Chapter Thirty Seven
The Bunker of Healing
Sam took charge in the aftermath of the battle. Lebanon itself was a complete disaster, with half the town burned and most of its residents dead. Those that survived were now no longer possessed and were clueless to the devastation. Using what little they had, the angels wiped their memory and convinced them it was series of propane explosions. That seemed to hold up well when the authorities came to see how an entire town blew up.
By that time, they had all made it to the bunker. Almost everyone was injured varying to simple cuts to near death. Cas took Dean to their room, never leaving his side and focused solely on caring for him. Sam knew Dean couldn't be in better hands. To count, they lost a couple dozen ex-angels and a couple powered ones, which was regrettable, since they were an endangered species now. No other humans were lost thankfully.
The powered angels were basically drained by the battle, and had little juice left to heal, so they resorted to the good old fashion human medicine. Surprisingly, most of the ex-angels took their wounds with pride, so perhaps them being human made them humble. Needless to say, the bunker was full of people and everyone was doing something. It was hectic, but at least they were alive.
After Sam and Crowley helped carry Dean to their room, Cas took over. He gently took all of Deans clothes and checked for his injuries. Seeing bruising on his ribs and arms, Cas knew that they were broken. Injuries like these, they should take him to the hospital. Just then, Rahmiel knocked and came in. She looked tired, but she touched Dean's forehead for a few moments. Withdrawing her hand, she explained that the bones are set and accelerated the healing, but that was all she could do, she had more people to heal. Cas understood, healing drained even a fully powered angel, more so the lower the rank. Still, he gave her his thanks before she went out. Cas spent the rest of the night cleaning Dean up and then passing out in the chair next to the bed, watching over him.
Dean remembered being squeezed by Abaddon, the snapping of his bones, the cold feel and horrid sulfur stench. He's had plenty of broken bones, but having an entire ribcage and arms? Hurt like a son of a bitch. Everything went black after that. He was slowly regaining consciousness, but he still felt a large amount of pain. Opening his eyes, he saw that he was back in his room. That's a plus. Looking over, he saw Cas asleep in the chair. That's a plus plus there. So he's alive, and safe, and other than feeling like shit, ok. When he tried to lean over to wake Cas, he felt tape and an ache on his throat. He tried to lift his arms, but that hurt too much.
"Cas…Cas, you 'wake?" He rasped.
Cas stirred for a bit and slowly woke up. When he saw that Dean was awake though, he snapped to attention. "Dean, you were out for a while," he placed his hand on Dean's chest, "we healed as much as we can, but you shouldn't move."
He nodded, "Sammy is he ok. And did you get her? Is she dead?"
Cas smiled, "Sam is fine. You're not going to believe it, but Crowley was the one who did it. He saved us all at the last moment."
That smarmy sassy son of a bitch saved them? "What do you mean Crowley did it?"
"She had us hand the blade over to her or else she would kill you." Cas touched his neck, where there was a flash of pain, causing him to wince. "She bite into your artery, you would have bleed out in minutes." He withdrew his hand, and cupped Dean's face, "she thought she threw it behind her. But Crowley came back to us and stabbed her."
"Son of a bitch." Thinking for a moment, "wait, she bite me?"
"Basically almost tore your neck out, you lost a great deal of blood. Raziel healed the neck wound as much as he could, and Rahmiel set your bones. We suffered a great deal of causalities, some angels did die. Most of the wounded are back here."
"Damn." He hated to lose anyone, even dick ex-angels, but they fought the good fight. Abaddon was dead. He was beginning to feel tired again. "And you Cas, you ok?"
Cas smiled tiredly, "yes Dean, I am mostly unscathed." Dean nodded.
"Think I might feel better with you next to me. That chair isn't comfortable, I should know."
"I don't think that is wise Dean, you're still injured and movement is not advis" Dean cut him off.
"Yeah yeah, I know, but the bed's big enough, no funny business and we'll be good. This isn't my first rodeo with broken bones Cas." Seeing no point arguing, Cas laid himself next to Dean, intertwining their hands. Together, they drifted off to sleep.
Crowley had a devil of a time getting the ex-angels to turn around back to the town. It was only when he pointed out that no one was following them that they did so. Hearing over the radio where Abaddon was, he told them to take him there. Seeing that it was partially on fire, he knew that was not a good sign for the good guys. Once they pulled to a stop, he ran into the building just at the moment Abaddon kicked the sword to his feet. Not sure if it was coincidence or providence, he picked up the sword to end her.
She didn't go down as he expected. Usually, when a demon is killed, it's like an electrical storm inside for a second. Abaddon, being a knight though, went out in spectacular fashion. He had to hand it to her, she died a beautiful death. He didn't think why he did it, he just did it because it was the right thing to do.
It even pained him to see Dean hurt, even though he has tried his damnedest to kill that bowlegged model of a hunter. However, he no longer had the compulsion, because the Winchester's weren't a threat any longer, they're his…dare he say it, friends. And the love between Cas and Dean, or even the brotherly love of the Winchesters, he was envious of that. He thought the he knew the way the world work, he thought it was built on systems of power and control. Now, now he knew the world moved because of love. It trumped just about everything, even death.
After the battle, he stayed mostly in his room. Many of the angels and hunters had no idea who he actually was, but he didn't anyone to find out. He was content with being anonymous though. There was small knock on the door. Sighing, he got up. Who it was surprising, by all accounts, should be dead. Naomi smiled warmly at him.
"Well, well, shouldn't you be dead?" He was heard from the grapevine, i.e. Sam, which was that she was dead. He was genuinely sad at that, she was one of the most cunning adversaries he ever had. The fling in Mesopotamia was an elaborate ruse he fell for, having a weak spot for corrupting anything holy. In the end, she played him.
