CHAPTER TWELVE

Castiel was sent cluttering to the floor. Shock printed on his face. Blood seeping from his lips. Air rushing out of his lungs. He watched Dean advancing on him. Anger in his eyes but he couldn't understand why. What had he done?

"Dean?"

The hunter was silent as he reached down and gripped the angels coat and yanked him to his feet, pulling his fist back to take another shot.

"Dean." Cas pleaded, but even as he said the words he prepared himself of another blow, tightly closing his eyes.

Dean froze as he saw what looked like a tear slip from beneath the other man's lashes. It couldn't be a tear. Angels didn't cry. It was just where the man was squeezing his eyes closed so tight.

But he knew it was a tear.

Dean stared in horror at Cass face. Seeing the tear slid down his stubbly cheek. Seeing the blood seeping from the split lips he'd just given him. Seeing the grim acceptance in the angels' features. Seeing the painfully white knuckles of own hand as it gripped Cass collar.

Castiel fell to the floor with a painful thump. He opened his eyes to see the hunter disappearing back into the bathroom. He heard the turn of the lock. He felt confused and hurt, not just physically, and more than anything he was concerned. Those hazel eyes hadn't been Deans, not his Deans. They were remnants of the man he'd pulled out of the pit. Broken, alone and corrupted by darkness.

Castiel fell back, gasping for breath. Wishing he could find a way out of here….wishing he could restore Dean's peace of mind. Heal that fracturing balance that had taken him so long to rebuild.

"Cas?" Sam's lips pulled back into a smile, an adoring, perfectly bashful smile. "Cas." He sighed wistfully.

"Sam." Castiel whispered.

"Cas…"

"Sam. – I need you to do something for me."

"Anything Castiel." Sam said goofily.

"Sam can you get out of there?"

Sam frowned looking from Bobby who'd fallen back to sleep to the handcuff around his wrist. "I think so Cas."

"Good. I need you to take Dean's car and drive out of town…"

"Why?" Sam said with a jealous tone. "Is Dean making you get rid of me? He just jealous you know. He doesn't want you but he doesn't want anyone else to have you either."

"Dean doesn't know anything Sam…" Cas insisted, ignoring the hurt the younger Winchesters words had cause. "….that's why I'm whispering. – I need you to do this…. For me."

Sam sighed at the deep pleading voice. "Alright Cas."

"Thank you." Cas sighed down the line and Sam practically shot his load.

"Sam…. I need you to drive out of town and call Balthazar."

"Why?"

"Because we need his help."

"With what?"

Cas sighed again and Sam grinned like a teenage girl.

"Please Sam, just get out of town, call Balthazar and tell him everything that's happening here."

"You want him to break the spell?" Sam said, suddenly angry. "You don't want our love…. It's all about Dean." His tone was growing more furious by the second. "It's always about Dean. Dean. Dean. Dean. – He won't ever want you Cas, he won't love you, not like I do. He won't even consider it. He's a macho man's man, he's straight as they come. He'd never admit to how he truly feels."

Castiel's brows furrow and then he sighed because he knew that Sam was right. Whatever Castiel felt for Dean, it was and never would be reciprocated.

"I am fully aware of that Sam. This is nothing to do with Dean. This is about you, and Bobby and all those people outside."

"It's about me." Sam grinned excitedly, clearly not hearing past his own name.

"Yes. – I could not be happy knowing that you were under Eve's spell. It is not fair. So please Sam. Find Balthazar and tell him what is happening, before more people get hurt."

"Hurt?" Sam frowned. "Are you hurt?" panic and anger lacing his voice. "What has Dean done to you Cas?"

"I – I was speaking of you and Bobby."

Sam frowned at the phone. "Are you sure Cas? I know what Dean's like."

"I am well."

Sam didn't believe it. Cass voice was tight and strained and he did in fact know his brother. He'd been jumpy all day.

"Come with me Cas." Sam pleaded. "Leave him there. I can protect you."

"Sam. – You need to go on your own; I am unable to leave this town. We need Balthazar's help. Please. I promise you Dean has done nothing to me. He is hurt Sam, he needs to get out of here."

"Dean's hurt?" Sam gasped the first sound of genuine untainted concern. "Is he alright?"

"If you get Balthazar and get this spell broken, he will be yes. – If not I fear his pain will only get worse."

"I'll do it Cas. I'll be as quick as I can."

"Thank you Sam."

Sam sighed again at the angel hung up. "I love you Cas."

A/N: I'm sorry about Dean's reaction :( But a kiss just wasn't possible... but don't give up... who knows what the future holds ;)