A/N: Whew, finally got around to typing this bad boy up. Let me tell ya, I so do not like being jumped by a plot bunny. Crazy 5.4 clips and promo giving me this huge bunny that wouldn't leave me alone till I wrote up a one shot on an episode that didn't even air till last Thursday. I swear those bunnies are the work of the devil.

Play ball

Bobby Singer was a practical hunter. He prided himself on always preparing ahead, knowing every weakness and incantation to bring down the next big baddie. So when the pair zoomed down towards the hanger and Castiel told him to plow straight into the hanger and his friend Rick, the ball cap wearing hunter was tempted to smack the angel so hard that his halo would be spinning.

"Rick and Alexei, they are no longer your friends."

And for some odd reason, Bobby's gut instinct agreed with the winged-freak as he took in Rick's still form watching over some fight inside. Rick wouldn't condone such action. He was an honorable hunter. Rick hated to see 'youngesters' waste their energy on something as idiotic as fighting. All human-on-human fights could be won over a game of chess as far as he was concerned. Heart aching in grief, Bobby floored it once more as Castiel disappeared from the seat.

"Castiel. Right." Brain trobbing from whiplash, the hunter grabbed his gun taking a deep breath before plunging into battle. Flinging the door open, Bobby staggered out into the hanger. Bracing himself as the world swayed before him, the hunter shook his head clear. A few feet away, Dean and some guy were sprawled on the ground. Further ahead, he saw Sam bound to a chair as Alexei was staring wide-eyed at War's broken prone form.

Grunting, he pushed himself forward ignoring the moans of the two men closest to him. Unsheathing his knife, Bobby walked up to the two massive traps, eyes falling immediately on the intersection. Bending down, he scraped the metal blade against concrete watching as the black paint flakes piled up. It was all anti-climatic really, breaking two massive traps and all that was the result was broken lines and flakes. No lightening or sonic booms. Kinda like those shirt's that said I did this and all I got was this lousy shirt.

The thudding of boots jerked Bobby's concentration upwards. Sprinting at him, Alexei's eyes blazed with black flames. Teeth grinding hard, a bony hand clawed into a fist as she pulled it back.

"You humans never know when to leave well enough alone," hissed a trembling voice cracking with power.

Bobby crouched, ready to slam the knife deep into Alexei's gut. Yet in a blink everything changed. A rush of wind, a faint hint of flapping wings and there was Castiel standing between Bobby and Famine. Grabbing her fist, the angel twisted, throwing the woman to the left sending her flying into the wall. Bobby bounced onto his feet, taking in the huge dent as Alexei rose from the small crater.

"Get Sam," ordered Castiel in his usual gruff voice.

"What about Dean?" snapped back Bobby.

Blue eyes squinted slightly, "He's my problem. Now go."

Huffing in irritation, Bobby lunged for Sam. Movement to his right and he spotted a blond hair man staggering onto his feet, white eyes glaring up at him. Automatically, the hunter reached behind his back as the demon took a step forward. With a twist of his thumb and forefinger, he unscrewed the silver flask. With a flick, holy water flew into the air, baptizing the demon full in the face. Nicor staggered backwards, howling in pain as he clenched his face, smoke steaming off of him. Bobby kept his face stoic, waiting for counterattack when Dean appeared, tackling the demon back onto the ground.

"Really, Dean!" snapped the white-eyed demon.

Dean's voice rang back with murderous intent despite the cocky comeback. "It ain't midnight yet, Cinderella."

A shiver ran down Bobby's spine. He never heard Dean talk like that before. Shaking his head, Bobby pushed onwards, skidding to a stop before Sam. "Better start explaining boy."

"Dean's a demon." The blunt tone radiating off of Sam halted Bobby in his slicing through the ropes.

"The tattoo…"

"He let it happen."

Bobby was about to shout back when the hanger rumbled sending dirt raining down on the pair. Dark eyes snapped upwards in time to watch Castiel skidding hard on the ground. Rolling to a stop, the angel gripped his right arm a flash of agony flooding his face. Peeking through the torn sleeve, the arm shone with a sick color, bony knuckles flexing underneath tight skin.