"Metatron incapacitated me, not outright killed me. May I come in?" Seeing why not, he opened the door wider and let her in.
"Care for some scotch? Dean thought it was a good present to have for killing Abaddon, if he only knew he gave it. Johnnie Walker, black label deluxe, aged well and not bad at all." She nodded while she took a seat.
Handing her a glass, he sat on his bed. "Have to say Naomi, it's pleasant to see you again. You're not trying to play me though are you?"
"No Crowley, I'm not. I hear you're human now, is that true?"
"As true as angels walking the Earth ma cherie. And you, how is being human treating you?"
"It is…different, but I see now why God favored them. They may be weak, but they experience the world in such a way it can be more wondrous than being an angel."
They sat in silence for a moment before he spoke again. "Yes, living as long as we have, we forget the simple things. I suppose, we got hung up on power eh?"
She nodded, "we were only doing what was best for our people." She sighed, "so you were the third trial?"
"Bingo, the Winchesters have a sense of ironic humor. Never underestimate them I always said, and here I go, doing exactly that. However, I am grateful that I was cured. Now I see the truth of the world, and all I want is forgiveness and, if it's possible, love."
She snickered at that, "love Crowley? You must be joking."
"Hardly, love is a wonderful thing to have. See how Cassie and Dean make sweet love to each other they even look at each other? Or what they've, and so many others throughout history, have done in the name of love? Hell, those boys even stopped the Apocalypse with love alone."
Naomi thought about it, "I suppose you're right. Before I fell, I realized a truth too. Angels were meant to protect creation. I don't know where I lost my way, but, if there's a way to remedy our situation, I want to return Heaven to the way it once was."
He crooked an eyebrow, "oh, and how was it before?"
"It was…a place of pure joy and happiness. Angels and human souls walked freely, it was a place where human ingenuity knew no bounds, where marvelous cities glittered and singing was heard in all corners. Now, it's so broken."
"Sometimes, something has to be broken before it can be fixed even better that it was before. I only hope I find forgiveness and redemption before I die, to go up those pearly gates." He sighed, remembering that Sam said. Taking a Knight of Hell down was a hell of a thing to do, but it's not a guarantee ticket upstairs. "Why are you here Naomi? Surely it wasn't to see me."
She chuckled, "actually, I was recently found by the angels. I fell in a mostly empty area in east Europe. A godly couple took me in until I heard about CAS a week ago."
"Cas?"
"Celestial Assistance Services. Hmph, more irony in our lives. I asked to come see Cas and the Winchesters. Like you Crowley, I am seeking forgiveness."
"Ah, well, Dean was injured pretty bad, so I wouldn't bother with him and Cas for a while. Their…monogamous now."
"Crowley, I don't think there is a being in Heaven, Earth, Hell or Purgatory that can't see their love for each other. You know, he never put up warding against us, in case Castiel came back to him? They're each other's weaknesses, and their greatest strength. I even tried to reprogram Castiel, took direct control of him and still, he disobeyed for Dean."
"Ah, well, those three have the most peculiar relationships with each other. Giant wrench in everyone's plans, especially the gigantor with the flowing hair."
Namoi nodded, "and yet, they're the best chance out of any of us to fixing heaven. I also came to see what knowledge I can offer them, to fix it."
"They've been working on it Naomi. They got hung up on trying to kill Abaddon, which in fairness, was a pretty big deal. Now that she is permanently indisposed as ashes, we can concentrate on getting your wings back."
"We, they trust you know?"
He shrugged, "only as far as they can throw me. I've been doing the same, giving them all my knowledge about Hell." He thought for a moment, "I wonder who's going to run it now that there's basically no one left of the old order. No Azazel, Lillith, Lucifer, Alistair, Abaddon or me." Taking a sip, "you know, I think it just might collapse into madness down there, well more madness than usual."
"Might be, though you know better than most, someone will come along and try to make themselves king."
"Oh, some demon always has some ambition to become king, but most lack the wits to do it. It'll be like Congress, supposedly working together, getting nothing done." He got up, and poured them another drink. They continued talking about the old days and new ideas, cementing a friendship they never knew they had.
Sam poked his head in to Dean's room. Thinking they were asleep, he tiptoed in to leave a plate of food for them both. However, Dean was wide awake.
Dean whispered, "hey there Sammy." He startled him, but he was used to Dean doing that to him. He took a couple of pills and glass of water, he motioned to Dean to open his mouth.
"Pain killers. The angles are wrung out for now, but everyone's good. You?"
Dean nodded and took the pills, which Sam had to drop in, and then help with the water. "Been better, but I'll be ok." He looked over at Cas, who remained asleep. He nudged closer to Dean when they were asleep, which was fine with him.
"Good, well, I brought some food. And I wanted to let you know that everyone is ok. There's also a surprise guest here now. I wanted to tell you before Cas finds out from someone else." Dean looked at him warily. "Naomi is alive and she's here." Before Dean had a chance to talk, Sam cut him off by holding his hand up. "I know, she tortured Cas and everything, but she's here to help…and to see if Cas will forgive her."
Dean thought it over, Naomi was a Class A bitch, but she did help them a lot. Yet, she also tortured Cas, and nearly killed him through Cas. She's like the female version of Crowley, but with a bigger stick in her ass and wings. Crowley though, he pulled through for them. Might be worth to see if Naomi will do the same.
"Yeah, ok. I'll talk to Cas. Thanks Sam."
Sam just nodded, and head out the door, leaving Dean alone to figure out to tell Cas. However, Cas moaned sleepily, and Dean smiled. For now, he'll just enjoy his angel next to him.
A/N: Thank you all for the comments and reviews. There are only six chapters left!