They entered the bunker and Dean did all he could to hold back his frustration at Gabriel's little remarks the entire way in. Gabriel was impressed. Far from impressed. He immediately ran inside, investigating the liquor cabinets and antique weapons. He reminded Dean of himself when they first arrived there but he just wasn't in the mood to give Gabriel the grand tour.

It was like Gabriel read his mind, he turned to the brothers and put his hands on his hips. "Okay, color me impressed, but I know, I know, we're not here to keep little ole me entertained. So, what's going on, and don't leave anything out. I got awwwwll day."

Gabriel sat down in one of the chairs and swung his legs up and rested his feet on another. He reached next to him at the decanter of whiskey on the small table. He picked it up, opened the top, sniffed it, curled his lips and nose, and then closed it, shaking his head.

Dean glanced at Sam and he gave Dean the nod. "So, do you know about this Darkness business?"

Gabriel's eyes widened. He relaxed and laced his fingers together, resting them his on his belly. "Kinda sorta. Figured you muttonheads were responsible, though. It had 'Winchester Fuck Up' written all over it."

Dean rolled his eyes. Gabriel continued, after letting out an irritated sigh. "Look, I might know a thing or two about it, but it doesn't matter. The Darkness is the new Black and it ain't going out of style until God makes a comeback and well, we can all agree he's still MIA, correct?"

Sam nodded. "Gabriel, is there any way to find him? To stop the-"

Dean interrupted, "That's second on the list. First, we need to get Cas out of Heaven. Can you help us?"

Dean wasn't going to waste the chance at an attempt to bring Gabriel into his mission to rescue Cas. He was an archangel, for pete's sake. He'd have to know a backdoor into Heaven.

Gabriel's head tilted and he narrowed his gaze onto Dean. "Uh, why is our little blue-eyed cherub in Heaven? Or rather, why do you need to get him out?"

"Hannah, the new boss, grabbed him, saying something about paying for his crimes. He-he's in prison."

"Oh." Gabriel slid his feet off of the chair and sat upright. "Old crimes or new?"

"I don't know." Dean shrugged. Well, some parts he did know but what did it matter?

"Reason I ask is, if he… oh shit." Gabriel was now looking around, clearly worried about something. "Angel's grace or to be more specific, an Angel in love… like Metatron's spell, only a fuckton worse."

"Gabriel, what are you talking about?" Dean said, his panic masked by anger.

"Don't think I didn't know about the mark of Cain. I mean, I knew but I couldn't really do anything about it. Have I mentioned what I've been up to these last few years?"

"Gabriel, I'm running out of patience," Dean said, and he was. His heart was racing and he thought for sure his blood pressure was at its highest as his ears thumped to his heart rate.

"Okay, okay. I'll tell you my story later. In the meantime, the mark was cured, so Mazel tov, but the only way that could be done is by the cleansing spell which needs an angel's grace, and I'm putting my money on Cas as the angel, am I right?"

Dean nodded.

"So… wait, how did you guys know about the cure?" Gabriel asked.

Sam sat down next to Dean and leaned on his knees. "It was the Book of the Damned. We had a… a witch translate and help with the spell."

Gabriel sighed. "Book of the what?" He shook his head and waved his hand in front of his face. "Okay, nevermind. So, way back when, I mean, wayyy back, we were all warned about the fallen angel releasing the Darkness. I guess that was why they made damn sure any wayward angel from the garrison was punished before they could, you know, fall in love."

He and Dean made eye contact.

"So, when some of those angels slipped our grasp and had fallen in love with humans, they were killed on sight or uh, tortured."

Sam's eyes widened. "The book of Enoch." He looked at Dean. Dean scrubbed his face with his hand and remained silent. The words from the book filled his head now, the punishment of all those angels and suddenly he remembered Gabriel's name had been in that book.

"You were there," Dean said to Gabriel.

Gabriel nodded. "I was and it's not my proudest moment. But I left after that. I loved humanity, or well, I loved mixing and mingling with you lot. I went incognito because I knew they'd come looking for me."

Dean started to sympathize with Gabriel now. He had some of Cas' attitude toward Heaven. He didn't like the fighting and corruption of power. He didn't approve of the harsh punishments and unbendable rules.