Alexei rolled her shoulders as she semi-skipped up to Castiel, almost vulture like in nature. Licking her lips, she hummed in pleasure. "I love tasting an angel's grace. And your's is so exquisite. So much doubting and longing, I'm amazed you haven't fallen yet."

Castiel pushed himself back onto his feet, locking dark blue eyes on the advancing woman. "Leave now."

Giggling, Famine paused amusement shining forth. "Hell no, not when the party is just getting started." Her cold gaze shifted over his shoulder. Castiel tilted his own head face tightening at the sight behind him.

Popping his shoulders into place, War rose off the ground. Bones cracking as they slid back into their proper places, red eyes peered out through the blood and scraps littering the face. With a quick snap of his neck, War grinned with a mouth full of red stained teeth. "It's been too long since I've fought an angel. I forgot how sneaky you little buggers can be."

His twisted left foot snapped into place as War lunged towards Castiel pulling out a long silver dagger from behind his back. Staring straight ahead of him, the angel watched as Famine sprinted towards him, flanking him from his back. Taking in a deep breath, the angel pivoted suddenly slamming a fist into War's temple, making the horseman stumble slightly. Not waiting, he shifted back just in time to knock away one of Famine's punches.

Her fingers skimmed over his own sending ice-cold electricity sizzling down his arms. Flinching away, he gasped trying to push away the pain aching in his very existence. Blindly, he kicked out making contact with Famine's backside. Quickly, he bended barely dodged the long thin knife slashing over his stomach. War chuckled and with a fast punch slammed the angel into the wall.

Struggling hard against his bindings, Sam glared down at Bobby continued to cut endlessly at the rope. "Hurry up!"

"I'm going as fast as I can boy," muttered back the older hunter. "You're damn brother used knots I've never seen before and laced it in water so it would tighten up as it dried."

The loud crashing yanked Sam's attention back to the fight before him. Castiel dodged another skull crushing fist. But as he staggered away from War, his hand cupped his left arm. The tan sleeve was blossoming red, the thick liquid dripping between his fingers. Castiel barely had time to raise his arms as War kicked him squarely into the chest. Flying into another cluster of crates, the angel crouched on the ground.

Coughing out a mouthful of blood, cracked ribs straining with each breath, Castiel fought to keep his vision focused. The sulfur tinted wound from the blade seared with agony each time he moved as poison trickled through him. Holding the bleeding arm closer to his chest, Castiel remained hunched but poised as War and Famine made their way to him.

Sparing a quick glance to his left, he quickly assessed the situation. Bobby was continuing to free Sam, whose face shone with urgency. Swallowing, blue eyes traveled downwards where the scuffling between Dean and Nicor continued onwards. Both were oblivious to the outside, intent to destroy one another fueling their punches and kicks.

Nicor slammed Dean's bruised face into a wall, staggering backwards. His breaths were haggard as he spat out a tooth. Dean fell onto his butt, eyes staring blankly forward, left arm pinned behind him. "You were always a pain in the butt," rasped out the white-eyed demon.

Coughing racked his body as his broken rib tickled across his lung. Shakily, he raised a stained hand outwards to Dean. "It's been fun, Dean-o."

Blinking slowly, life returned to Dean's eyes. A guttered laugh passing before him, the hunter smiled painfully. "Right back at cha." Without warning, Dean sprung forward, his left hand flying outwards driving home the rusting plant spike.

Nicor's mouth filled with blood, white eyes widening as they fell downwards. The spike ran clean and true through his lower right chest. A tiny shift and he could feel the rod peeking out behind his back. A gurgle conveyed his shock as Nicor watched Dean's face fall impassive once more. Sliding back, the hunter drew up his right hand and with a powerful strike, drove the fist into his face.

Castiel's lips thinned as he watched Nicor fall onto his back, Dean pouncing on the demon a second later. Without relieve, Dean rained punches down left and right with no regard or restraint.

"Dean! Stop! You're killing him!" Sam's voice echoed loudly yet it fell on deaf ears.

