Dean lied still, holding Sam's hand as Gabriel finished the incantation. Just as he was about to say that he didn't think it worked, his eyes opened and he was sitting behind the wheel of the Impala with his hand gripping his jacket. He looked around, breathing deeply.

"I guess it worked," he said, remembering that this was where his Heaven started all those years ago. While it felt real to be sitting in Baby like this on the open road, there was something just a little off, indicating that this indeed was not his own dimension. There was lma stillness in the air. No wind. No insects outside. Just him and his car on the axis mundi.

He knew if he got out, he'd run into that memory of Sam and him lighting off fireworks and that the houses on the side, held the memory of his mom. Part of him really wanted to but he had to focus on his mission and not get sidetracked and so he hit the gas and drove.

Nothing for miles, just empty road and a sky that looked like something out of a Pink Floyd acid trip. The stars appeared as if they were raining down on him, but just as they'd hit the atmosphere, they'd fizzle away like tiny pieces of lint. The trees that lined the road were as normal as ever but Dean could tell that as he drove by, they all looked the same. He wondered if such detail was mundane since he rarely paid attention to these things in his own reality.

His eyes caught something in the distance in the middle of the road. It was mixture of tan and black. It was hard to make out so Dean squinted at it and as he drove, his eyes widened. It was Cas. Castiel. His Cas. He slammed on the breaks and rushed out of the car, now that Cas was only about twenty feet away.

"Cas!" he yelled out, running toward him.

Castiel turned and smiled. "Hello, Dean."

Dean threw his arms around him, hugging him so tightly, he would have broken Castiel's back if he was just a human. He pulled back and cupped Castiel's face. "Holy shit, how..." Dean stepped back, noticing Cas in his old get up. Trenchcoat, tax accountant suit, blue tie on backwards…

"Wait, this isn't really you ,is it?"

Castiel tilted his head and squinted. "I'm not sure I understand."

"This is a memory." Dean looked around and tried to place what timeline this was. He spun around with a slight feeling of confusion. He didn't remember.

"No. Dean," Castiel grabbed Dean's shoulder and steadied him. "I was searching for you, but," Castiel looked around, furrowing his brow. "Are you in Heaven?"

"Yes. I mean, I think so. I tried to-"

"Dean? Oh no, did you…?" Castiel's face was long and full of fear. Dean shook his head and placed his hand on Castiel's. He had no idea how happy he was to see him. There he was, his angel staring back at him and all of the moments they shared came crashing back. He just wanted to wrap him in his arms forever and never let him go.

"No, no. It's a spell. I came to find you, Cas."

Castiel backed away, eyes glassy and unfocused. Dean watched him, and stepped in his direction but Castiel just kept backing away.

"A spell? Dean, what did you do?"

Cas' face was now hard and he was giving Dean that typical pissed off, pouty look that made the angel appear almost child like. Dean was a little taken aback by his tone. He hadn't seen 'angry Cas' in quite a while.

"It's okay, Cas. It's safe. Sam's there and we- I just had to find you. Hannah told me you were locked up. Cas, it's okay, I'm gonna get you out."

Castiel softened and he walked back over to Dean and pulled him into a hug. Dean sighed into his neck and wanted so much to just break down and cry but he held it in. Cas twisted Dean's jacket into his fists. "Dean, oh, Dean. You can't be here. You just can't," Castiel said against Dean's shoulder.

Dean pulled back and cupped Cas' face. "I'm not leaving you in that place, Cas. I'm just not."

"But Dean, they'll catch you and when they do… Dean please, go back. I- I've accepted my fate, I just wanted one last chance to see you and..."

Castiel dropped his head on Dean's shoulder again. "To tell you that I love you."

Cas' voice cracked and Dean noticed his breathing becoming more strained. It was when he felt the moisture against his skin that he lifted Cas' face. Cas had tears pouring down his cheeks and the sight sent Dean into a downward spiral of agony.

"Cas, no, please don't."

Seeing Cas cry was probably the most heartbreaking thing for Dean to see. He'd never witnessed it before. Castiel had never cried in front of him and he wasn't even aware that he could.

"You have to go back," Castiel said, now pulling himself together.

Dean shook his head. "No."

"How are you even able to get here, Dean? What magic is this?"

Castiel was looking at Dean, sternly now. Dean swallowed, knowing full well that Cas wasn't going to like what he was about to say. It had always seemed that he pissed off Cas one way or another with his reckless decisions.

"It's uh," Dean rubbed the back of his neck as Castiel gave him that hard glare. "We found Gabriel… he knew a spell and it got me here, Cas."

"What?" Castiel's eyes were wide now. "Please tell me you're joking."

What could Dean really do but tell Cas the truth? Dean was aware of the stupidity of it all, but Cas would have to understand. "Did you hear me? We found Gabriel. After we get you back, we can find God and-"

Dean couldn't even continue. Castiel tore himself away from Dean and turned. He brought his hand to his head and inhaled, deeply.