"Where'd the spell come from anyway? Who made the cure?" Sam asked.

"Oh, well, funny you should ask, God made it."

Dean and Sam shared a look. "Why would God make a spell that would open the lock to release the Darkness?" Dean asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Long story short, he didn't want it totally gone forever. He had his reasons, none of which he cared to share with his kids."

Sam clicked his tongue. "So there was always a threat of its release? Why not just tell the angels the truth about the Darkness? Like warn them?"

Gabriel smirked. "Because then we would have those pesky destructo-angels goin' all aggro after the mark of Cain. Or, Cain for that matter. Does Zachariah ring a bell? How about Raphael?"

"But they just wanted the apocalypse, not to end everything, right?" Sam asked, now leaning back on his chair and stroking his chin. A deep crease separated his eyebrows and Dean could tell that he was piecing all of this together.

"Rightamundo. But the risk would have been too great. If you thought those dickbags were bad, imagine some of the others you haven't met yet. Trust me when I tell you that there were some crazy suicidal angels up there," Gabriel sang the last part.

He inhaled and continued, "So, angels were punished, God wasn't around, all hell breaks loose in Heaven, and honestly, my brothers did not know their holy asses from their elbows. Now," he looked at Dean, "Are you keeping up?"

Dean scowled, so Gabriel continued, "If Heaven's New World Order knows that our brave little toaster, Cas, unleashed this crap, he's in for some harsh punishment. They'll," Gabriel brought his hands up to his mouth and made a fist. The clear fear in his eyes was making Dean want to vomit. "They're gonna do bad things to him, Dean. Real bad."

Dean sat back in his chair. He tried to breathe and slow down his heart rate but it wasn't possible. He glanced briefly at Gabriel and he could see the sorrow all over the angel's face. It was not what Dean needed to see right now.

"So can you help me, Gabriel?"

"Look, Dean-o, breaking into Heaven is one thing, but to try and rescue someone on Death Row, is well- "

"Please, Gabriel."

Dean had tears in his eyes now and Gabriel looked deeply at him and then surrendered, holding his hands up. "How could I say no to that pout?" He sighed. "Okay, I can't really break into Heaven myself but... there is a way."

The boys leaned in, waiting for him to continue. After eyeing both Sam and Dean, he landed on Dean. "I can break one of you into your own personal Heaven. From there you'll have to find the escape hatch, the-"

"Oh, like Bobby had to," Sam said, turning to Dean who was watching him strangely.

"Say what?" Dean said with a raised eyebrow, for he had no clue what his brother was talking about.

"When we contacted Bobby, that was how he was able to get Cas inside. He found a door out of his own heaven. It led him to the main, uh, headquarters?" Sam said, turning to Gabriel, unsure if that was the correct term.

Gabriel nodded. "Yes. That be the way." He focused back onto Dean. "I'm guessing you're gonna be the one to go get him, correct?"

After glancing briefly at Sam, Dean drew in a breath. "Yes."

"Are you sure, I can go, Dean," Sam said.

"Of course I'm sure. I'm going in." Dean stood. "Just tell me what I need to do."

Gabriel glanced at the clock that was set high above the mantel. "Midnight, we send you to your own private Idaho. I need some spell ingredients. I'll be back before you even knew I was gone."

Gabriel lifted his fingers to snap himself away and then sighed. "Oh, this place... uh, listen for my knock, since I won't be able to zap back in here."

Gabriel headed up the stairs and out the door. Sam rose to meet his brother and he set a hand on his shoulder. They discussed Dean's game plan which pretty much consisted of him breaking in, finding Cas, with the hopes that they'll be able to sneak back out. He wasn't really thinking that far ahead, to be honest. He never really did. That was Sam's expertise. The way out.

But he was set on getting in there to get to Cas, that he knew he'd or rather, they'd find their way home. It wasn't the first time they'd been in a situation where it seemed like the odds were against them. Sure, Heaven would certainly be guarded. There would be angels everywhere, and Dean knew he'd have to be as stealthy as fuck or risk getting caught which would mean a certain death.

After a couple of minutes, there was a knock on the bunker door. Sam raced up and let Gabriel in, who was holding a small plastic shopping bag. They came down and Gabriel emptied the contents on the table.

