"I can't believe he fucking left!" Dean snapped furiously, kicking at the chair angrily. "Scrap that, of course he left, that's what he does."
Sam exhaled, "Dean. He probably went out for air."
"He's an angel, he doesn't need air." Dean glared.
"Hey, what's all the yelling?" Claire frowned, marching with a book in hand.
"Cas left again." Dean seethed, dropping down into the chair with a grunt.
Claire stared at him; brow raised. "Well, would you blame him, the way you've been talking to him?" She reminded him accusingly.
Sam sighed, and shook his head, "Dean, can you just go and hunt down that old projector." He held up the film reel, "I'm going to check on Gabe."
"He's not there." Claire said, looking between them, "I - I figured he'd come out here."
Sam looked over at Dean, before hurrying off towards the corridor, Gabriel's name echoing off the walls.
/*\/*\/*\
Castiel took a second to glance around the practically empty, mentally recalling the shopping list Gabriel had rolled off when they first set out on this little adventure. 'Better get jerky, it'll give Dean-o something better to chew on.' He'd joked.
Cas found the packet of beef jerky quickly, tugging it off the rack and dropping it into his basket. As he turned to continued, he found himself face to face with the magazine rack and the very bright cover of Dean's favourite publication. Cas frowned, staring at the garish cover thoughtfully. Perhaps Gabriel is right about the peace offering. He tugged the magazine free and dropped it onto the jerky. At the top of Dean's list had been beer, so he headed directly for the refrigerators.
With Dean's stuff in his basket, Castiel turned his attention to the stuff Gabriel had told him they were lacking. The basket got heavier and heavier as he made his way around the small store, before he finally set it on the counter with a sigh of relief. The young man in front of him, gave him a curious look. "I have money." Castiel replied, reaching into his pocket, and revealing a large handful of crumpled notes. He deposited them on the counter while the cashier started calculating his purchases.
While he waited, his eyes settled on the homemade pie stand and widened, he'd almost forgotten. 'Don't forget the pie, Cas.' "Where is the pie?" He demanded of the clerk.
The young man looked from Cas to the stand and shrugged, returning to his job, "I think we're out."
Castiel stared at the man, panic flooding in, Gabriel's words echoing loudly in his head. 'Beer and pie will do wonders for Dean's mood, I promise.' Castiel's hand snapped out without realising it, gripping the man's shirt front, and dragging him into his personal space. "You don't understand, I need pie."
The air shifted behind him and Castiel froze, his heart racing and the fingers of his free hand twitching. Looking the clerk in the eyes he whispered, "Get down." Slowly releasing the man before turning, his blade slipping seamlessly into his palm. He narrowed his eyes at the newcomer.
"Castiel."
"Naomi." He greeted coldly.
She stared at him unimpressed; her blue eyes ice and filled with anger. "We've been looking for you." She said calmly, but the frustration was hard in her tone.
Cas shrugged nonchalantly. "Here I am."
She glanced around, "Where's your pets?"
Castiel tried not to stiffen. "Where are yours?" He answered.
Another shift of air behind him had Cas' stomach dropping. His eyes lifted to the mirror in the corner of the store and he saw the clerk, flanked by two angels, one holding him tightly.
"The tablet Castiel." Naomi seethed, icily.
"No."
The sound of the young man's neck breaking echoed in the silence and Castiel closed his eyes against the horror. Guilt settled in his gut, he should never have left the bunker. - No, he should have left. He should have walked out the second Claire summoned him, if he had then a young innocent man wouldn't be lying dead. "We're meant to be their protectors, not their murderers." He muttered, unsure if he was scolding himself or the other angels.
Naomi scoffed, "Not always, angel. - there was that day, back in Egypt, not so long ago when we slew every first boy infant whose door was not splashed with lambs' blood. - And that was just PR."
"Well, I wasn't there."
Naomi stared at him, eyes narrowed and thoughtful, then, taking a step forward. "Weren't you?"
An icy chill ran down his spine and he felt his stomach roll once more. "H-how many times have you torn into my head and washed it clean?"
She took another step closer and Cas couldn't help but step back. "Where's the angel tablet Castiel?"