"You're so stupid, Dean."

Stupid? Now Dean was pissed. He stepped in front of Cas and pulled his hand away from his face. "Stupid? Yeah, maybe, but Cas, I'm not letting you rot in some fucking prison in Heaven, okay? Don't tell me you wouldn't do the same. Hell, you did do the same, in a way. Notice I have no mark, right?"

"How do you even know it's really Gabriel. Last time he came to me, he'd been trapped by Metatron. Dean, really-"

"It's him. I know it's him." Dean raked his teeth across his bottom lip. "You fucking take risks and so do I."

"Dean, I-"

"I'm going to find you and when I do, you're coming home with me. Got it? Now you can tell me where to find you, or I'll just do it on my own, but either way, Cas, I'm coming for you."

Dean felt good about his outburst. Sure, it was a little harsh, but it was also giving him that push to get things rolling. He headed back to the Impala and searched around to find the 'escape hatch'. He felt a hand on his back and he straightened up and turned to a solemn looking Castiel.

"I'll stay with you."

Dean looked up and sighed. Castiel rested his hand on Dean's shoulder and said, "But you need to get back in the car and drive, as if it was just a normal day, then you'll be able to notice the escape hatch."

Dean nodded and he waited until Cas got into the passenger seat to get behind the wheel. He started her up and they drove down the dark open road. Dean turned on the radio and searched for anything he'd normally listen to. He settled for some Rolling Stones, Wild Horses. He glanced at Castiel who seemed to be pleased with the music choice.

He was thankful Cas had been able to find him, but the fact that he had to in the first place made Dean so angry at himself. He shouldn't have let him go alone to the frame store. With all that was going on, he should have known something could have happened to him. He thought of those stupid pictures Crowley had sent before Castiel left the bunker and his stomach became queasy.

"Look, Cas. I know you saw those pictures that Crowley texted, and I just wanted to say that I'm sorry."

"Dean. You don't have to. It's okay. I understand."

Dean looked at him briefly and he just wanted to kiss him. "I just need you to know that it was a long time ago, while I was a demon and, well, it meant jack squat, okay?"

Castiel smiled at him and nodded. "I know, Dean. I mean, it was Crowley and that fact alone made it awful to look at but, well, I guess we've all made some mistakes."

Dean chuckled at that. "Yes, we have."

His smile grew bigger when he saw Castiel's face light up into a huge grin. He was so beautiful. His special angel. His Castiel. He thought of the hundreds of times they'd been right here together. Cas in the passenger seat as Dean drove. He remembered when they'd cruise around, listening to music, as Cas told him a story about Heaven, or some other tale Dean couldn't even remember now. It didn't matter because the most important thing was that they were together.

Dean realized that Cas was his other half. The yin to his yang, so to speak. The peanut butter to his jelly. The frick to his frack and… okay he had to stop because even he was getting grossed out by the utter sappiness that was roaming around in his head.

He glanced at Cas again and something weird started to happen. Cas started to fade in and out and flicker. "Cas?" Dean reached out for him. "What was that?"

"Oh. it's okay, I'm just in and out of consciousness."

"Are you uh, sleeping? I mean how are even here?" Dean glanced at Cas briefly before focusing back onto the road, still looking for anything out of the ordinary.

Castiel sighed. "Not sleeping no."

Dean looked his way again."What do you mean, then how?"

"I'm uh..."

Dean could tell Castiel was having difficulty. He was doing that usual thing he did when he was trying to figure out what to say, looking away while his lips formed words that never came out.

"Cas, come on. What's going on."

"They're torturing me, Dean. The pain is causing me to pass out."

And that was how Cas did it all the time. He would spend minutes trying to word something perfectly so that Dean wouldn't freak the fuck out but every single time, he would end up just blurting it out, blunt and direct and Dean would, in fact, freak the fuck out.

Dean slammed on the brakes and did all he could to hold himself together. He hated those dicks. He hated Heaven and right now he even hated God. "Mother fuckers!"

"Dean, when you find me, just be prepared. They're not holding back on anyone's account."

"Shit!" His hands gripped the steering wheel. He was ready to kill them all. He didn't care about their rules and he sure as hell didn't give a rat's ass about Hannah. They were all going to die if anything more happened to Cas.

"Dean."

"I'm gonna find you, Cas, and then I swear to… whoever that if one of them, even Hannah, gets in my way, they're gonna regret it."

A brief glance at Cas and his heart was breaking. Cas laid a hand on his shoulder and Dean leaned into it, closing his eyes. He slid his body closer to him and laid his head down on Cas' shoulder.

The angel's warmth eased him, even just for a little while. He felt Cas' chest move with each breath and the light kisses on Dean's head made him tingle all over. Dean had wanted to do this a million times over the years, and for obvious reasons, he'd held back. There had been so many nights when he had wanted to just melt into his angel's arms and forget about the world. He knew that just his mere touch would quiet Dean's mind and that it would be peaceful, and warm, and full of love and not that different than how his mother made him feel. Except this would be from the man he loved.