"We'll need to do this where you can lay down. You'll be essentially asleep, well, kinda dead actually." Gabriel rummaged through the ingredients he had dumped on the table.

"Dead?" Sam and Dean said in unison.

"Kinda. Not really. Your soul will think you're dead. That'll be the only way to get you into your personal heaven. But don't worry, we'll keep your body nice and alive. Promise." Gabriel smiled at Dean.

Dean inhaled, shakily and raked a hand through his hair. "Okay, whatever. So we have to wait til midnight?"

Gabriel nodded. Dean looked up at the clock. It was only nine and that fact made his stomach burn. He wanted to just get this over with. He was bad at waiting. His impatience had always been an issue. Sam hated it. Sam was always the one who thought things through, he didn't rush into anything. He never went head first as Dean did.

He looked at Sam and wished he could just bring him along. It wasn't that Dean was scared. He just didn't like doing these kinds of things without his brother. Sam was a good balance. He was the level headed guy. The one who pulled Dean back from the edge. The one who'd kept him in check.

The hours dragged. Sam had tried to get Dean to eat, but he had no appetite and he felt so queasy, he thought he'd vomit if he ate anyway. Part of the problem was that he had no idea what he'd find once he did reach Cas. The images of seeing him hurt, or bloody, or anything that would indicate that they had laid a hand on him sent Dean into a certain rage. His skin was feverishly hot and it was even hard for him to sit still for an extended period of time.

The bunker was extra quiet and Dean retired to the sofa, in an attempt to calm down. He held the broken picture of the four of them, staring at Cas for what seemed like hours. He smiled at Charlie and at her extra enthusiastic pose. She made the bunker so much brighter. She made their lives so much brighter. His chest hurt looking at the two people in this picture that should be here with him now.

Sam joined Dean and sat down next to him with a long drawn out sigh. "We'll get that fixed," he said, eyeing the picture. Dean didn't look up when he nodded. Now that Sam was next to him, tears fell from his eyes.

"I miss her," Dean said, eyes transfixed on the picture. "She'd be cheering us on right about now."

Dean wiped a hand down his face, removing his tears. He continued, "She'd be comparing me to one of her geek heroes, saving the princess, or some shit like that."

"Exactly," said Sam with a laugh, "You know if she were here, she'd be down with the 'rescue Cas' mission."

Dean cracked a very small smile. "Yes she would." He ran his finger across her face in the picture. "This was a fun night. Man, it was such a great night."

"Yeah it was. I don't think you smiled more in an entire year."

Sam was right. Dean hadn't smiled like that in such a long time, it was almost strange to see his glowing expression in the picture. "She made me promise her…"

The conversation Dean had with Charlie filled his head, and in fact had been in his head for weeks.

April 2015

Dean had been cleaning up when she met him in the kitchen. She leaned against the counter, facing him. "You know, I've been a total Destiel shipper since 'Lazarus Rising'." Charlie smiled at Dean as he almost dropped the cup he'd been holding.

The entire year was a confusing one for Dean. He had been so consumed with that demonic rage of the mark, that the good parts of him, the bright parts had fought so hard to push through. He was in the middle of a battle versus good and evil and it had been all been taking place inside of him. His thoughts were an erratic mess. He'd think about doing a job, killing monsters, because well, killing felt good. Really good. Then in the next second, he'd imagine Cas next to him, maybe watching a movie together, or talking about whatever.

It was like that on a daily basis. The quick shift of moods and thoughts had become so damn normal for him, he'd begun to just go with it. If he'd have to live with the mark, he'd have to accept this schizophrenic mind that came along with it. He missed the days when good was good and bad was bad. Now him and Sam were stuck in some grey area that made Dean's skin crawl.

Dean also missed his best friend so much, it hurt. They hadn't been the same in years and that bothered Dean. Since that fucked up day when Cas took off with the tablet, it seemed the two of them took one giant step in the opposite direction.

But it wasn't what Dean had wanted. For the first time, he was aware that he'd been missing something when it came to Cas. He'd wanted him here, and not just because it made his life easier, but because he loved the son of a bitch.