Clearing his throat, Cas straightened to his full height and met her gaze defiantly, "In the words of a good friend, bite me."
Naomi narrowed her eyes, "Oh, we'll bite, don't you worry."
Behind him, the other angels advanced and Cas circled himself into a better position to defend himself. He was tired of killing his brothers and sisters, but he had little choice. He needed to protect the tablet. He couldn't let that power fall into the hands of heaven.
Before anything more could happen, a loud shot rang out in the room and the angel to Castiel's left imploded, and everyone's heads snapped around.
"Naomi, darling. Miss me?" Crowley chuckled smugly. At everyone's shocked faces, he glanced at his weapon, "You like it? I had one of my R&D people melt down one of your angel blades and cast it into bullets. Seems to do the trick." He added, looking meaningfully at the crumbled vessel.
"How dare you." Naomi seethed with disgust.
"I'm the daringist devil you've ever met love." He smirked, "Castiel." Crowley greeted, "Pleasure as always, now if you wouldn't mind just handing over the tablet, we can all be on our way."
Cas narrowed his eyes at the demon, causing Crowley too heavy a sigh and re-aim his gun. "I really don't want to have to kill you."
"If you kill him, we'll never find the tablet." Naomi declared desperately, stepping between them.
Crowley looked past her, scoffing, "Is that right? Because I'm willing to bet against the house."
"No one is getting the tablet." Castiel informed then defiantly, his fingers tightening around the angel blade.
With a long-tired sigh, Crowley rolled his eyes, glancing to Naomi, "See."
The gun shot exploded in the quiet, "But here's the thing," Crowley muttered, almost sounding regretful as he stepped towards Castiel, "If Naomi here is right, and that tablet is what severed her hold on you, well, I'm willing to bet you wouldn't let the thing out of your..."
Before Crowley could finish his smug declaration, he went flying, along with Naomi and the remaining angel, leaving Cas, hand gripping his side, staring at the store entrance.
Despite the pain tearing through him, he scurried across the store to the now human angel, who had dropped to his knees. "Gabriel? Gabriel?"
Gabriel coughed, palms pressed against the tiles as blood dripped onto their pale surface from his mouth and nose.
"Gabriel?" Cas pleaded, fear in his voice, his hand heavy on the ex-archangel's back.
"I-I'm f-fine." Gabriel tried to reassure between bloody coughs. He looked up at Cas, and the angel's chest tightened. Bloody stained his eyes.
"We need to get you back to the bunker." Castiel insisted firmly, grabbing one of Gabriel's arms and slinging it around his shoulder. He hissed as his own wound tugged painfully, his grace bleeding though.
"You're hurt." Gabriel observed unhelpfully.
"Yes." Cas grunted, turning to drag Gabriel back to the truck, but Gabriel tugged away, shaking his head.
"Grab him." Gabriel jerked his head in the direction of the still unconscious demon.
"Wha - Why?"
Gabriel looked up at his brother like he was an idiot, "Trials. Cure." He jerked his head a second time, "Demon."
Castiel looked from Gabriel to the Crowley, his eyes widening with understanding, then uncertainty.
"Cas." Gabriel all by pleaded.
With a nod, Castiel marched over to where Crowley lay and heaved him off the flood, teeth gritting once again. He scooped up the gun the demon had shot him with and stared down at it for a moment, before looking over to where Naomi lay, equally as unconscious. It would be so easy to aim and shoot. To get his revenge for everything she did to him. His fingers played across the trigger, but a hacking cough behind him pulled him from the edge. Shoving the weapon into the pocket of his jacket, he turned, dragging Crowley easily to the door. "Come one." Cas said, holding out his arm to help Gabriel.
/*\/*\/*\
"I'm sure he's fine. I mean, he's obviously with Cas, right?" Sam said, pacing around the map table.
Dean was leaning on the table, his fingers tapping anxiously along with each of his brother's steps. "You've said that five times, Sam." He snapped back, "Will you quiet it? And sit the fuck down, all that pacing is annoying."
Sam stopped, shooting his brother a harsh look, then pulled out the chair and dropped down into it, but he didn't stop moving. His foot tapped and his knee bounced. He checked his watch, again.
