Cas soon got the hang of his powers.
Well, at least he was able to teleport into the right room most of the times. Every now and then he would miss his destination.
He still ate like a human and he even started to sleep. Not much, just two or three hours a night but still.
Dean thought it was too human but he wouldn't ask Cas again. If he said his grace was still there then there had to be another explanation for this.
Cas developed a taste for burgers and pancakes and Dean was more than happy to make them for him.
Dean himself had constantly gotten better since they came to the bunker.
He usually was able to sleep through the night, not always without nightmares, but he didn't wake up. And if he had one of his old nightmares he would keep to a tight routine.
He got up and checked the mark, then he checked on Cas' room. If he wasn't there he usually found him reading in the living room. They never really spoke in the nights. Cas would go on reading and Dean cleaned the kitchen. Or any other room that needed cleaning.
This night was one of those nights.
Dean woke up panting and fear lingering still in his heart. He switched on the light and walked over to the mirror.
When he revealed the mark he stared for a few seconds. He could've sworn it constantly got lighter. It wasn't really black anymore but slightly grey.
He could be imagining things but he wasn't sure.
He pulled his sleeve back down and walked to Cas' room.
Cas had hesitated to choose a room but finally he had settled for the one next to Deans'.
Dean silently opened the door and the light from the corridor fell into the room and illuminated the sleeping figure of Cas. Dean closed the door again and walked to the kitchen.
When he passed the living-room he noticed a figure.
He stopped dead and grabbed one of the many blades that hung on the wall. He had no idea what he was up against but he figured the blade would do until Sam and Cas came with Ruby's knife and an angel blade.
He carefully entered the room. The figure had his back to him but he recognized the shape.
"Arathiel", he let out a relieved breath. "What are you doing here? I thought you were an intruder."
Arathiel turned around and if Dean was any good in reading people he would say he felt caught. Dean was alarmed right away. "What are you doing here?", he demanded again.
Arathiel seemed conflicted. "Be careful", he finally rushed out, "you're going to be at-" He teleported away in the middle of the word only to be replaced by Crowley.
Dean gripped his blade but with a snap of his fingers Crowley threw it across the room.
"Hello, boy. Where's moose? Still asleep? Give him my love if he wakes up."
"How did you get in here? This place is…"
"Warded? Yeah, I noticed. But one of your sigils is missing one tiny line. Shame, really," Crowley said as he looked as his hand.
Dean's thoughts raced. The warding was good up to no. So who could have…. Arathiel, Dean thought.
"So, you're ready to give me the angel, yet?"
"How did you get Arathiel to work for you?" Crowley looked confused at him. "Ara…who? Sorry, no idea what you're talking about. So", he said as he clapped his hands, "ready or not?"
"What do you want with him?", Dean asked, desperately wishing for a weapon.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, that's not how the game works", Crowley said, shaking a finger in his direction. "If you're not ready to deliver, I have to collect."
Dean narrowed his eyes. "You can try."
"Believe me, I will do more than that", Crowley smiled. "See you soon", he added and disappeared.
A massive explosion followed.
Dean flew through the room and landed hard on the floor. His head hurt, his world spun and all he could hear was the beating of his heart and the faint noise of a roaring fire. He tried to get up but was too dizzy to even make it to his knees.
The next moment he got kicked into his gut. "Where is he?", a demon snarled at him.
Even if Dean wanted to answer he couldn't because all the air had left his lungs. He coughed, spitting a bit blood.
Dean frantically searched the room and luckily the blade he had earlier was lying right beside him. He grabbed it and swung it at the demon causing him to jump back.
And then Sam was there. He ganked the demon with Ruby's knife and whirled around.
"What happened? How did they get in?", he asked as he hurled Dean up on his feet. Cas was trying to extinguish the fire but he had little luck.
And then there was the second demon. He attacked Cas and tried to knock him out but Cas dodged the hit. He pressed his hand against the demon's face but again, nothing happened.
Cas eyes widened in fear and anger and then the demon smacked him against the wall. Cas slumped down and the demon approached him again. Cas got up and suddenly had the angel blade in his hand. He killed the demon and came over to Sam and Dean.
Dean was finally back on his feet and able to stand alone.
"How did they get in?", Cas asked, too.
"Don't know. Arathiel was here and then Crowley. I don't know what happened."
"Arathiel? Does he work for Crowley?"
"Crowley said he has no idea who Arathiel is."
They got interrupted by the arrival of three new demons and Crowley.
"Hello boys. Ah, moose, you're up. Did you receive my love? No? Well…", he turned to Cas. "Cas. Convinced to come with me?"
"I don't think so", Dean answered instead.
Crowley shrugged, snipped his fingers and disappeared the moment his demons stormed forward. Dean wished for his purgatory weapon but all he had was that blade.
It was three against three but the demons concentrated on Cas, trying to grab and teleport him away. Dean and Sam tried to shield him from the demons but they were fierce in their attacks and Dean and Sam lost their ground really quickly.
Cas was fighting, too, right beside them but Dean didn't like it. He was what the demons wanted, he should be far far away.
Dean got momentarily distracted by that thought and the demons got closer to Cas. They knocked the angel blade out of his hand but Sam was right there and ganked one of those bastards.
Dean shoved Cas behind him. "Get out of here", he yelled.
Cas looked astonished at him but stumbled a few steps back.
"What?", he asked disbelieving.
"They want you. You have to get away. Just zap out of here", Sam panted as he kept one of the remaining two demons at bay.
Cas made a step forward but Dean pushed him away again. "Just go."
He felt that Cas looked at him but he was too busy defending his own life. From the corner of his eye he saw how Cas disappeared. Finally.