He loved Cas. He needed Cas. He vowed to himself… and Sam that he'd start making the right choices, and showing Cas how much he meant to him was at the top of the list. He knew he wasn't gay. He understood that whatever was happening didn't mean he was some giant homo or anything. But to not do something about it seemed totally out of the question.

Yet, he'd been too afraid to confront his feelings for the angel. After all of his dreams about him, the fantasies that he couldn't even understand, it had scared him to death. He didn't know what was going on inside of him and it was even more frightening that everyone around him seemed to have noticed how he felt. But with this mark, came the fear of hurting Cas. He was too unpredictable with this curse.

"Lazarus, what? Oh the books."

"But seeing it in person, like… in my face, it's woah. You two really have something there, Dean."

Dean had stopped what he'd been doing and tilted his head at his perky red-headed friend. He knew his face was flushed and he'd almost stuttered when he said, "Me and Cas?"

"Uh, yeah. Who else would I be talking about? Look, I don't know what's really holding you back. You need to tell each other already!"

"Tell each other what?"

Dean knew exactly what she had been talking about but it his usual way to just deny it, bury it, and act as if he really wasn't in love with his best friend, who happened to be an angel, and who also happened to be a man.

"You need to tell him how you feel, Dean. Trust me, sometimes words make all the difference. I mean, I'm sure he knows you love him. I can get that just from seeing how you look at him. But saying it, well, it just makes it special, you know?"

"And you got this all from some books and having pizza with us?"

Dean chuckled. He realized now how obvious his feelings for Cas must have always been. He was sure Sam probably picked up on it as well. Did he really wear his heart on his sleeve when it came to Cas?

"Promise me, Dean, that before anything else happens, that you'll tell him. Tomorrow may never come and why keep something so amazing like that inside? This is an epic requited love that only few ever get to experience in one lifetime."

Charlie sighed and continued, "It's like Arwen and Aragorn, and how she'd given up her whole immortality, all for true love and-" Charlie paused and her eyes drifted upwards as if she was reliving the scene in her head. She coughed nervously and glanced back at Dean. "You know what I mean."

Dean chuckled at the Lord of the Rings reference, but he began to see that parallel and his stomach was suddenly filled with butterflies. There was no use denying it with Charlie. She was very observant and probably the most aware person Dean had ever known.

So he just smiled and said, "Fine. I promise."

Her face lit up and she ran into him with a hug. While resting her head against his chest, she said "And by the way, he's totally in love with you, too. Just in case you need that as, I don't know, incentive?"

Dean kissed her head and hugged her tightly. He thought he'd run away from such a conversation, and with anyone else, he probably would have. But this was Charlie, his kid sister in a way. His annoyingly super smart and usually always right, kid sister.

Present Day

"Promise what?" Sam asked, turning his body on the couch toward his brother.

"To tell Cas." Dean sunk into the couch and leaned his head back. He sighed. "To tell him-"

Dean couldn't even finish his words. He was crying and it was impossible to stop. Sam rested a hand on his shoulder and Dean placed his hand over it. "You did, Dean. You told him and he knows. He knew even before you told him," Sam said, obviously picking up on what Dean had meant.

He saw Cas' face as he lied on the pillow next to him. His eyes full of love as he caressed Dean's cheeks. Dean's chest burned. If he had ever felt a literal heartbreak, this was it. Dean turned to his brother. "I gotta get him back."

"If anyone will find him, it's you," Sam assured his brother.

The room seem to close in on Dean and he stood quickly and ran his hand down his face. "What time is it?"

As soon as he asked, the clock chimed. Dean had never even remembered the clock doing that, but for some reason, it seemed as if it was purposefully chiming loudly to get his attention. The brothers shared a look and headed over to Gabriel who'd been watching them the entire time.

Without saying much, the three headed to Dean's room where he lowered his body down onto his mattress and brought his hands to his stomach. Before Gabriel started, Sam sat down on the edge of the bed and looked down at his brother.

"If there's any sign of struggle, I'm pulling you out," Sam warned.

"No, Sam. Don't pull me before I get Cas. Please, promise me," Dean pleaded, his heart racing at the thought of being at arm's reach of Cas and then being pulled back into his room. It filled him with panic now, for that would the be the worst sight he could imagine.

