Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural or its characters - these were created by Eric Kripke - I'm just borrowing them. I'm not making any commercial gain. No harm or infringement intended.
A series of short excerpts from Castiel's remaining life with the Winchesters, after hunting. Almost certainly AU. Set after Season 7. Close, but no Destiel. Warnings: Scenes of bereavement and indirect references to character death.
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Excerpts from a Life
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Practice Doesn't Make Perfect
Cas sat there feeling like the heart had been ripped from his chest.
He tried to breathe normally, he'd known this was coming; he'd been trying to mentally prepare himself for it. But there are some things that you can never be ready for.
Dean had passed, not in a blaze of glory, but quietly, with dignity and holding Cas' hand.
Cas had sat with the body for a while, but the medical staff needed the room and he'd needed to let the rest of the family know.
As if on cue he saw Sam, accompanied by Katherine, make their way into the hospital. Such was the nature of his big heart that even in his grief Sam still had a small smile of greeting for Cas.
"Uncle Cas," greeted Katherine with tears in her eyes, letting go of her father's arm and rushing forward to plant a kiss on Cas' cheek, "I'm so very sorry."
She cast a quick look back to her father, before pitching her voice low, below Sam's hearing, "Please talk to him, there's something bothering him, but he won't tell me."
Cas looked over at his so-called younger brother, the man who now looked old enough to be his grandfather.
Sam seemed agitated, "Where is he Cas?"
Cas gestured to the room he'd just vacated.
"No, where is he."
Cas suddenly understood the source of Sam's anxiety.
"Sam, he was a good man, a righteous man. He's gone to his reward, not Hell. No one holds a contract on his soul."
"You're sure?"
"The contract was void the moment I pulled him from Hell."
"Oh thank God, thank you Cas," sighed Sam in visible relief.
Sam looked fearfully at the room that held the waiting body of his brother, "I've done this so many times. It doesn't get any easier," he whispered.
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