All Dean could hear was the thundering of his heart against his chest. His lungs burned, arm shaking as his body ached from wounds. Somewhere outside of this world, he smelled ozone. Now that he thought about it, Dean thought he heard the gruff voice of a certain angel, could have sworn he felt a searing white flash of light blaze before him so peaceful and wrathful at the same time. It was like before...

Then Nicor gurgled with what might have been a chuckle. Dean's face hardened as his lips twitched with the urge to grin as his fist made impatct once again. He didn't care anymore that this demon was Nicor or that Bobby was out there somewhere. That the world was on the verge of implosion. That Sam was drinking blood. That Sam didn't believe him...his own brother...about Ruby. That the brother he raised from a baby to a grown man...didn't pick a demon...That... Hands slid down, fingers interlocking behind the bloody sweaty neck. He began to press down.

Taking in a deep breath, Castiel rolled onto his feet fixing a stern gaze on the Horsemen. It was time to end this. War flipped his dagger in his hand, eagerness radiating off of him. Famine stood slightly off to the side, a vulture in waiting. Black eyes simmered in glee as she took in the battered form of the angel. To see him crouched there, trying to be all defianent. The smug expression faded away as Alexei narrowed her eyes taking in a red design on the floor peeking underneath the trenchcoat.

Sensing Dean's bloodlust, the clever, insightful angel knew what the Horsemen truly wanted from the boys. And to his suprise, it sickened him. Castiel locked eyes with Famine, certainty hardening his low voice. "You cannot have him."

Realization blew open her eyes. Sprinting forward, Alexei stretched out her arm, screaming. "No!"

It was too late; Castiel's hand slammed on the sigil a blast of pure white light cracking the very foundations of the hanger. Powerful gusts of wind ripped through the farthest side of the hanger barreling into the Horsemen. War roared. Famine screeched. Their bodies twisted and flung towards the ceiling where they disappeared in a crackle of lightening.

Heaving in a deep breath, Castiel staggered onto his feet. He barely won one battle but there were two others to win. Drawing upon his remaining strength, he flashed behind Dean. The hunter was bowed over Nicor, ancient words falling from his lips as he chocked the demon. "Nivo cal leti fra ko si…"

Nicor's white-eyes bulged open, his borrowed body seizing underneath the onslaught of the exorcism. However, this was no ordinary exorcism to send the demon back to the Pit. No, it was a rare ritual that would send the demon into the darkest, pitch black level where no one ever returned from.

"Gro nomi hu…" The heat rose higher and higher within Dean, searing red pain burning him alive. The tortured screams replaced the thundering of his heart as a loud crack vibrated deep within. Something was happening to him, more than when he had killed Ruby. A part of him was singing in joy, knowing that at the death of Nicor he would become Grand Inquistor. Then finally, he could rip apart every demon and creature that ever hurt him or his family. Yet, a small part screamed in fear. Dean didn't want Hell to rise in him. He hadn't agreed for things to go this far. This was wrong.

A small hand rested itself on his shoudler, pefectly on the brand. The white light from earlier sparked over the inflamed skin, the smell of ozone filling the air. Tilting his head upwards, Dean stared into the saddest pair of blue eyes he had ever seen. "Let go," hissed the demon.

"No." replied the angel. With a speed not present before, Dean launched onto the one creature he hated more than Nicor or Alastair. Hated the creature because he ripped his soul apart, even if by accident. Hated because the angel was proof that there was another side out there. Hated because Castiel forgave him.

A fist slamming onto his face, Castiel took a step backwards not letting go of his charge. Before him, Dean curled slightly cradling his broken hand to his chest. Graying eyes glared hotly up at him. "You winged-"

Dean yanked himself free, raising his other hand to punch the angel. But the angel was ready this time. Raising his left hand to block, Castiel raised two fingers and touched Dean's forehead gently. Whiteness flooded Dean's very existence, roaring like a tidal wave over the smoldering smoke. The black faded away revealing wide green eyes. Déjà vu swept over the pair as they stared deeply at each other.

History repeated once more. An angel sent and retrieved the chosen one from darkness. Only there was no fire and brimstone. And this time, salvation had not yet occurred. Time moved forward, Dean's eyes rolling in the back of his head as he slumped forward. Castiel reached out, his arm searing once more as his wound made contact with his charge. Slowly, he bent down lying Dean gently on the ground. The young man's face was smooth and seemed to radiate innocence. It was a stark contrast to the monster a few seconds ago.