He opened his eyes to confess all of this to Castiel when he noticed something immediately near the glove compartment. It was a small Biggerson's sticker. He squinted and ran his finger across it.

"I don't remember that," he said to Cas.

"Try to peel it."

Dean's pointer and thumb grabbed the edge of the sticker and he peeled it back, exposing a button. He lifted his head and looked at Cas who nodded for him to continue. Dean pressed it and suddenly a sliver of light was seen across the street, along the side of the road.

"Is that-"

"Yes."

They exited the car and Dean headed over to it. He inhaled deeply and turned to Cas, who was now holding his hand. "Dean, once you're in, you need to find a grand hall. It's past the prison cells, but still in the main holding area."

Dean nodded. He felt something in his hand and looked down at an angel blade. "Oh, how did that get there?"

Cas smiled. "Just be careful, Dean. Once they figure out the breach, they will come looking for you."

"Careful is my middle name," Dean said, with a half smile.

Castiel tilted his head and squinted, "I wasn't aware that..." He smiled back at Dean. "It isn't and you're not." They shared a smile.

Cas continued, "You'll have to find the door to the main area. It'll be different for you then it would be for an angel, so I have no idea what it will look like, just keep your eyes open."

Dean pulled Cas into a hug and nuzzled his face against his cheek. "Just hang in there, buddy. I'm coming for you."

Castiel pulled away and kissed Dean, softly. Dean kissed him back, pressing his lips hard against Cas', then he kissed his cheek and whispered in his ear, "I love you."

Dean tried to decipher Cas' expression now but he was already pushing him toward the door. They gave each other one last hug and Dean held his breath as he went through.

"Here goes everything."

Dean was in a sterile hallway lined with white tiles and obnoxious fluorescent bulbs. He turned back to his door and saw his name 'Dean Winchester 1979-'

"Well, this is disturbing," he said to himself.

The hall seemed to go on forever and it wasn't like anything he was expecting. He thought Heaven would consist of waterfalls, harps, and maybe some endless supply of candy, or something. He remembered his times in the green room and that reminded him of a museum, with the renaissance style paintings and sculptures.

But this was like something out of a bad sci fi movie. Too bright and too silent, making his blue canvas jacket and brown work boots really stand out. He thought of his plan and he had to admit that he was going in half cocked. He had been so set on getting to Cas, he didn't really think of the fact that he was breaking into Heaven, where angels happen to live, and oh yeah, that love to smite. Not to mention that none of them really liked Dean. He was in the middle of the Death Star and all he had was an angel blade and a fierce determination to save his Cas.

Dean shook his head and continued. Sam was always the one who'd plan things out carefully. He'd have a map, a list of possible ways in, and a well thought out escape plan. Not Dean. No. Dean would dive right in head first and hope for the best. He knew that doing this alone was a bad idea. Sam should be here with him, but of course he had to venture in here alone. His mind drifted to what of what Sam would be talking to Gabriel about right about now.

It was weird that he had been waiting for them to find him. There was no trust between them. Zero. But something about his willingness to help made him realize that whatever was unleashed, it would need all of them sticking together. None of them would be getting out scott free so it was time to put all differences aside and fight the common enemy.

Dean tossed him out of his head and focused on the task at hand. He looked for a door that would lead him into the main part of Heaven. He wasn't sure what to look for. Each door had his name on it, with different dates of births and deaths. He couldn't believe that this was what it actually looked like. You're very own matrix is just a fucking room in a god damned creepy ass hallway.

"Come on, there has to be a clue."

Finally he came to a door that only had a sign that read "Stairway" and the drawing of steps. Dean rolled his eyes and chuckled. "Stairway to Heaven. That's good."

The door opened without a sound and he started his ascent. He found it unsettling that there was absolutely no sound, whatsoever. Even his steel tip boots weren't making noise. A tickle in his throat caused a small cough that echoed way louder than normal. He passed the third flight, the the fourth. He wondered how much farther he'd have to go but once he hit the fifth, he spotted a door with a small window. He carefully peeked out and saw a whole different type of Heaven.

This looked more ancient, with stone walls, candles lit against the rock, giving off eerie looking shadows. He slowly pushed the door open and slipped through, hugging the wall. There didn't seem to be any angels around, at least not in his general vicinity, so he slithered further in. Looking around, he could sense the aged quality of the place. It was here even before and he could see tiny writing on the walls, which he assumed was in Enochian. He wondered how many times Cas had walked down these halls when he was a good little soldier.

This was Castiel's home, once upon a time. This is where Castiel would talk to his fellow angels, and where he would follow his superiors and take orders. This was where he'd come back to after all those times he'd disappeared on Dean. This was where he got the orders to rescue him from hell. This was where he was taken to when he was getting too close to Dean and they had to whip him back into shape. Dean shivered. He didn't like this place, already.