"Okay, but Dean. Don't, uh, don't die."

Sam tried to smile. He glanced at Gabriel who was waiting impatiently on the chair at the desk. "Is there like a way for us to communicate with him, when he's there?"

Dean sat up. "Like Cas did when we were in Heaven, remember? Through the radio and t.v.!"

"And the psychic did with Bobby," Sam added.

Gabriel nodded. "Only while he's in his own Heaven. Once he breaks out, we won't have any way to track him." Gabriel rose and headed over to Dean. "I need you to bleed for me, baby"

Sam and Dean looked at him and then Sam brought out a blade. Gabriel went for it but he snatched it out of reach. "I'll be with one cutting him."

"Suit yourself, but make it snappy."

He held out a bowl for Sam to take. Sam placed it under Dean's arm and sliced a thin line into his skin. Dean winced and he watched his blood trickle down his arm and into the bowl.

"Okay, that should be enough," Gabriel said, holding his hands out for the bowl. Sam handed it to him and then he set it down on the desk. Turning to Dean, Gabriel said, "Once you're in, look for something that shouldn't be there, and that's your way out into the main headquarters."

Dean furrowed his brow. "Uh, what do you mean?"

Sam butt in, "Like something out of the ordinary. If you're in the Impala, look for something that looks...off. Something that you normally wouldn't see in it."

Dean nodded. "Okay, I think I got it." Dean rested his head back down on the pillow. "When I find Cas, I'll have him take us to the portal out. I'll call you when we get there."

"It's a playground," Sam said.

Dean made a mental note of that and then closed his eyes.

"Dean," Gabriel said. Dean opened his eyes and looked at him. "What you're doing is," Gabriel sighed, "Dangerous, but I have faith that if anyone could pull this off, it's you."

Dean wished he could smile at the archangel but his stomach was in knots and his nerves were forming a ball in his throat. Gabriel continued, "I know how you two feel about each other. I know how much he loves you, and vice versa…"

"Was it that obvious?" Dean managed to say.

Gabriel and Sam smiled at each other. "Please. It may as well been tattooed to your foreheads."

Gabriel flashed a wide grin and then it faded into a more stone cold expression. "The angels all knew it too, and well, Castiel had been warned lots of times, to uh, look the other way, but it was his decision to ignore them and continue being around you, Dean."

"So what does that mean?"

"It means, they are gonna teach him a lesson and make him an example. When you get up there, if you so much as slip and get yourself caught, they will kill you, Dean. They hate you. They blame you for Castiel's fall and," Gabriel paused and tilted his head, his eyebrows now arching, his face drawn and sympathetic.

"Just be careful, is all I'm saying. I know we don't necessarily have the greatest history with each other, but I do root for you two. I always have. That kind of love is not to be taken lightly. It's rare, Dean. It's what stories are made of."

Gabriel was smiling and Dean had that lump in his throat again. He wasn't expecting Gabriel to be so supportive and this deep, even. It had made Dean feel a little better having him on their side. He was right about their history, but none of that mattered now. He was in their court and it meant a lot.

"Okay, enough of this sappy bullshit. Let's get this slumber party started," Gabriel said, with a half smile.

As Gabriel began the recital in Enochian, Sam leaned in and grabbed his brother's hand. "Be careful Dean, and get our Cas back."

Dean squeezed his brother's hand and waited for the spell to kick in.

Hands were all over him and he barely had time to open his eyes to realize he wasn't dreaming. He was being dragged out of his cell and down a long dark corridor. Castiel's head dropped back, loose and hanging. Panic rose in him when he noticed that his body felt limp and he couldn't manage a single independent movement of his own.

"Where-where are you taking me?" he asked to the air, for he couldn't make out who or what had taken hold of him.

The candles gave off a little bit of light that bounced off the stone pillars and he tried to look around and figure out where exactly he was. His feet dragged against the harsh floor and he didn't remember any part of Heaven having such a gravelly terrain. The air felt cool and it was making the hair on his body stand on end.

It confirmed that his grace was still weak. He now wondered if he'd be powerless altogether soon. He wasn't sure what Hannah and company had planned for him, though. They just may strip him from being an angel. Make him human.

