A/n: First and foremost I would like to thank everyone with their patience with this story. I honestly was hoping by now I'd be further along and posting more often. That being said, I said last chapter that once I completed chapter 20 I would start posting. I've reached and finished chapter 20. My goal is to stay ahead of myself with my writing so that there aren't long periods of waiting, but I can't promise you that will indeed be the case. Life can get in the way. But I am still going to see this story through, that I can tell you. So thank you again and here's hoping I can keep the Wednesday posting rolling.

A special thank you to Souless666, LilyBolt, and hectatess for your recent reviews as well as continual interest and support with this story. Thank you to anyone who reads, reviews, follows, and/or favorites this story.

Chapter 11

I'm sorry that I wasn't able to raise you from predition, Dean." The angel responded in a tone that didn't support his words. Dean's face contorted into a look that suggested not anger, but confusion.

"Wait...what?" Sam cut in. "Did you say perdition?" The angel nodded in confirmation. The younger man looked over at his sibling with large sympathetic eyes. "Dean, you were in Hell?"

"Whoa whoa whoa. Bump the breaks for a second, alright?" The elder Winchester replied before glaring at Castiel. "What the hell? I was in Hell?"

"I believe that when you shot yourself and Azazel, he took you back to Hell with him as a final act against you."

"You don't remember?" Sam asked. Dean turned back to his brother.

"I told you I didn't, didn't I? I told you everything I do remember and I'm pretty sure roasting my chestnuts on an open fire wouldn't be something I would forget." The brothers stared at each other for a while before Sam swallowed and nodded, adverting his watery gaze to the ground.

"There are no chestnuts in Hell, so I'm certain that you weren't roasting any," the angel clarified for the humans. Dean and Bobby stared at the celestial being. "I suppose it doesn't matter how you got out," the trench coated man said. "What matters is that you are."

"Of course it matters how!" The elder Winchester snapped defensively.

"Why?" The angel countered.

Dean cocked his head slightly as he squinted at Castiel. "Do you know something we don't?" He questioned suspiciously.

"I'm certain I know many things you don't."

"Well standin' around pointin' fingers isn't gonna answer any questions," Bobby cut in. "I suggest we all head upstairs and finish this conversation where we can at least be a bit more comfortable." The elder man turned to Sam. "First thing's first, let's get you outta those cuffs."

"I would still strongly advise against that," Castiel warned.

"Yeah yeah, Clarence. I heard you the first time," the hunter grumbled as he pulled a key from a pocket in his vest and unlocked the handcuffs from around Sam's wrist. The angel didn't give a full eye roll, but the look on his face and the upward hold his eyes held was evidence enough he didn't approve. Once he was freed, Sam rose from his spot on the cot and everyone headed up and out of the basement.

The owner of the house made his way into the kitchen where he grabbed three beers from the fridge, popped open the lids, handed two to the eldest Winchesters, and then kept the last one for himself. "I figured you don't drink," he explained to the angel. "You bein' an 'Angel of the Lord' and all."

"Yes that's correct. Necessities humans require such as eating, drinking, urinating, deficating, and sleeping are not ones I have to concern myself with."

"A simple 'no' woulda done," Bobby retorted.

"Hey Bobby, what the hell happened to the mirror in there?" Sam inquired aiming his thumb back towards the restroom as he rejoined the group and took up one of the beers in Dean's hands.

"Ask yer brother." The younger man's eyes fell on his sibling who was doing his best impression of being deaf. He tipped back his bottle and began to chug while Sam continued to stare, waiting for an answer. When one wasn't given, the hunter moved on. "So, you mentioned somethin' about the apocalypse earlier, care to elaborate?"

"It's Michael's destiny to fight Lucifer and win. In doing so, Paradise will be brought to Earth and 'the Devil,' as you call him, will cease to be. That's why angels are on Earth for the first time in thousands of years."

"And during this fight, how many innocent people will die?" Dean asked.

"We can't be concerned with that."

"Can't be concerned?" The elder Winchester said in disbelief. "With people's lives? Don't let them just deep fry the planet because they can't agree on who's got the bigger dick!"

Castiel glared at Dean in a way that caused the elder brother to feel slightly unnerved. "There is nothing I can do about it, Dean. This fight has been planned to happen for centuries before you and Sam were even born. It has nothing to do with the size of their genitalia. Angels don't have any," he explained defensively. "I'm trying to help you and your brother to the best of my abilities but every time I try, you seem to do the exact opposite. I told you Sam was a threat and you decided to release him anyways."

"We'll cross that bridge if we come to it," he snapped.

"How am I threat? I've already told you, I stopped breaking seals. I'm nowhere near Lilith."

The angel's vessel's eyes shot over to peer at the taller man. "Maybe so, but you still have demon blood in you Sam. I'm afraid that isn't something you can change, and you nearly strangling your brother is proof that you're still using your powers. At least you have recently."

Sam took a few steps back with large terrified eyes. "I-I can stop. I won't use them anymore. I'll do whatever it takes to keep Lucifer locked up."

The moment he had first seen his sibling back at the house came back to him and he was reminded of what he had thought he had seen as well. Sam had been bent over something on the bed, someone. Blood had been on the lower part of his face. He'd been in shock when he first saw him and then so angry after that, that he hadn't actually paid close enough attention or actually thought much about it.

"The other day when we were home, were you..." Dean paused trying to bring himself to ask his brother but finding his stomach was lurching just at the thought. "were you drinking someone's blood?"

The younger Winchester's gaze bounced around unable to commit to one spot. "It's...It's not what you think," he answered in a shaky voice. The color drained from Dean's face and for a moment Bobby questioned the stability of the young man's legs. The older Winchester placed the back of his hand to his mouth gagging. "Dean, just-just let me explain," Sam begged desperately.

"You can explain?"

"Look, I know how it sounds ok, and I know that it's wrong-"

"Then why did you do it?!"

"Beacause...I already told you, I was working on getting my revenge."

"By sucking some poor person's blood like a fucking vampire?!" Dean yelled.

"It's not like that!" Sam snapped defensively. "She was a demon!"

"I'm gonna be sick," the elder Winchester replied gagging once again.

"This is exactly the kind of behavior the demons are hoping for. Demon blood makes Sam stronger therefore it makes him a stronger vessel for Lucifer. Most humans are too weak to hold a celestial being of Lucifer's caliber for a long period of time," the angel explained. "If you continue down this path Sam Winchester, it is likely you yourself will be beyond redemption."

"Meanin' what exactly?" The hunter pressed.

"Meaning he will become more than just the boy with the demon blood. He'll lose all of his humanity and will in fact become a demon." Dean looked from Castiel to his brother.

"No. No that's-you're wrong," Sam said with panic in his voice.

"I'm sorry Sam, I'm not." The angel replied. The elder Winchester turned to walk away.

"Where are you goin'?" Bobby asked.

"I just need to be alone." The back door opened and slammed shut, Dean disappearing behind it.

A/n: Thank you for reading! See you next Wednesday!