step back again, but that stupid ring stopped him again.

Sam watched him and there was something very sad and a bit suspicious and also afraid swirling in those glowing lights.

Dean shut his eyes and when he opened them again, the lights were gone. All at once. The room was very dark in comparison.

Sam and Cass and Bobby were trading nervous looks. They were afraid. Why were they afraid?

"Sammy," Dean snapped. "Please."

That got him. Sam cleared his throat and scrubbed his face with his hands.

"I'm guessing we're talking to Dean, then."

Dean frowned, taken back. "What? What is that supposed to mean?"

At Sam's side, Castiel, who Dean now realized was a simmering pot of fury and loneliness and betrayal (yeah, he could tell), snorted. Sheesh, what crawled up his butt and died? Dean cocked his head at his friend. "Cass? Guys, come on, what is this?"

"Drop the act, Dean. We figured it out. We know you said yes."

Dean did a double take. He moved to the center of the circle, where the fire was the least hot. "To who? Michael?" He sneered. The fire was making sense now. But seriously? They thought he'd actually given up? Why? After all the crap they'd gone through? After all of the fight they'd put into this? He couldn't deny that he had thought about it. He'd considered giving in, but he wouldn't have done it. Dean didn't think he ever would have.

He stared at them in shock. "You- you think I…?" Dean shook his head, disbelieving and disgusted. "I would never. Why would you even say that?"

Again, they exchanged glances. A bit more confused now. That weird glow inside of them flickered again, and Dean turned away suddenly, startled. He didn't want to see it.

"Dean? Dean, what's wrong?"

That was Sam's voice. It edged on concern.

Dean suddenly realized he was clutching his head. He forced himself to straighten even as another bout of nausea rushed through him. The heat in his chest was so intense, it was almost as painful as the fire.

He forced himself to breathe. The heat settled.

With extreme care, Dean made sure he met each of their gazes in turn. The glow flickered in their pupils but did not overwhelm the entire eye. Okay, he could deal with that. Whatever it was. "I didn't say yes to Michael. There ain't nobody in this head but me."

Sammy chewed his lip uneasily, and Dean cast him a pleading look. Sam trusted him. He knew he did. He had to know Dean wasn't lying.

But no one moved.

Castiel was edging less on the side of anger and had adopted more confusion. He cocked his head at Dean. "I do not understand. How else did you-?"

"I'll prove it," Dean interrupted desperately. Reflexively, he tried to throw some humor in the mix. "I'll prove it's me and then we can go out for beers and strippers forget this whole thing, yeah? Just tell me what you want me to do."

Bobby and Sam both looked to Castiel, who squinted thoughtfully. "If he is possessed, he won't be able to walk through the flames."

"But he's not an angel."

"Michael is."

This was stupid. This was way stupid. Michael wasn't in his head. He was fine. Normal.

Even as he thought those words, the glow in his companion's' eyes increased, and he had to look away. Dean looked down at the flames flickering at his feet. The ring of fire was much hotter than he'd ever anticipated. Screw it.

"Do it," Sam said with a firm nod. "Step over the flames."

Dean snorted. "Fine. I will."

And he would.

He…

….would.

Dean took a step closer to the fire. The heat fanned his face, and he forced himself not to cringe. Was it always like this? He couldn't remember.

Closer and closer. He gasped and stepped back just slightly before steeling himself. He had to prove he was okay. And after this, he was going to punch them so hard, but right now, he had to do it.

He managed to get a few inches away from the edge of the flame. The heat was so intense, he couldn't stop a growl from leaving his lips.

"Wait, Dean," someone said urgently. "Dean, stop it you're going to hurt yourself," Dean ignored the voice. Suddenly, someone grabbed him by the shoulder and pushed him back. Castiel stepped over the flames easily and pulled him to the center of the circle, where Dean stayed very still. "Believe me, you will be in agony for weeks."

Dean stared down at the flames with fearful eyes. What was going on? Suddenly, he stiffened. His eyes widened, and he looked over Cass quickly. There was no way he just stepped over that without even hesitating. "Are you okay? How did you do that?"

Castiel released him, and, with a dry look, stepped back outside of the circle. "I'm not an angel."

Dean blinked. What? He forced himself to keep standing. Sam and Bobby's eyes were wide as saucers. He felt like throwing up. Honestly, the fire was so freaking hot it was like sitting in a sauna in a desert. He licked his dry lips nervously. "I-I wasn't lying. I don't understand."

"Me neither?" Sam whispered. "Cass, that's Dean. That's not Michael."

Cass nodded. Bobby watched.

"I know," Cass said. And then again, quieter now. "I know."