They'd been gone almost a forty minutes and honestly, Sam was going out of him mind. What the hell had possessed them to leave, and without a note or telling anyone. He'd tried Gabriel's phone, but the fucker had left it in their room and Cas wasn't answering.
Sam was five seconds away from taking the impala keys from Dean and going out to look for them when they heard the familiar sound of the heavy metal door being unlocked. Sam took the stairs two at a time before it even open, and then felt his heart seized up on him when he saw Cas practically dragging Gabriel though the door.
"Gabe!" Sam yelled, rushing forward to take him from Cas. He pressed his hand to the side of his boyfriend's face, turning it to meet him. "What happened?" He demanded, angry eyes looking at Cas, who looked ruffled.
"We encountered some trouble on the grocery run." Cas said breathlessly.
"What?" Sam gasped, "Are you okay?" He asked Gabriel, eyes and hand searching as he held him upright.
"Ticket-tee-boo Snookums." Gabriel said lazily.
Turning, Sam leads him carefully down the stairs, his arms secure around Gabriel's waist. He could hear Cas dragging his feet behind him.
"Cas!" Dean yelled, rushing forward as Sam and Gabriel step away from the stairs.
Sam turned, eyes widening as Castiel collapses against the rail, his hand pressed to his side, breathless and sweating. Which considering he's an angel, is a definite sign something is wrong. "Cas?"
Dean grabs his friend, holding him up, "What happened?" He demanded, tugging Cas' trench coat aside and gasping.
"H-He was s-shot." Gabriel informed them breathlessly from the chair Sam had sat him in.
"What?" Sam looked down at his boyfriend,
"Why aren't you healing?" Dean demanded, panicked, trying to pry Cas' hand away from the wound.
Cas kept it firmly pressed to his flesh, as he replied through gritted teeth, "Angel blade bullets."
Dean and Sam shared a confused look. "Apparently, Crowley h-has b-been extremely productive."
"Crowley." Dean growled.
"Y-you might want t-to get that bullet out of him." Gabriel said, doubling over to rest his arms and head on the table. "Before it kills him."
"Fuck." Dean gasped, shaking his head, "Right." He grabbed hold of Cas' arm, and Sam rushed forward to help, looking over to Claire who'd been stood frozen to the spot and silent.
"Stay with him." Sam ordered, nodding to Gabriel, before helping Dean drag Castiel away to the infirmary.
Once in the room, they helped Cas up onto the examination table, then Sam turned to hunt down the tools they'd need to remove the bullet. "Get his shirt off." Sam ordered, over his shoulder.
Dean stepped forward without a moment's hesitation, shoving at Cas' coat and jacket until they were pooled around him. He winced as the angel removed his hand from his side in order to shrug the clothing free, the blinding light emanating from his wound made Dean's stomach lurch with fear.
Not liking the feeling, Dean did what he always did and reached for anger instead. "What the hell were you thinking?" He snapped; hands got to tug at the angel's tie. "Why can't you just fucking stay put?" He tossed the tie aside and moving on to unbuttoning the shirt.
"You s-said you needed beer." Cas muttered, "I can..."
"I would have gone myself."
Cas sighed, looking down at his lap, only to end up watching Dean's hands. They worked slowly down the front of his shirt. A thick heavy silence settled between them, and when Cas looked up, he met Dean's gaze. "I'm sorry." He whispered, voice rough and soft at the same time.
Dean inhaled deeply, eyes flickering between Castiel's own blue orbs and his cracked paling lips. Dean licked at his own, suddenly dry ones. "It's fine." He eventually muttered, dropping his gaze back to focus on his hands. His heart racing as inch by inch more of the angel's flesh was revealed.
"I tried to get you pie, a peace offering, but they had sold out."
Smiling softly, Dean shook his head. "It's the thought that counts."
"I was able to get beer and porn, but thanks to Naomi and Crowley, I'm afraid I left them behind at the gas station."
Dean choked, eyes head snapping up to stare at Cas, "Naomi was there?"
Slowly, Castiel inclined his head. "Yes. She - She wanted the tablet."
Dean stiffened at mention of the angel tablet. Cas had said it was in a safe place but refused to tell them were. Apparently still not trusting them. Finishing the last few buttons on Cas' shirt, Dean stepped back and looked over to Sam, who was heading back to them.