He had no idea where to even start. He felt like he was in some medieval castle. He expected to see iron chandeliers that held actual candles instead of lightbulbs and he looked up, yup, there it was. He shook his head and kept on, passing by dark corridors that kept hitting him with cool drafts and that seemed to go on forever. He tried to imagine just how vast Heaven really was, to be able to house all those souls in their personal heavens, and to be home to all the angels… this place must be immense. Dean didn't have time to check each nook and cranny, but he made a mental note to try and get a grand tour one of these days. Not that the angels up here would. Maybe Cas would, if and when they find God.

Dean smiled at the thought of Cas showing Dean around his former home.

Coming up on a slightly different looking area, Dean glanced around for anything even remotely resembling a prison door. He figured it would have to be somewhat noticeable. Big. Maybe a sign on the door? A fucking neon sign? Anything? He chuckled when he thought that a 'You Are Here' mall map would have been nice.

After what felt like hours of aimlessly wandering the dark and dank hallways of Heaven, Dean found the prison. It was just an ordinary door with a small window, similar to the one in the stairwell. He remembered Cas said that he was being held not too far from there and so he moved past it, ducking out of view of a few angels that guarded it. Luckily they were more concerned with keeping an eye on the prison then the corridor he was in. He slipped past them and continued until he saw archways that opened up to a bigger room.

He wasn't even sure what he was looking at. It almost resembled a medieval dungeon. This was Heaven? It looked more like Hell. Really. It was too dark to see much of anything. The only light came from the candles that were lit around the room, but there weren't enough to really make a difference.

He noticed a body against the far wall and when he squinted, it wasn't Cas, but some other poor sap they had chained up and obviously had been torturing due to the welts and cuts all over his body.

This was terrible. The only thing that kept rolling around in his mind was that Cas was here and they had been hurting him. Dean could feel the blood rush from his neck to his cheeks. He searched, frantically for his angel. He refused to let him endure this kind of treatment any longer. When he was about to walk into the middle of the room to get a view of all the walls, he heard his name.

"Dean."

Dean turned in the direction of the gravelly voice and he saw Cas in chains, bloodied, bruised, and it made his heart sink. He ran to him, bending over to stay out of the light and to remain in the shadows. The open wounds on Cas' chest and legs were bleeding pretty badly and Dean was sure there had been whip markings. It was his face that caused Dean's blood to run cold. He was half conscience and one eye had been swollen shut. There were other bruises and marks along his jaw and right cheek. He tried to remember the last time he'd seen Cas so beaten up. Surely he'd seen him worse, right?

"Fuck, Cas," Dean said, as low as possible.

He could see Castiel try to talk but the blood in his mouth was making it difficult. Suddenly a flash of their fight came into his mind.

"No, Dean, please..."

He pushed it away, refusing to think about it. "Cas, I'm gonna get you out of here."

"It-it was really you. I found you in your Heaven, it was-" Castiel coughed.

"Yeah, it was me, Cas," Dean said, examining the chains. "How do I open these? There's no keyhole."

"They're Heaven's, you won't-" Cas' head dropped from exhaustion. This small amount of conversation was draining him already.

"It's okay, don't talk. I'll figure it out."

But Dean was worried. These seemed impenetrable. No key. No tool available to break it. He was about to use his angel blade when out of nowhere, a loud voice bellowed from other side of the room. Dean looked up but the area was shrouded in shadow, he couldn't make out who it was.

"Dean, hide… it's the guards. Hide, Dean," Castiel said in between coughs.

Dean brushed his fingers across Cas' hand and then slipped behind a column. He watched two angels, a tall one and the other one small, almost the same size as Gabriel, as they made their way across the room and over toward Cas. Dean pressed his body closely to the wall to remain undetected.

The smaller one did something to the shackles and suddenly they came undone. Cas' upper body fell forward and the larger angel caught him. Dean's heart raced like a god damned time bomb ready to explode. He wasn't sure what to do. Should he attack? Should he just wait. It wasn't until he saw Cas turn to him and give him that look Dean knew so well, the 'Don't do anything stupid' look, that Dean got his answer. So Dean would wait and see how this played out.

It happened so fast, Dean didn't even have time to think. The angels were dragging Castiel away and he couldn't let that happen. He had to rescue Cas. That was what he came here for and despite all of his instincts telling him otherwise, Dean leapt out at the angels, pushing the small one over. Cas stumbled onto one knee and the taller angel turned to Dean, his eyes wide.

"What is this?" he said, in a voice so deep, it sent vibrations through the room.

"No, Dean-" Castiel's voice cracked and he was looking at Dean with the most painful expression Dean thought he had ever seen.

"Dean? Dean Winchester?" The smaller angel walked over to him and smiled. "Did you come here to save Castiel?"

He wasn't sure what to say. He wasn't dead yet, so he assumed the angels had orders or something not to kill him. Or maybe they just wanted to find out how he broke in, after all. Heaven was supposed to be guarded, and here he was, inside their very own pentagon.

"How about you asshats walk away and we can pretend you never even saw me, sound good?" Dean smirked at the angels and the taller one laughed.

