The air was cool and crisp, and the sounds of battle could be heard all the way back at the bunker. When Dean and Deadpool first decided to have these daily sparring sessions, Sam thought it was a good idea. The first day, Dean returned with a gaping hole in his side and Deadpool had his own severed hand in his pocket. Despite insisting that the two find a more productive way to work off energy, Sam bought more bandages and restocked the first aid cabinet and helped patch his brother up when Deadpool got a little loose with his swords.

The trio had been holed up in the bunker for going on two weeks, and while there were a few moments of tension, Wade seemed to be the master peace maker. It was always a very strange kind of peace, usually involving some sort of distraction like the mercenary running into the room with a curse box and saying, "This is making a funny noise", or random gunfire from the indoor range followed by a shout of pain. Sam decided that Wade shot himself on purpose. A lot.

And like the good brother he was, Sam said nothing about the fact that he kept finding Wade and Dean sleeping in different places around the bunker. Always huddled together under a blanket, their limbs tangled together in ways that looked uncomfortable. He did continue to take pictures just for blackmail purposes.

On this morning, Sam woke early to go for a run and found Dean and Wade snoozing on the kitchen table. Actually physically laying on the table. Dean was on his stomach, face buried in his arms with Wade draped across him like he was a human blanket. Sam went to work fixing his coffee, making as much noise as possible to rouse the two snuggling killers. Wade was the first to sit up, scrubbing a hand over his eyes like a disgruntled toddler. Then he elbowed Dean in the side, and the two stumbled off to get dressed to go out into the woods to try to kill each other.

He was so focused on the sounds in the woods, Sam didn't notice the rustle of wind and feathers that heralded Castiel's arrival, and almost jumped out of his skin when the angel's gravel and dust voice said, "Hello, Sam."

Now on his feet, Sam looked at the exceptionally morose angel; he was never very cheerful to begin with, but now…

"Hey, Cas," Sam said, his voice only slight high pitched. "Uh, what's going on? Everything okay?"

The angel stared off into the forest, eyes squinting at the trees. "How long has Dean been back?"

"A couple weeks," Sam answered, his face heating from shame. "I know I promised I would call if I found him, but…"

"It's okay, Sam," Cas said softly. "I know this must be very difficult for you."

"He's really trying, Cas." Sam sighed. "He's still, you know…"

"A demon," Castiel gritted out.

Shoulder slumping, Sam nodded.

"And you've removed the warding," Cas said, his tone hard like an annoyed teacher.

Sam nodded. "I know it's dangerous, but I wanted him home. It's better with him here. At least he's not killing anyone."

Right on cue, a pained groan echoed through the trees.

Castiel grabbed Sam's arm, and in a blink they were standing in the clearing where Wade was on the ground, a splintered bone sticking out of his right shin and missing most of his left leg. Dean was on the other side of the clearing, digging through the bushes to find the rest of Deadpool's body and hadn't noticed that the two had spectators, saying over and over, "I'm sorry, so so sorry."

Wade, who was in full costume, waved a hand towards Sam, and shouted to Dean, "Honey! We have company!"

Dean came out of the bushes holding Wade's leg and froze seeing Castiel. His mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water before he disappeared, the leg falling to the ground with a thud.

"Dammit," Wade grumbled as he rolled over on his stomach and started belly crawling towards his fallen limb.

Castiel walked to the hobbled mercenary, and asked, "Do you require assistance?"

"Nah, I got this," he said with a grunt and a glare.

Sam rushed across the clearing and with a certain amount of displeasure, picked up the leg and carried it back to Wade.

"Thanks, Sammy," he said, his breathing heavy. As he started pushing bones and flesh back together, he looked up at the angel and asked, "Are you Constantine?"

"Castiel," Sam corrected, bile rising in his throat with each squishy sound coming from the merc's body.

The merc's face spread in a mask-covered grin. "Yeah. I heard of you. Dean talks about you all the time in his sleep."

Castiel's eyes narrowed. "Who are you?"

Wade wiggled his newly attached leg, then jumped up to his feet. He held out his hand to the angel, and said, "Wade Wilson, but most call me Deadpool."

Ignoring the proffered hand, Castiel asked, "What are you doing with the Winchesters? Why are you sleeping with Dean?"

"You really do have that jealous boyfriend vibe happening, Cas," Wade said, dropping his hand to his side.

Cas frowned.

Sam waved a hand to get the two's attention. "Shouldn't we be worried about Dean right now? You know, vanishing?"

"Nah," Wade said as he dusted himself off. "He's sitting in the Impala right now, probably hyperventilating."


Dean wasn't hyperventilating, but he was sitting in the Impala gripping the steering wheel so tight that one twist would probably rip it off the console.

He was shaken. The last couple weeks had been nice. Yeah, there were problems here and there (like Sam never cleaning the hair out of the drain, damned sasquatch…), but things were good. Wade was teaching him how to suppress his urges, and to control his anger. Those morning sparring sessions, while brutal, were meant for learning. And if the end result was a release of pent up rage, then all the better for everyone.

Dean was also learning how to tap into his demonic power at will, rather than by reflex. He spent most of his time reading and re-reading Cain's journal, which was probably the most detailed accounting of the potential power of a demon outside of the Demon Tablet. There was a specific summoning ritual for the wearer of the Mark of Cain, which Sam had learned with great enthusiasm. There were also special warding symbols that hid a Knight of Hell from other demons, which Wade had dutifully tattooed onto Dean's chest across from the anti-possession tattoo.

There was still a lot to learn, and a lot to get under control. He wanted to have himself fine-tuned before bringing Castiel into the picture. Really, Dean wasn't ready to face Castiel. Not yet. Maybe not ever.

Then Castiel was suddenly sitting in the passenger's seat, his presence heralded by a soft, "Hello, Dean."

Dean did not flinch. Instead he took a deep breath, fighting the way his eyes instinctively went black in proximity to the angel. After a few seconds of tense silence, Dean whispered, "Hey, Cas."

"Sam tells me you've been here for two weeks." Cas snippy, on par with the way he acted when Dean found him in Idaho. Petulant.

"I asked Sam not to call you," Dean said softly.

Cas looked at him, his blue eyes going to Dean's core as he demanded, "Why?"

Dean looked at him, eyes black as night. "Because I'm a fuckin' demon, Cas. I can't… You…" He tried to find the words, but he was locked up again.

"Do you think I would abandon you? Now? When you need me the most?" Castiel sounded genuinely confused. Hurt.

"Maybe I want you to abandon me!" Dean snapped, glaring at the angel. "Don't you get that, you junkless sonofabitch! The 'Save the Righteous Man' campaign has failed."

Castiel didn't bat an eyelash. "I told you once that you deserve to be saved. I still hold to that belief, even if you do not."

"Then you are the dumbest thing in creation." Dean grabbed him by the shoulder, and growled, "Look at me!"

Cas did look, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "You told me once that you would have me, cursed or not. I never deserved the faith you had in me. Not once. And now, I would only be a hypocrite if I turned my back on you, my friend."

Dean wanted to punch something, wanted to tear his hair out. But all he did was sit there and stare into the shimmering blue eyes of the angel until he had to look away. He gritted his teeth, and said the words that clawed him apart every day and night: "I don't think I can be saved, Cas."

Castiel put his hand on Dean's arm, and said, "Maybe it's true, but I'm not giving up."

At that moment, the side door of the garage opened, and Sam and Wade walked in. Sam glanced nervously towards the Impala, then headed to door leading to the main room of the bunker. Wade followed behind Sam, though not without a few looks towards Baby.