Disclaimer: To gain or not to gain? This is the answer: 'tis but a mere personal diversion. No money or other material good derived me from this. This person doesn't own the characters nor the songs quoted here.

I apologize for the delaying but my poor health struck again during Winter's Session. (Ugh! Just: ugh!)

There we are then: this is the end, my only friend: The End.

It took a whole day for Cas to regain full consciousness. But two days after Gabriel's procedure he could sit up without help and that evening, after the archangel decided it was time to remove the IV, he even managed to wash himself and change his pajama.

But he was still extremely fatigued and, even if conscious and alert, spent a lot time in bed.

Following Gabriel's orders, the hunters fed him some tomato rice soup, some sandwiches and a couple bowls of Bobby Singer's trademark stew. He accepted everything gratefully and ate without problems, displaying how weak his Grace still was.
His body, on the other hand, was starting to regain some of the weight it lost and, though still gaunt, his face was regaining some colour.

One cloudy morning, a few days after the procedure, the angel was dozing in a half sitting position with "The Lord of the Rings" opened in his lap, on the folded covers.
A gentle knock on the door roused him and, mere seconds later, Castiel felt a warm hand settle on his shoulder. He didn't need to open his eyes to understand who it belonged to.

"Dean"
"Hey, buddy. How're you holding up?"
"Fine, I think. I'm still very tired."
"Would you like to come with me and Sam downstairs?"
"Why?"
"Actually, it's a surprise."
"Oh"

The angel tilted his head in confusion and his eyebrows knitted together while he squinted his eyes. It took him a moment to decide, but Dean was willingly to let him take all the time he needed: just seeing him alive and speaking was a wonderful gift for him.

"I think I'll enjoy the variation but…"
"But?"
"I'm not sure I can walk. I still feel very dizzy every time I try to stand."
"There's no problem, Sam and I imagined that could have been a problem and figured out a solution. Here, let me help."

Dean lifted the angel into a sitting position, helped him wear a button down flannel shirt, for it was a little chilling outside, and proceeded to blindfold him. As his fingers curiously probed the strip of cloth on his face, Castiel tilted again his head in confusion.

Giggling, the hunter moved his friend's hands away and reassured it: "It's only to not spoil you the surprise. Now hold tight."

And he passed his arms behind Castiel's shoulders and knees, picking him up without much effort.

I'm the one who lifted you up and carried you away from your bed, he found himself thinking realizing how small his gesture was compared to what the creature in his arms had done for him. The once powerful angel that braved the fire and horrors of Hell's Pit to rescue his soul was now huddled against his chest, his arms around his neck and his bare feet hanging limply from the crook of his arm.
It was so wrong, so unfair.

Cradling the silent creature, Dean carefully made it at the bottom of the staircase, where Sam was waiting for them behind "Flash", Bobby's former wheelchair.

After his brother gently deposed the angel on Flash and laid a blanket on his legs, Sam wheeled him outside, where Gabriel and Bobby where had disposed That Thing.

Right after hearing the back door closing behind them, Castiel was invested by a whiffle of wind that made him shiver. So Dean removed his jacket and laid it on his shoulders as he nodded his thanks. Actually, it was around noon and the air wasn't that much cold, but the creature's body was still so weakened that the boys didn't want to risk him to get sick.

Fortunately, it took only a short walk before the curtain of reality was washed away by a warm cascade of rain and the brothers with their angel found themselves in a warm and sunny place.

"Where are we?"

Before answering Castiel's question, Dean picked him up from Flash and gently deposed him on a blanket, under a tree, then proceeded to remove his blindfold.

It took a while, and much blinking, for his eyes to get used to the light but eventually the angel found himself in a beautiful garden, full of every kind of flowers and trees, next to a spring. The weather was wonderful: warm but not hot since a gentle breeze was flowing.
He was sitting on a patchwork blanket laid on the grass under a magnificent oak. Next to him, Bobby was disposing some dishes for what seemed to be a picnic, Dean was crouched at his other side and Sam was stretching behind him, in front of them stood Gabriel, smiling proudly.

In his confused state Castiel realized too late that the older Winchester was talking to him and caught only the ending of his explanation:
"…and so, Gabriel decided to create this pocket dimension in Bobby's backyard. Got it?"

The angel nodded distractedly and, supporting himself with the tree, managed to stand and to walk toward his brother, collapsing in his arms, hugging him tight and hiding his face on his shoulder.
The archangel cupped the back of his dark haired head and placed a kiss on the top of it as he cradled his younger brother against his shorter frame.