Suddenly the heat became far more intense than before. But the heat wasn't from the flames, it was inside him. The heat in his chest along with the heat around him was just too much, Dean dropped to his knees, clawing at his collarbone. He couldn't breathe. "Something's- something's wron-"

"Forget it, Cass. We can't keep him in there!"

Cass was torn. He looked to Bobby, who stepped forward and ground out the edge of the flame with his foot.

All at once, the ring, broken now, died down and disappeared.

The heat in his chest and in the air around him disappeared, and he gulped the air in greedily, his heart thumping in terror. It was as if someone had been squeezing his neck. Why the heck couldn't he walk through the flames?

Still on his knees, Dean ran shaking hands through his hair and refused to look at his family. They were glowing again. He could feel it.

He needed to stay calm. He needed to stay in control.

But his terror was running rampant and before he knew it, he was on his feet and backing into a corner of the panic room, as far as he could get from the glowing forms that used to be his friends. You're going crazy.

"Dean!" someone shouted, and Dean thought it was the glowing ball that was Sam. "Dean, calm down!"

But he could not possibly calm down. Not right now. Thunder cracked outside and wind was picking up inside the room. Papers flew through the air, and the ground shook with an earthquake. This only caused more terror to rip through Dean. He clutched the wall and desperately tried to think. What kind of monster was in this room? What was going on? Was something here?

"Dean!" another voice shouted.

Cass. It was Cass.

He looked up at Castiel's glowing face and squinted, trying to see the face on top of it. Or was his face beneath it? Dean couldn't tell. Cass grabbed him by both shoulders. The touch was strangely grounding. "Stop this!" he shouted.

Dean shook his head. "What are you talking about?" he cried over the wind. "Gank the freak!" Whatever it was that was making this happen.

Cass winced as if his words were too loud. He backed up and then both Sam and Cass were in front of him.

Sam had such a beautiful face. Or whatever it was Dean was seeing. That light shined from his chest and pulsed with concern and loyalty and just Sam.

As he stared at the light, he was distantly aware of Sam speaking and of the wind slowly dying down. Apparently, whatever creature that burst in here was leaving. Sam's voice was soothing but not nearly as soothing as the light. It made him think of times he and Sam played hide and seek as a kid. It made him think of the Christmas presents Sam used to get him when he was tiny and didn't know how to give gifts and Dean had loved the gifts anyway because Sam had cared enough to give them to him. It made him think of the Fourth of July in the middle of nowhere with a stack of fireworks. It made him think of nights spent sleeping in the Impala with Sam in the backseat and he could hear him breathing and the world was good.

But something wasn't right.

There was a thread of darkness. Spilled ink. Deep inside his brother. It pulsed and growled and snapped at him when he looked at it. Demon blood. That's the demon blood.

The disgusting thing hissed at Dean and Dean hardened his resolve. There was no way that thing was going to stay in his brother. Somehow, he would figure out how to get it out.

Not now, though.

Dean could feel something. Or rather, a few someones. On the front porch. He forced himself to look away from Sam's light. His eyes flicked to the door. "Somebody is here."

"Who?"

Dean didn't know how he knew, but he did. "Angels."

Sam was terrified. Not many things scared him all that much. When you spent six out of seven days of the week running straight into the mouths of seriously dangerous SOBs and the seventh day stopping the Apocalypse, stuff just didn't really get to you.

But Dean on the floor, in the middle of a mini tornado or lightning and rain and thunder, Dean with wide glowing eyes, Dean crying out in pain in the middle of a ring of fire, Dean shouting and grabbing his head in agony, those things made Sam's soul sick with fear.

Dean wasn't Michael. He couldn't be. Sam would know. He thought that he would know. But how was this happening, then?
He gripped Dean's shoulder tightly. Bobby was attempting to grab several flying weapons that were swirling around in the mini tornado, but both Sam and Cass knelt in front of Dean.

Dean stared at them with wide eyes. His pupils were completely white, glowing with a harsh blue-white light Sam was very familiar with. Those were an angel's eyes.

How could Dean have the eyes of an angel without being possessed?

As he spoke, the storm slowly died down. Until finally the last threads of wind gave out.

Just as Dean was calm again, almost unconscious, Sam thought, his brother's head shot up with urgency.

"Somebody is here."

"Who?"

"Angel." His answer sent a chill through Sam's bones.

He glanced at Castiel, who visibly paled before his resolve appeared to harden. They stood quickly. Sam quickly stood Dean up, but his brother slumped in his arms just as he had earlier after he was stabbed and another storm had started up.

Cursing, Sam set Dean down on the cot in the corner as gently as possible. "Someone should watch him."

Bobby and Castiel both were not willing to stay, and neither was Sam. Alright fine. They'd take care of this situation, and then get right back to Dean.

