Dean struggles beneath Sam's weight. Sam has his knee planted squarely in the center of his back. Sam will not allow him to move. He will not allow him to rise. "Dean, stop just stop." Dean can hear the plea in his brother's voice. He becomes still and moves his head to watch the frantic efforts of Azrael and Cass.
Gadreel's head is cradled within Azrael's hands. He is speaking to her in hushed tones that Dean can barely hear. He feels the release. The anger has subsided within him. The sadness is taking a firm hold.
He catches a glimpse of Azrael. There are tears of blood rolling off her cheeks. What has he done? He goes limp beneath Sam. Sam can feel it. He looks down to make sure Dean is alright. He can see the look of utter despair on his face. He cannot take the chance on releasing him when the blade is so close.
Azrael holds Gadreel close to her. Sam can see the radiance surrounding them. "Azrael, have you come for me?" She looks into his eyes. There is a plea for mercy within them. "I came in peace Azrael, I came to stop him." Azrael attempts to hush him. "I know you did."
"He must be stopped. He… he is going to bring the end of days, Azrael. He must be stopped." Gadreel grabs Azrael's arm and reaches for Castiel. "Castiel, I did not know what he was doing. Constantine… Tessa. I brought them to him and he slaughtered them."
Castiel takes his hand. "I know. I know my brother." Gadreel goes limp in Azrael's arms. Azrael can feel the rage within her own being at this senseless slaughter. She is responsible for this. She turns and looks at Dean. Dean can feel it in her stare. It tears at the fibers of his soul. He cannot look at her and diverts his gaze. Sam watches the interaction with grave concern for his brother.
Azrael looks at Castiel. She leans over Gadreel and in a flash of golden light is gone along with the blade. Azrael has taken it with her. Sam is relieved to see that it has vanished in the light.
Dean feels as if part of him is being ripped from stem to stern. Sam can see the pained expression. He flips Dean over. Dean convulses in agony. Castiel in a moment of mercy taps Dean on the forehead rendering him unconscious.
The pained expression dissolves into rest. Sam surveys Cass. Cass goes to the wall and slides down to the floor. He places his arms over his knees and rests his head. Sam is dumbfounded with what to do. He leaves Dean's side and joins Cass taking a seat next to him. Sam's eyes remain fixed on his brothers unconscious form.
Azrael enters her library the rage within her is now on the surface. She lets out a guttural scream as the books fly from the shelves and come crashing to the floor. The scream rattles off stone walls amplifying in the echo. Castiel can hear the sound like thunder echoing through the air. He is now fearful for his friends. Azrael has never been vengeful but there is a limit to everything in the universe.
Azrael sits in the middle of the compass rose on the marble floor. She needs to tame her own rage before making her next move. She sits in the silence for a long while when she feels the hand on her shoulder.
He took a terrible risk but she needed him. He cannot deny her. There is too much at stake. She is the only one with the power. Perhaps their father knew what he was doing. They cannot risk Metatron sensing that he is alive so he cannot stay long. He kneels in front of her. She stares at the boots on his feet. She takes in the scent of his form. She does not react and she does to yet move. She can feel his forehead against her own as she remains motionless. She can feel his warmth. She can feel his touch as he wipes away a tear falling from her cheek. He came when she called for him. Perhaps she is not as alone as she feels. He knew of the angelcide. He did not know it would manifest upon Azrael has it has. He takes in the view of her battered shell. He knows it is just window dressing and that she remains intact but it still touches him.
"I'm weary. I'm broken." Her voice is quiet and soft. The touch is warm and welcome. She misses all of them to the core of her being. "I don't want to be lost anymore." She feels his arm wrap around her neck and the gentle touch of a kiss to her head. It radiates from her head to her feet.
"We all stumble in the light of Grace, Az." Gabriel's voice soothes the rage in his sister. He needs her to focus on the task at hand. She is the only one who can make this right. She just needs the will to do it and he knows she has not yet found it.
"Everywhere I turn, nothing is good." Azrael's thoughts are rambling along with her words.
"We all fumble with the gift of free will, Azrael. You are not the first and you will not be the last." He lingers in front of her. His light bathes her in grace. In a moment, he is gone. She knew he could not stay. She stares upward. She knows there is nothing to see but the skylight. None of them have been in this situation before.
"My refuge… my father… why?" She stands in the center of the rose raising her arms towards the skylight. "I don't want to be lost again."
She walks out of the room. As she shuts the door, the books return to the shelves and order within the room is restored.
Castiel watches Dean in silence. He does not speak to Sam. He is at a lost as to what to say. They remain for what feels like an eternity to Sam.
Her appearance is sudden. Sam does not even have a moment to react. Azrael stands before them. Her eyes have a steeliness that Sam has never seen on her before. He is not afraid but he is worried for Dean. Before he can make a move towards Dean, they are gone. Azrael has taken Dean from them.
Sam whips around to face Cass. "She won't harm him." Cass' words do not bring solace to Sam. Dean murdered an angel in front of her. Sam knew in his heart that Gadreel had come in peace. He just knew it. There one clear shot to stop Metatron was compromised by the rage within Dean. He wonders again about the damage to Dean's soul from his time in Hell. Sam cannot escape the thought of the effect of the torture had upon his brother. He can see it. Castiel attempts to quiet Sam as he tries to sense where Azrael has taken Dean.