After those two awful weeks the Winchesters, Bobby, and their angelic friends all needed to relax and spent in Gabriel's dimension a whole afternoon – which felt like a week in the real one - eating, playing catch and even hide and seek.

Castiel was overwhelmed. His feelings were so intense that he almost thought to be in Heaven, with his brothers. Except…
Except he really was in Heaven, in his own, personal one, with the family he choose and that had chosen him.

No more cold, detached stares, no more harsh orders, no more punishments, no more pain. No more reeducation.

Now, he was free to be himself without anyone judging him, he was free to love and feel loved, to protect and be protected. He was free to smile and cry.

He was free to feel happy while Dean's laugh, Bobby's huffs and Sam's smile at Gabriel jokes guided him in Morpheus' arms as he closed his eyes, too worn to keep them open. He didn't even flinch when Sam – being the most fit of them - picked him up and carried him back to his room bridal style.

Later than evening, Bobby managed to sneak a pick of the four boys: while Cas was still asleep under the covers, Sam was sitting next to him and reading a novel, Dean was sprawled over their legs with is nose dived into another book – which the older hunter was suspecting to contain an adult magazine at this point – and Gabriel was on his brother's other side, playing with a sort of labyrinth toy he fished from one of his pockets.

The younger angel was surrounded by the warmth of the other boys and, finally, seemed at peace. About time! He had suffered too much in Singer's opinion.

In the back of his mind, the man knew that their fight was just about to begin and soon that frail peace would have been shattered, perhaps forever. The future ahead was looking grim and he felt like soon his boys were to face most difficult choices, sacrifice and pain.

Yeah! The future.

But now, Bobby discarded those thoughts with a shake of his head and closed the door behind him. While on his way to the kitchen to make some dinner, in the privacy of his weirdly quiet home, the hunter left a smile distending his features: that day his boys and Gabriel had gifted him the best thing he could ever want. They had given him hope.

The following days saw Castiel's strength improving until Gabriel declared him well enough to help the boys on the next hunt.

This meant also that was time for the archangel to take off again and return to wherever he may have been roaming before.

He left on a cold morning of Late Summer, exactly ten days after transplanting a piece of his Grace into his little brother's.
No tears were shed that morning. Only a warm hug between the angels while Castiel took comfort for the last time against his brother's chest. His wings, now returned to their original raven splendor, enveloped their joined bodies but Gabriel's where even huger and covered them.
"Take care of yourself."
"You too, little one. And remember: we will never be apart. Whenever you'll need me I'll be there. Ok?"
The lesser angel nodded.

Their arms detangled and, with a last goodbye to the brothers and Bobby, Gabriel flew away.

Castiel remained motionless, his eyes stuck to the point where his brother stood a moment before.

He nearly jumped when he perceived Dean's sudden presence behind him.
"It's a pity!" he said "I was almost starting to like him."
Both Sam and Cas turned to him with questioning expressions and he shuddered.
"I said: 'almost'! "

The day after, it was Team Free Will's turn to leave.
Sam had found a case: suddenly people in Madison had started crying black tears before dying without apparent reason. It was worth the trip.

So they left.
Dean at the driving.
Sam shotgun.
Castiel on the backseat.

Bobby watched the black Impala moving towards the horizon. The strong gear rumbling and the radio blasting at full volume:

We're halfway there!
Livin on a prayer!
Take my hand, we'll make it – I swear

Livin on a prayer!

- The End –

The Bunny Master's notes:

The scene with the photo taken by Bobby was inspired by this gorgeous fan art:

post/46687686166/msredvinesblack-i-took-one-look-at-gabes-face

I looked and searched and looked again but I was unable to find the author. Kudos to them by me, anyways!

Here we are.
It's been almost an year: I recall starting to write this on last Holy Thursday and tomorrow will be Ash Wednesday.

Wow! I would have never imagined my humble work could be so highly appreciated by wonderful people like you ( I would write all your usernames but I don't remember them! Sorry. My bad! ) :

Who took the time to read this

Who took the time to review

Who took the time to correct my errors

Who sent me positive thoughts

Who collaborated with your suggestions.

Who are reading this. You are the best! Lots Of Love!

If you have suggestion for any new fiction, feel free to PM me and let me know!

So, what can I say except: you're welcome! *You're welcome!* You're welcome!

And THANK YOU!

*bows gracefully and leaves the stage*