Grabbing the nearest weapons, the three jogged up the stairs. They got to the front door and looked out with distaste. Castiel had taken the time to ward the house repeatedly, and so there was little chance the angels could get in without significant effort, but all the same, having them stand on the front porch was not exactly ideal.

And there he smiled thinly at them from the gravel driveway. He checked his wristwatch irritably and swung his blade in the other. Sam rolled his eyes. "Didn't bring all the squad with you, Zach?"

Zachariah smiled thinly at them from the gravel driveway. He checked his wristwatch irritably and swung his blade in the other. Sam rolled his eyes. "Didn't bring all the squad with you, Zach?"

Zachariah blinked and cocked his head that was reminiscent of his younger brother (said little brother was behind Sam probably hoping no one noticed him, which Sam did not blame him for). "Please. You are hardly worth the effort." Sam wondered why someone would willingly choose such a weak looking vessel. A fat, balding man. Maybe they did not have as much of a choice as he assumed. He'd have to ask Cass about that.

"What do you want?" Bobby growled, rifle in hand.

Zachariah sighed. His nostrils flared; a very typical expression of his disgust. "You must realize that will not protect you."

Bobby snorted right back. "Yeah, but I'm thinkin' it might explode your butt ugly face for a minute."

Sam almost laughed. Zachariah's face transformed under his fury, and he stepped forward with the blade still in hand, only to jerk to a stop in front of the porch. His lips hardened into a thin line. "I see Castiel has been a bad boy. Again."

From behind Sam, he felt Cass shiver at the words. He frowned. "You leave him alone." Stepping out onto the porch, Sam let the door slide closed behind him.

The wardings would only last a few minutes. He hefted the angel blade and stared down at Zachariah, enjoying the angel's annoyance. "What do you want?"

"Dean Winchester," he said simply. "He has disappeared off of the face of the Earth. "

Sam's eyes widened. That did not make sense. Dean was just downstairs. "And… you think I'm going to tell you where he is. You. You can't possibly be that stupid."

Zachariah scowled. "You'll tell me. I just… need some leverage first." The angel looked around casually, as if he was browsing at a grocery store, not looking for blackmail.

"Ah, what about that funny little soul hiding behind the door, hmm?"

Zachariah smirked. It was hideous.

Sam stepped forward. "You touch him, and I will kill you."

"Oh, will you?"

Sam was ready when the warding snapped, but all the same, he still wasn't fast enough to stab him. Zachariah disappeared and reappeared with an irate Castiel.

Zachariah appraised Castiel. He squinted suspiciously."Do I know you?"

"I'd hope not," Castiel growled. He tried to shove the angel away, but Zachariah just held his shoulder a bit tighter. Castiel hissed in pain and stopped moving.

Suddenly, Zachariah's eyes widened in surprize. "Well, what do you know, the little stray kitten himself. Castiel, I didn't recognize you under all of…" He gestured vaguely to all of Castiel with disgust and ticked his tongue. "Goodness, look what happens when you side with the humans. You're one of them, aren't you? A little mud monkey. How did that happen?"

Castiel said nothing, opting to glare rather dangerously at Zachariah, who just smiled. "Well," Zachariah looked to Sam and Bobby now. "So here's how this is going to work," he continued cheerily. "Either you tell me where Dean is, or little Cassie here will develope a particularly violent, very late case of lung cancer. His lungs will dissolve and he will suffocate in his own blood in… probably two minutes."

Sam did not doubt for a second Zachariah's threat. He would do it. There was no way he could tell the angel where Dean was, but he also couldn't let Cass get hurt.

He hesitated.

And that's when Sam noticed Castiel's bleeding hand.

Before Zachariah could react, Castiel jerked away and pressed his hand against his chest. Under his jacket, he'd drawn an angel banishing symbol.

Zachariah opened his mouth to scream, but a bright light filled the area.

When it faded, Zachariah was nowhere to be seen. Sam exhaled in relief and Castiel grinned up at them. "Good thinking," Sam said.

But suddenly, Castiel's face fell. His eyes widened in horror.

Sam came to the realization at the same time. The symbol did not just banish the angels directly in front of it. It had a significantly wide range. What if...

Dean.

They slammed through the screen door, and Sam took the steps down to the panic room three at a time. He burst inside, Castiel just seconds behind him, and his heart plummeted.

The room was empty.

Dean was gone.

AN: WOO! We're going to get some explanations in the next chapter and the one after that, so yay! Until then, our poor boys will bask in confusion lol.

Anyway, I had a thought. I wonder what would have happened if Sam had gotten stuck in a holy fire ring or found somewhere warded against angels while possessed by Gadreel. I don't think the show ever addressed that, but I imagine it would have worked on his just like it would work on an angel because there was one inside him... It probably would have been really confusing and traumatic and maybe a bit more of an interesting reveal... hmm...

Anyway, please leave a REVIEW.