Or just kill him and be done with it.

His body was being lifted onto a platform. He noticed some of his motor skills returning and he was now able to stand on his own. He looked around at what seemed to be another type of holding room. This one, instead of prison cells, had long slabs of stone with chains attached, protruding outwards. There were two sets, a pair on top and a pair on the bottom. Castiel knew those were for hands and feet.

Strong hands threw him against a cold wall and they were raising his arms, closing the cuffs around his wrists, and then they bent down to take care of his ankles. Castiel was now spread against this cold granite but he still couldn't get a clear view of who was there with him.

He felt his shirt and pants being ripped from his body, leaving him in only his boxer shorts. His head dropped down and he suddenly felt his throat close. Dean's boxers. He was wearing the only thing he had left of Dean Winchester. The only thing tangible, for Dean was still holding onto his heart and refusing to let go.

"Who, who are you?" Castiel asked the dark blobs of nothing that stood in front of him. He tried to blink into focus but everything was still fuzzy and weird.

"Be quite, Castiel."

Castiel sighed. Hannah. "Really, is this necessary. Just kill me, already." Castiel looked around, trying to see where Hannah stood. "This is all just-"

A whipping sound surprised him, followed by a sting, and he hollered in pain. Then it happened again and he could feel his skin being torn and even though the room was dimly lit, he saw flashes of light behind his lids. "Stop. What are you-" The sharp leather sliced against his thigh and then his chest.

Castiel cried out. This pain was unbearable. He could feel his human vulnerability and he yelled out for Hannah to stop, but he knew he'd gone and left Castiel at the mercy of these barbarians who were obviously getting joy out of torturing Castiel. The whip lashings came one after the other, giving Castiel no time to recover.

His head fell, and he began to see stars and soon he was passing out from the pain. "P-please," was all he managed to get out, but before he fell into darkness, hands cupped his face and a cold splash of water hit him, rousing him from his anticipated slumber.

Dark eyes peered at him and Castiel was now able to make out the figure who stood before him. He knew those stormy dark eyes and long oval face, hair long and grey, hanging over one shoulder. This was Adriel, one of God's most loyal soldiers and he must have taken over the wonderful job of torture.

"Adriel. Why do this? What have I done?"

Adriel crossed his arms and backed up, eyeing Castiel from head to toe. He glared at him, his face hard but then a sudden well of sympathy filled in his eyes. "I don't want to do this, Castiel, but you have left us no other choice. These angels, they are begging us for justice. Your crimes, Castiel, oh your crimes are unforgivable."

Castiel sighed. "I know what I've done and I've suffered my penance. This is barbaric, even for you, Adriel."

"No, you haven't." Adriel moved in closer to Castiel and brought his face into his hand, digging his fingers into Castiel's cheeks. "You have not answered to Heaven and now you will. No angel shall go unpunished, anymore. Heaven is back in order and so are its laws."

He released Castiel's face and Castiel moved his jaw around in hopes to ease the pain, still feeling the phantom fingers against his skin. "Can you at least tell me to what crimes I am being punished for?"

Adriel turned away and then snapped his head around, his eyes full of anger and it gave Castiel a horrible feeling in his gut. "Really, Castiel? Do you not know?" He paced while holding his fingers up one by one as he went down the list.

"Let's see, there was murdering all those angels, but you may slide on that one, seeing as you were not yourself and you had ultimately taken down Raphael who was, in fact, trying to destroy us."

He turned and stopped, sighed, and then began pacing again. "Then there's the fact you had assisted Metatron in letting all the angels fall-"

"We've been down that road, already. You know I was tricked," Castiel objected.

Adriel flashed a crooked smile which made his face appear devilish. "Oh, that isn't the crime, brother. Do you know why your grace was so important for that spell?"

Before Castiel could answer, Adriel spoke, "The grace of an angel… in love. Do you know what that says, Castiel? That you have broken one of Heaven's most important rules, and that brings us to your next charge. Dean Winchester."