"Seriously? Are you mad?" He motioned for the smaller angel. "Tirian, take Castiel to the theater. I'll- I'll handle this one," he said now looking back at Dean. The shorter angel nodded and grabbed hold of Castiel's shoulders, causing Cas to let out a small whimper.

Dean had this gigantic angel, probably as tall as Sam even, staring down at him, ready to beat him into next Tuesday. Dean knew he didn't stand a chance. He knew that this was probably the way he was going to go out. He laughed internally at the fact that he was about to die… in Heaven. What are the odds?

With a shrug, Dean advanced toward him but the angel reached out and wrapped his hand around Dean's neck. His large hands were almost able close it entirely around him. Dean gasped as panic filled him to the bones. He glanced at Castiel who was now almost out of sight.

Dammit.

They threw him into a jail cell before he could even attempt at fighting back. Not that it would have done any good, seeing they were in fact, angels, and stronger than he'd remembered. He was pushed to his knees and they locked the barred door after them. He stood and brushed off his jeans.

"Dean?"

A hauntingly familiar voice came from his left. He snapped his head and his mouth dropped open. He could very well be imagining it. He could be unconscious and dreaming, but there, in the cell next to his, was Bobby.

"Is it…" Dean wasn't sure his mouth was even working properly. Those focused eyes were staring back at him, probably in disbelief as well and when he saw his face soften and he uttered, "Balls." Dean knew it was really him.

"Jesus, Bobby. What the hell?"

"Well at least it's not, you know, hell." Bobby neared the bars and Dean did the same. He reached out his hand and Dean grabbed it, his heart now a brick in his chest.

"This is because of that thing you did, with Cas…"

Bobby sighed. "Well he was damn certain that fraggle knew a cure for your mark of Cain."

Dean chuckled at the comparison. Bobby continued, "And by the way, what in the hell were you thinkin' boy?"

"I wasn't."

"And?"

Dean tilted his head. "And?"

"Well, did it work? Are ya cured?"

"Yeah, but no thanks to Meta… the fraggle."

Dean drew a breath and it finally hit him that he was here with Bobby. The man who practically raised him. The man who'd done anything for him and Sam. Suddenly he was back at his old house in the scrap yard, eating canned chili and tossing back cold ones. He was sitting on Bobby's old worn out couch with Sam, a book in his lap. He saw Bobby behind his desk, telling them about Heaven, and Hell, and angels. Man, he missed the old goat.

And he was in fucking goddamned prison in Heaven? Oh, this won't do. Not at all.

"I'm just so damn happy to see you, Bobby."

Bobby cracked a small smile. "Ditto, kid. Now, what are you doing here anyhow?"

"They have Cas. It's… a long story."

"Well it ain't like we're goin' anywhere. And if you're here, does that mean..."

"No, it's a spell. I'm asleep. Sorta like a cosmic sleep." Dean wanted to sit, he was feeling a bit beaten up by the angel's rough housing but he couldn't bring himself to let go of Bobby's hand.

"The mark released the Darkness. Cas had something to do with it so they nabbed him. Making him pay for his crimes." Dean rubbed the back of his neck, fighting off the chills that the last sentence gave him.

"Meanwhile, back at the fortress of Solitude, Gabriel and Sam helped me break into Heaven by doing this spell," Dean finished.

Bobby's face contorted as he barked. "For the love of… Darkness? Gabriel?"

"Bobby, it's bad. Like some pre-biblical thing that God and the Archangels fought and well, it's back and we're hoping to find God, and now that we found Gabriel, maybe-"

"Find God? Well good luck with that. I remember how well that turned out for Cas."

"We're hoping Bobby. It's the only option we have. This Darkness, it has these like Sith angels and their goin' around multiplying like fucking bunnies, or from what I've heard and they'll destroy earth, and Heaven. No one's safe."

"Well ain't that just the way things always gotta be, huh?"

Bobby extended his other arm out in between the bars and he gave Dean a light tap on the shoulder. "I'm just glad you're okay Dean. The way Cas and Sam made it sound, well, they were pretty scared and nobody likes to see someone like Cas, spooked. Chilled me to the bone."

Dean rested his forehead to the bars and sighed. "I'm gonna make sure you get back to your Heaven, Bobby, and I'm rescuing Cas." He lifted his eyes to the older man and smiled a little, because it was still so amazing to see him. "And that's that."

They shared a smile that was both sincere and sad. Dean wasn't sure how he'd actually be able to get Bobby out or free Cas, for that matter. He was in a prison that was probably harder to break out of than Fort Knox. Not that Dean would give up hope. Not when so much was at stake.

Bobby and Dean were in the middle of a conversation about Sam when Hannah entered the prison. He excused the guards and Dean was unimpressed. He had nothing to say to him nor did he want to hear anything from his traitorous mouth.

"Oh, well if it isn't Cas' backstabbing buddy. So nice to see you," Bobby said, the sarcasm oozing off of him with his fake smile.