The sound of shuffling pulled Castiel's attention back to the present. Eyes shifted as something stirred inside, bubbling and boiling as he took in each cut, scrape and bruise. Flickering upwards, he gazed up on Nicor's standing gloating form. In two seconds, he slammed the white-eyed demon into the wall hand tight around the bruised neck.

Nicor gasped, the toes of his shoes scrapping at the floor. "Dean won't be happy."

Straightening his shoulders, Castiel stared with blue flamed eyes. "I won't let Dean kill you."

A laugh fell from the busted lips. A wet snort from the broken nose carried on the dark mocking. "Cause we both know he'd fall completely and there would be no saving him this time around…right."

"Enough," growled out Castiel. Taking in a deep breath, he slammed his palm onto the forehead. Foreign wrath and his remaining vestiges of strength rained pure light onto the demon. Nicor's mouth fell open in a silent scream the orange and black flashing out of existence.

Panting, Castiel stepped back as the corpse fell in a boneless heap. Swaying slightly, the angel felt totally drained from the battle. But he couldn't rest, not now.

A yelp sounded off to his right and soon two thunderous pairs of footsteps bolted towards him. Turning, he watched as Sam flew to Dean's side, eyes only for his brother. He didn't notice Bobby reaching him, till a hand touched his arm gently. Flinching, he stared at the older hunter.

"Your arm," whispered Bobby, hidden concern flashing on his face.

"I'm fine." Fixating back on Sam and Dean, he urged his vessel to remain standing. He couldn't let Sam see him weak. "The Impala is parked outside, go now."

Sam stared incredulously at Castiel as maneuvered Dean into his arms. "What about you?"

"Don't worry about me." Taking in a deep breath, he slid his eyes downwards onto Dean's prone form. Concern for Dean's state and its importance on the angel was not lost onto the two humans.

Staggering up onto his feet, Sam shuffled Dean's body into a better position. Bobby took a step back, his disagreement shining on his face despite what he said. "Alright then."

Sam shot Castiel one more look, eyes full of gratitude and worry. "Take care of yourself."

Then they were gone. Castiel waited till the rumbling of the Impala disappeared over the horizon. With one glance around at the utter destruction of the hanger, he collapsed onto his knees. Head bowed, wings stretched out to their fullest span, Castiel closed his vessel's eyes as he leaned downwards. Body spent beyond repair and his grace tainted, Castiel drew upon his faith as he began concentrating on healing himself.

He could only hope that he would be gone before Zacheriah showed up.

-----------------------

Sam sat quietly in the passenger seat as Bobby drove the Impala down the lonely stretch of highway. The moment he settled Dean's unconscious form in the backseat, handcuffing his brother's hands behind him, the will to do anything much less drive drained out of him. Collapsing in the familiar seat, he stared blankly into the dark fields.

In the peaceful drive, his mind strained to make sense of the past few hours. Everything was a blur, missing pieces and wide gaps. But there was one constant. Turning, his eyes fall on Dean. Amongst Rick and Alexei being the Horsemen, Ruby dying and then Castiel and Bobby's appearance, Dean's cold black eyes remain fixated in his mind. Out of everything, Sam always believed that he would be the one to go demonic. Not once did he think that it would be his older brother. Dean was too good a hunter, too street-smart…too good-natured. Hell, Dean had angels watching over him.

"Sam." Bobby's warm voice pulled his stricken face upwards. The man who was an uncle to him looked aged beyond his years. "Keep an eye out for an abandoned house."

"Bobby?"

"I've been driving all day long, boy. I'm tired and like hell am I drivin' back to my house."

Sam nodded in numb understanding. Gratitude made itself known in the small smile. Bobby always knew what was best for him and his brother. Rolling over, he rested his head lightly against the window focusing on finding a house. Confidence slowly filled him, knowing he could fullfill this simple request. And if he could succeed in something like this then maybe he could succeed in fixing his brother.

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A.N. This time it's chocolate time. And just in time cause Halloween is coming up :)