Castiel wanted to lunge at him for even saying that name. He felt a lump in his throat and he tried to swallow. He knew there was no way to deny the fact that he'd fallen in love with Dean. Nor would he want to deny it. If he could only convince them that love was nothing to be ashamed of. It was beautiful and magical, and should be allowed between angels and humans. That old law is ancient and irrelevant now.

At one time, the nephilim, who were created from the Grigori and humans, were something to be feared. They had produced giants who roamed the earth and ultimately had to be put down. But that was only because of the unholy make up of the Grigori and it could never happen again. The Grigori were gone.

Castiel cringed when he thought of fact that once upon a time he thought nephilim were abominations and maybe he had thought that way until he and Dean had shared the most sacred intimacy two people in love could share. Sure, he was aware neither of them could produce offspring, but if a couple that shared what he and Dean had, could make such a life, then that would be beautiful. A divine miracle. Not a sin.

"You had been warned from the very beginning to control your feelings for Dean Winchester, even after we had brought you back here and we, " he paused and shook his head. "Reminded you of the consequences of becoming too attached. Still, after all of that, you continued to fall for that broken man."

Castiel looked away. Yes, they reminded him to keep his feelings at bay, back then. Reminded him with whips and punches, and torture he had never felt before. That was also during Zachariah's reign and he made sure Castiel would never interfere with his master plans. Falling in love with Dean meant that the threat of Castiel helping Dean avert the apocalypse was more likely, and it was almost funny that it was exactly what Castiel had ended up doing.

"So you not only fell in love with a human, but you rejected your duties as an angel and you did it all for him. You continued to run around with him, despite all the warnings from your brethren, and then well, you freed Metatron, and why? Because he may have had information to help your poor Dean from the curse that he had bestowed upon himself, with the help from one of the worst people imaginable. Cain."

Adriel steeled himself and made eye contact with Castiel. His face contorted as if he was in pain. "The mark you had removed by doing a spell, and that, oh yeah, needed the grace of an angel in love, again. Now goodbye mark, hello Darkness. This is, of course, the worst charge, Castiel and the one that will most likely find you at the receiving end of an angel blade."

He paused.

"We may even overlook all of the others, since they don't hold much weight as letting the Darkness out. I mean, even with your most recent indulgence with Dean won't matter."

Castiel's eyes widened. They knew he and Dean had been intimate. Of course. "Adriel… brother." Castiel felt weird even calling him that. He was so detached from Heaven, and even it being the wrong choice of endearment, he said it anyway, hoping it would soften Adriel, even just a little.

"Love isn't wrong. It's beautiful, Adriel. What Dean and I have, I wish everyone to feel someday." Castiel felt his heart expand as those words left his mouth. The love he had for Dean overflowed his heart and poured out of him, and it felt like a warm light spreading over his body and protecting him in a warm tight hug.

"Angels don't love, Castiel. Not like that," Adriel said, harshly. "Besides, we swore to adhere to the rules. God's rules. You always did have trouble doing that, though. Stupid rebellious Castiel and his naive little mind."

The reality of what Adriel was saying came crashing down on Castiel. Both spells that ultimately would destroy Heaven needed his grace. They knew this, Michael, God, they knew the strength of the grace of an angel in love and they knew it could be used to make all the angels in Heaven fall, or release the Darkness. It was clear now as to why they were so adamant about enforcing that rule, that no angel should fall in love with a human. It was why they warned him not to get too close to Dean. Suddenly Castiel had become a liability. He'd become the one to destroy everything because of his love for Dean.

But they made him forget. They had erased his mind. If he'd known. If they would have just told him, maybe things could have been different. Why would Adriel know the truth about the spells when he didn't.

Adriel closed in on Castiel. "You make me sick," he hissed and then he turned on his heel. "Your day to speak is tomorrow." Adriel snapped his head to look at Castiel. "And then we will make our final judgment. Think hard now, Castiel, for what you will say in your defense, not that it will matter much."

He disappeared into the shadows. Castiel was left chained to the wall and he wriggled his hands, trying to fight off the numbness that was coming over them. His head was hanging low and his heart grew heavy. He wished he could see Dean, just one last time and look into those emerald eyes and say, "I love you" just once more before he was gone forever. As he began to lose consciousness, he focused on trying to reach Dean through his subconscious. He wasn't sure if it would work but he had to at least try.