Hannah approached them, his eyes focusing more on Dean and ignoring Bobby altogether. "Dean, I'm sorry about all of this, but how did you get in here? You're not dead, that I know."

"I have nothing to say to you." Dean kept his gaze on Bobby, knowing that one look at that douchebag's face will likely make him punch the wall and he was in no mood in breaking his knuckles.

"They're taking Castiel for his trial, we need to stop it."

Dean and Bobby both snapped their heads in his direction. "Stop it? Why now? Why help now?"

"Because," he looked around nervously. "Because I do care about Castiel, Dean. I don't want him to suffer at the hands of Adriel."

"Suffer? What are they gonna do to him?" Dean neared the other side of the cell, to where Hannah stood. His skin was tingling, like tiny sparks were hitting him all over from an unseen force. Was that coming from Hannah?

"They will mutilate him. We need to go now. Please. I need your help. The other angels, they're less willing to assist. Dean, please."

Dean sighed. "Of course I'm gonna do whatever I can to help Cas." He turned to Bobby. "Bobby's coming, too."

Hannah shook his head. "No, no, that's too risky. He can't come."

"Well then you send him back to his own Heaven."

Dean didn't look at Bobby. He was pretty sure Bobby had no intention of getting into the fray with them. He was at rest, at peace, until they came in and fucked it up for him. He knew Bobby would do anything to help, but this time, Dean would make sure Bobby sat this one out.

After a tearful goodbye and Hannah bringing Bobby back to his 'room', Dean followed him through a dark tunnel that must have been underneath the area they had just been. Dean still wasn't sure he could trust Hannah, but if this was going save Cas, then he'd go along and hope for the best.

"This is all your fault, you know." Dean just had to say it. It had been on the tip of his tongue the entire walk to Bobby's. He didn't care about pleasantries, as he had nothing to offer Hannah as far as friendship.

Hannah stopped, eyes focused hard on him like Dean was his prey. Dean shivered at the icy glare.

"My fault? You can't really believe that. None of this would even be happening if it wasn't for you."

Dean kept on following him, keeping silent, knowing the next words out of Hannah's mouth would be the fact that Cas had fallen because of him. Blah blah, fucking blah. He'd heard it all before and he couldn't honestly give a rat's ass what these angels thought.

Because they didn't know the real bond between them. They had no idea what true love was, or how it felt to utterly give yourself wholly to someone. How you just know that the universe refused to let you lose each other and all along, you belonged together. To just look into their eyes and know, at that moment that everything was going to be okay. The world could end, but as long as you were together, nothing mattered.

"And I will have you know that, yes, I had captured him. But I had to. If I didn't, someone else would have. My intent was to keep him safe in prison and I was going to see to it that his sentence be fair and maybe he be released."

Hannah stopped and turned to Dean who stopped before walking right into him. "Released back to you, but Adriel got him, it all happened too quickly. I couldn't stop it and now... " Hannah turned back ahead and continued walking. "We have to get to Castiel in time."

The tunnels were dark and cold. Dean should be shivering but he guessed since he was not really in his corporeal body, so to speak, it didn't affect him as it normally would have. Of course, the angel beat down was plenty painful, maybe because they were angels and this was their turf.

He didn't know and didn't care. He was edgy and ready to just get Cas and take him far, far away from this place. He would be happy to never see another angel again, other than Cas of course.

Hannah stopped in front of a steel door. He glanced briefly at Dean and inhaled. "This is it. I have no idea how we're going to pull this off, but this is where Castiel is."

Dean waited for Hannah to open the door and he drew in a shaky breath, feeling his nerves ball up in his stomach and move up to settle in his throat. He didn't know what he was about to see, or how they were going to get out alive, but really, he had to at least believe there'd be a way.

Castiel was being dragged into the large room that was set up like a concert hall. He lifted his head, recognizing where they had taken him. This was where Michael would speak. This was where the public mutilation and torture of fallen angels had taken place. Castiel's blood ran cold as he glared at all the angels sitting in the bleachers, as if awaiting the bloodshed like hungry wolves. He could feel the hatred oozing out of them. Their eyes shot daggers and even though he couldn't read their minds, he was certain they were all wishing him a very slow and painful death.

He was thrown into a large chair made of stone and out came three angels, Castiel assumed were the new judges, and they sat across from him in even bigger stone chairs. He only recognized one of the three. Abathar. It made sense, since he was always just and fair in his dealings with other angels.

The room quieted as one of the angels, the eldest, held up his hand, his dark eyes focused on Castiel and he breathed out a disappointing sigh. "Castiel, do you understand the charges brought against you?"

Castiel searched the room for Hannah. He wasn't even sure why he assumed he'd be here, but seeing as it was his fault he was being held in the first place, he thought Hannah would enjoy seeing the show.

"This is a waste of time. The Darkness-"

The eldest angel held his hand up again as his eyebrows narrowed so deeply, it seemed like the lines were literally cutting into his forehead. "You will have your time to talk, Castiel. Answer the question."