He came to a stop in front of Cas, and looked to Dean, "You want to..."
Dean shook his head and stepped away, leaning against the wall with his arms folded. Sam frowned, but continued.
"Okay, you're going to need to lay down, Cas."
The angel shuffled around, causing his trench coat to move with him. Something heavy hit the floor and Dean bend his head to see what it was. "Is that a gun?"
"Crowley's weapon. The one he used to shoot me."
Dean hurried over, grabbing it cautiously. He opened the chamber, emptying the bullets into his palm. "There's only four?"
"He shot one of the angels' Naomi brought to capture me."
"Good." Dean gritted out. "Got to say, this is actually fucking genius." He turned the bullet between his fingers, "Why didn't we ever think of this?" He asked his brother.
Sam shrugged, "You're going to have to move you hand, Cas."
"I - If I..."
"I'll be quick." Sam reassured, already squinting his eyes against the expected light.
Taking a deep breath, Cas lifted his hand, and turned his head. "It would have certainly saved you some trouble over the years." Cas stated, gaze fixed on the ceiling. He winced as Sam pushed the forceps into his wound, poking around for the bullet. "Perhaps you should find out how many bullets he has."
Dean scoffed, "Yeah, I'll just text him and ask."
Cas turned his head, eyes widening. "Oh. Uh... That won't be necessary." He said before letting out a moan of pain as the bullet was slowly tugged free of his vessel. The divine silver burning as it came free.
It hit the kidney dish with a high ding, and Sam hurriedly pressed a piece of gauze over the still open wound. They know from experience that it will take a while for Cas to fully heal. Cas looked down at the bandage, then up to Sam. "Thank you."
"You're welcome man."
"What did you mean, 'won't be necessary'?" Dean pressed.
"Uh, Crowley's in the truck."
"What?" The brothers gasped in unison.
"Gabriel said we'd need him."
Dean and Sam shared a look, before turning on their heels and running out of the room, leaving a tired Cas laying on the table.
/*\/*\/*\
Gabriel rubbed at his temples, elbows resting on the table.
"You should drink more." Claire advised, gently pushing the glass back into Gabriel's line of sight.
He shook his head, wincing at the pain it caused.
His head hadn't stopped ringing since the gas station, and his whole body ached, right down to each individual molecule. He had no goddamn idea what had happened at the station, he'd just – lost it. He's seeing Cas get shot and the anger had just exploded out of him. Pure rage. He'd remembered pushing it out of him; just as he'd done a billion times over the millennia. He hadn't expected anything to happen, of course. He was human now after all.
He started coughing again, body shaking, and reached for the water. The sound of rushing feet however, distracted him and his head snapped around to stare at the entrance. Sam and Dean came hurrying out and Gabe's stomach dropped. "Cas?"
Dean ran right past him, taking the steps two at a time, but Sam slowed, talking as he made his way past. "Crowley." He reminded, jerking his thumb at the stairs. "We need to talk."
Gabriel nodded, sighing. Sam turned and hurriedly following his brother. As his brother vanished through the huge metal doors, Gabriel pushed himself to his feet.
"Where are you going?" Claire demanded, leaping up and rushing around to his side. "You need to rest." The fear and panic in her voice made Gabriel's heart shatter. The last thing he wanted was to make his daughter anxious.
"I just want to check on Cas." He replied gently. His hand pressed down on the table top, as the room span around him. He closed his eyes for a second and breathed.
"He's fine. He'll probably be out here in a…."
Gabe shook his head; "I need to see him, now. I need to know he's okay. – I need to make sure he hasn't…" He trails off, meeting Claire's gaze.
Claire stiffens, understanding his silent message. He needs to make sure Cas hasn't vanished again. With a nod, Claire took his arm, helping him walk. They carefully made their way through the corridor, the sound of the heavy metal door echoing behind them, just as they reached the infirmary.
Cas was stood beside the examination table, his shirt in his hands and a tired sad look on his face.
"At least it gives you an excuse to change your clothes, cause I've got t'say bro, you were starting to smell."
Cas turned, fixing Gabriel with an unimpressed stare. "I don't have an odour." He argued, "I don't sweat."