Castiel nodded, defeated.

"So, is that a 'yes'?" the angel asked.

"Yes," Castiel said, with no other option.

"Good. I am Hesediel. You don't remember me because, well, I assume because of your memory wipes. I am here to let justice be done." Hesediel turned to the angel next to him. "Vehuel, please read off the charges, for those who remain unaware."

Vehuel, the youngest angel, stood up with a scroll in hand. She looked briefly at Castiel and then back at Hesediel who waved his hand in a gesture for her to move it along.

"Castiel, angel of Thursday is hereby charged with breaking Heaven's laws. He fell in love with a human," The room booed and she eyed the crowd.

Her eyes returned back to the scroll. "Whom he had fornicated with," More boos and now hisses. "Whilst being an angel. His grace was then offered, freely, to cure the curse, bestowed upon said human, thus, releasing the Darkness."

The crowd was now shouting words Castiel could barely make out. Vehuel nodded at the room and then at Hesediel before taking her seat.

"Thank you Vehuel" Hesediel turned to Castiel. "What do you have to say in your defense?"

Castiel swallowed. "Yes, I fell in love," More boos and angry shouts. "But why would God had given us the ability to love if he had never meant for us to?" He looked around at the crowd and they were not impressed with his words. More angry stares remained once Hesediel silenced them.

"And it was my duty to raise Dean from perdition, and since then, I can't explain why it happened. I fell in love. And so did he."

Hesediel was watching Castiel with a softer face now. He wasn't so harsh looking, save for his long pointed nose and deep cut brow. Castiel wasn't entirely sure he would see things his way, but this angel was not intent on treating him unfairly. That much he could tell.

"I didn't know about the mark being the key. My memory had been wiped many times, it wasn't fair to keep such important information secret. If I'd known… I don't know, but the fact that the hierarchy refused to release that information clearly is not my fault."

Hesediel rose and approached Castiel, his long, bony fingers laced in front of him. He held a certain confident gait, one that someone of royalty would have. A ruler, but not just a king, someone who took control with ease. Authority came naturally for him, from what Castel could tell.

"So you admit to these crimes, Castiel?"

"If they shall be deemed as crimes, then yes. I cannot deny I fell in love, shared intimate moments with him..."

Castiel blushed. He had forgotten that nothing gets past the angels in Heaven. He wasn't at all embarrassed at having those beautiful moments with Dean, but the fact that they had all looked at the act as something horrifically shameful, it it made him uncomfortable sharing anything they had done together.

He continued, "And used my grace for the spell to cure him." Castiel sighed. "And I don't regret any of it. This Darkness, these dark angels, the Belial, they will destroy everything now. While we can blame me for unleashing it, it doesn't change that fact that we all need to band together and fight. We need to find God."

Laughter filled the room mixed with faint whispers. Hesediel turned to the crowd and silenced them once again. "God?" He turned to Castiel. "You can't possibly think he's still alive, Castiel. after all this time?"

"I can hope."

Castiel felt the faith restore in his heart as he had all those years ago when he'd gone searching for God, knowing he'd fix everything, bring order to a chaotic Heaven. The crush of Joshua's words still weighed heavy on him, but Castiel's renewed hope that his father was still out there, somewhere, gave him something to fight for.

"Let me find him, then you can charge me with anything you feel fit. Please, Hesediel."

But it didn't matter. Hesediel's expression remain unchanged. He didn't believe God was still alive, therefore he would make the final judgement on Castiel and deliver the sentence the crowd had been waiting so eagerly for. Castiel found it interesting that the very angels who protected Heaven had no longer believed in God. Or that he was alive.

"I'm sorry, Castiel." He turned to the crowd. "Castiel is guilty of said crimes and shall be punished accordingly." His eyes flashed to Castiel. "His wings will be removed, permanently"

Castiel's eyes widened and he felt all the blood leave his face. His back tingled, as if his skin was trying to awaken him out of a nightmare. This wasn't happening. This just can't be. Before he could even take it all in and let those words actually mean something, hands were reaching for him, pulling him out of the chair and across the front of the hall.

Toward the stage.

He looked up at the X and the room seemed to spin, he wasn't sure if he would actually pass out. But then he thought of Jolie, and how brave he'd been, knowing his fate. He didn't fight or struggle, even though he was well aware of the impending doom.

So Castiel straightened and held his head high. So what, his wings were broken anyway. He couldn't fly, he was barely even fully charged as an angel. Heaven had long rejected him, or he'd rejected Heaven. Either way, it would have been only a matter of time before he'd lose his angelic grace, anyway. Most of it.

They pulled him onto the stage, but Castiel didn't resist. He let them bind his wrists and ankles to the large planks. His eyes scanned the crowd and the only thing worse than what was about to happen to him, was seeing the hungry look in these angels' eyes. What happened to them? Why did they hate him so much? He wasn't evil. He wasn't set about destroying them or his former home. He was just an angel in love who made decisions that he had felt were right at the time he made them.