Gabriel rolled his eyes and shook his head, instantly regretting both. "Claire, go fetch Cassie a clean shirt. I'm sure Dean has something he won't mind Cas wearing."
"I don't think Dean will."
He gave a wink and a reassuring smile. "It'll be fine, trust me. – Go on, I'm fine."
Claire exchanged looks with the pair before reluctantly letting go of Gabriel's arm and turning to leave. Cas took a step forward to help, but Gabe waved him off, carefully shuffling over to one of the beds that lined the far wall. He dropped onto its stale sheets like a sack of potatoes. If potatoes could grunt, hiss, and moan.
"How are you feeling?" Castiel asked, strolling over to join him. Taking the bed opposite.
"Like I've been run over with a truck." Gabriel replied shakily, his voice almost as low and gravelly as Castiel's. "Before being fed to a pack of hyenas." He rubbed at his nose, frowning when it came away with specks of dried blood. Wiping his hand on his trousers, he looked up and hated the way Cas was watching him. "What about you?" He asked, hoping to distract his brother. He jerked his head towards the bandage.
"I'll heal." Cas said matter-of-factly, but his gaze dropped, and he stared down at his hands.
"Cas?"
"This is exactly what I didn't want to happen." Castiel muttered, lifting his hardened gaze to Gabriel. "This is precisely why I left. I didn't want anyone getting hurt because of me."
"Always the martyr." Gabriel sighed, shaking his head. "Nothing changes."
Cas frowned, "What's that meant to mean?"
Gabriel stared at his brother, heart rate speeding up slightly. He licked at his lips, "I – I just mean…" He sighed, "You deserve to have a life, is all. You've earned it."
Castiel's frown deepened, then he sighed, shoulders slumping. "I just don't want – anyone to get hurt because of me."
"As I said, that's not your choice to make. You're struggles are our struggles, that's what it means to be family. – Or so Sam tells me." He scoffed, followed swiftly by a fresh coughing fit.
Castiel leapt to his feet and marched over to get a glass of water, bringing it back to Gabriel. He took it without complaint and gulped it down, while Castiel retook his seat.
He sat silently while Gabriel drank, staring at the wall behind his brother, a far away and troubled look in his eyes.
When he'd finished the glass, Gabriel pressed it between his palms and asked, "What's wrong?"
Cas shook his head, "Nothing. I'm fine."
Gabriel quirked a brow, "Right. – I'm known you your whole life, Cas, I know when something is wrong, you get this look." He lifted a hand to gesture to his eyes.
Cas shook his head, "It's nothing, really, just – something Naomi said."
Gabriel narrowed his eyes, "Now you have to tell me." He said firmly.
There was a long few second where Castiel stare at his brother, debating whether to speak. Eventually his shoulders slumped, and he sighed, "It's just – she's been messing with my mind, and I thought it was just this…" He waved her hand around, "but – but she – she's done it before. Before now." He added quietly, like he was ashamed of it. "She said…" He dropped his head once more, "that I was in Egypt."
Gabriel frowned. "When?"
"At the – the…" He swallowed thickly, staring down at his hands. "That I helped…"
"Cas?"
"The first born." Cas whispered, voice breaking under the weight of his guilt and shame. "I helped kill the first born."
Gabriel inhaled sharply, his back straightened defensively as anger built inside him. The lights began to flicker, and Cas looked up at the ceiling, then to Gabriel. "She's lying." Gabriel seethed, "She's fucking with your head, only in a much more insidious way. You weren't in Egypt, Cas. You weren't even born yet."
"Born?" Castiel frowned, confused.
"Wait till I get my hands on that bitch." He growled, the lights flickering even more. "She always was a power-hungry little fucker, I told Suryal she would be trouble."
"Gabriel?"
"She wasn't even in Egypt; she has no fucking idea." His throat closed around the words, his fingers tightening around the glass. "She didn't see any of it. The pain, the death, and neither did you." Gabriel said, eyes wide and insistent as they locked on Cas. "Trust me, you weren't there, Cas. You did nothing." He added guiltily.
The glass shattered in his hand at the exact moment the bulb exploded above their head. Castiel leapt up just as Claire, Sam and Dean came running into the room.