This crowd wanted to see him suffer. They called for it, shouting out hurtful things at him. Calling him a bottom feeding human, a disgrace. Words that should have hurt him and maybe years ago they would have. But not today.

If only he'd spent more time with Dean before this. He wondered if Sam and Gabriel had woken Dean out of his slumber by now. He's sure they had a deadline and they wouldn't have let Dean remain here for that long.

Which was good. He didn't want Dean to see this.

Yet there, against the very far wall, Castiel's eyes fixed on a familiar face. Hannah. He wanted to curse at him, yell at him. Make sure he knew how much he'd hurt Castiel, but then Castiel's stomach dropped.

There was Dean, standing next to Hannah. His eyes were wide and his face looked like all the color had left it. Oh god, no. He was hidden well in the back, no other angels seem to notice him. He saw Dean and Hannah exchange words and then it clicked. Hannah was helping Dean. They must have come together to get Castiel but they'd been too late.

Oh, Dean's expression was hurting Castiel so much more than his impending torture. Dean was distressed, looking around as if was trying to find some way to Castiel. Poor Dean.

Please look away.

Adriel came out, as if on cue. He was holding his great sword, gold and shimmering and too large really for anyone to own. He smiled at Castiel and then at the crowd. Castiel just glared at him, cold and unnerving. Adriel enjoyed this too much, just like Thaddeus. There was something so sinister and dark about him, he could almost be compared to Alistair.

How did the angels in Heaven become so cruel?

He thought of the Book of Enoch again. The punishment, the torture of all those fallen must have really been something to fear back then. Of course, all Castiel could think of was how Michael and all the others had held such vital information from them. Information that might have changed everything.

But really, was Castiel any different for not having known it? Would he have not fallen in love? Would he have not rebelled and spent all of his free time with the one man that held his heart?

The man who was staring at him now, lost and confused and full of fear?

"Your wings, Castiel."

Adriel's words seem to cut through the air like a knife, hitting him in the face with the coldness of the blade. Castiel wasn't even sure what his wings looked like now. He was certain most of the feathers were gone. He reached into his mind, pulling what little grace he had left and brought his wings out.

The crowd gasped. Castiel watched as Adriel's eyes widened. He paced in front of Castiel holding his sword and for a brief moment, Castiel could catch his reflection in the gold blade. The air escaped him when he saw what remained of his wings. They were limp and what was left of his usual silver and blue feathers were pale and almost hardly visible. His wings were like two skeletal arms splayed out behind him. He hadn't realized how disheveled they actually were until now and the sight made him dizzy.

They kept him facing the crowd, as Adriel insisted, for some barbaric, torturous reason, Castiel didn't really care much for. He probably wanted Castiel to see the faces of his brethren, or what used to be his brethren, as he removes his wings for all to see.

Castiel couldn't bring himself to even look in Dean's direction. He hoped Hannah would spare him the sight of his upcoming mutilation. Dean didn't need to see this. He really didn't.

And then Adriel held the sword up high and glanced briefly at Hesediel, who gave the nod.

Castiel wasn't sure what to expect, but when he felt the blade hit his back, the pain was so severe that the only image he saw in front of him were stars. It wasn't soon after that initial blow that Castiel felt the room spin and he closed his eyes, welcoming a deep sleep.

He thought of Dean, when they first met and how he'd advanced to him in the barn. Bobby there, trying to attack from behind. Dean looking at him with such wide eyes, such wonder.

Dean not believing in him, or that he should be saved.

He remembered showing Dean his wings then, and to Castiel, they were nothing to brag about. He had them for so long, using them to fly here and there. It was strange at first, being in a vessel and using his wings, though. It wasn't something he'd been used to but it was enjoyable, all the same.

He thought of riding around with Dean in the Impala, after leaving the brothel and Dean telling him that he had never been happier. Castiel recalled feeling honored to be the one to put that smile on the sad hunter's face.

And then he thought of them making love, the bed, the shower, Dean telling him that he loved him…

No, Castiel wouldn't have changed a thing, no matter if he'd known the outcome or not. He was sure of that now. Dean was his true love and worth every second of their time together. Worth every second. He wouldn't change the smiles, silly jokes, kisses, touches, or sweet exchanges.

He took one last look at Dean and noticed he was crying and mouthing something to him. It seemed like he was so close, in arm's reach. He held his hand out to caress Dean's cheek, tell him everything will be okay, but he knew he was too far away. Castiel's mind was playing tricks on him, probably because in his head, everyone in the room had disappeared and all who remained was his Dean.

But Dean was far in the back, and Castiel wished he could say something, anything to soothe his distressed lover.

"It will be okay, Dean. This is nothing. Soon we'll be together and have forgotten all about this. This is nothing, Dean. Nothing. Nothing… I love you. I love you and this was all worth it. Meeting you, falling in love, fighting evil with you, making love to you, all of it Dean. All of it."

A small smile crept over Castiel's face, and then he was out.