At last, Castiel and Jack reached their second heavenly destination.
"We're here," Cas announced.
The name on the door in front of them simply read Winchester, in the same style as every other door in Heaven.
"Are Sam and Dean really behind that door?" Jack asked. "You said their souls might not be here yet."
"Yes," said Castiel. "This is their Heaven. I'm sure of it."
Cas and Jack walked through the door and found themselves back in the bunker again, proving Castiel right. On the surface it appeared to be the bunker, though in reality it wasn't.
"This is not what their Heaven looked like the last time they died," Castiel observed as they walked down the familiar metal stairs.
"It must have changed because their priorities in life changed," Jack suggested.
Cas nodded, deciding that Jack's rather wise explanation was as good as any.
As if speaking their names earlier had conjured them up, Sam and Dean stood there in the war room, where Cas and Jack had stood not long ago. They were speaking in hushed tones about something that was clearly important to them.
Sam and Dean looked much the same as they had in life, of course, dressed in the hunter's clothes they had died in, but there was something different about them. Death had given them a peaceful appearance; they had lost the ragged edge to their looks that was common among hunters in life. It was a contrast to Castiel, who had in fact gained the rugged hunter looks.
"Cas," Sam said in disbelief when he saw them. "And Jack. How did you get here? What are you doing here?"
"We came through the playground," Jack explained.
"We're here to be a family again," said Cas. "For one last time. If that's alright with you." "Of course it is," said Sam, before enveloping Cas and Jack in hugs.
"It's good to see you, man," Dean said, giving Cas a hug that may or may not have lasted a little too long. "Nice outfit," he added, pulling back and taking a closer look at his friend.
"Thank you, Dean," Cas said proudly, and reached down to brush some dirt off his jeans.
Then Dean turned to Jack and said, "Hey, kid," before hugging the Nephilim in turn.
"Wait a minute," Sam said, following Castiel's actions closely. "Are those my jeans?"
Cas nodded unashamedly. "I hope you don't mind," he said. "I wanted to have something to remember the two of you by after you died, so I started wearing this outfit, and hunting."
"I'm learning to hunt, too," Jack chimed in eagerly.
They then proceeded to fill Sam and Dean in on everything that had happened within the hunter community since their deaths.
"So, how long has it been, exactly, since we died?" asked Sam. Of course, being in Heaven, Sam and Dean were no longer aware of the passage of time as they'd known it on Earth.
"You've been dead for almost a year now; in fact, today is May 18th," Castiel said, giving the brothers an expectant, knowing look.
"May 18th?" Dean repeated, a solemn look on his face.
"That is what I said," Castiel reiterated, sass creeping into his voice. "Need I remind you what this day means?"
"No, no," Sam reassured him. "We know what it means."
"We do?" Dean asked, an attempt at a joke. This was followed shortly by an exclamation of, "Ow!" And a glare at his younger brother.
Sam, Dean, and Cas were all well aware of the significance of this day. Not only was it the anniversary of the day that Castiel had once died at the hands of Lucifer, but it marked the passing of another major event in Castiel's life. And the reason stood beside him at that very moment.
"What does it mean?" Jack, ever curious, asked, wanting to be in the loop.
"I brought you here today because today is a special day for you," Cas said.
"It is?" Jack asked, still clueless. "How is it a special day?"
As if right on cue, Castiel snapped his fingers, adorning the room with decorations. Balloons drifted up to the ceiling, as party hats, plates, utensils, napkins, and a birthday cake appeared on the table.
"Happy birthday, Jack," his three dads said in answer, almost at the same time.
He looked stunned. "This is all for me?"
"Yeah," Castiel confirmed. "It is."
"Aw, come on," Dean said, gazing disappointedly at the table. "Where's the pie?"
Cas rolled his eyes dramatically, and a pecan pie appeared next to the cake. Dean stared at it and rubbed his hands together, delighted.
"That's what I'm talking about," he said, and pulled it towards him, ready to cut a generous slice of it for himself.
As the newly reunited members of Team Free Will 2.0 celebrated Jack's existence, it was easy to forget that half of their company was dead. Sam and Dean were still vibrant and full of life, leading Castiel to wonder if they would have turned out this way if they had never become hunters.
Just before they left, Sam and Dean enveloped them simultaneously in a hug. Cas savored every last moment he had with his old friends, knowing that even though he had gotten the closure he needed, the world was still a little less brighter without them in it.
On the way back to the Impala, Jack beamed happily.
"You knew," he said. "You knew I wanted to see Sam and Dean again. Thank you, Castiel. That was the best birthday present ever!" He enveloped Castiel in a sudden hug, which was returned enthusiastically.
"I'm very glad you liked your present," said Cas. He was also glad that his distraction had worked. But he couldn't put it off any longer.
"Jack," he continued, "there's something I-"
The moment was interrupted by the sudden smell of sulfur.
Jack wrinkled his nose. "Demons are here," he said worriedly. "What are they doing here?"
"I don't know," admitted Cas. "But now you get your wish, Jack. Welcome to your first hunt."
"What do I do?" Jack asked, suddenly nervous.
"Stay close to me. If you find your grace depleted, use the angel blade I gave you. And, most importantly, be careful."
The events of the next few minutes happened more quickly than Castiel would remember later, when he kept thinking over and over again of the ways he could have prevented things. Demons appeared from several corners at once, surprising Cas and Jack
Cas held his angel blade defensibly in his hand, ready to put up a fight. "What do you want?" He asked.
"It's simple. We want him," the lead demon said, indicating Jack.
"Me?" Jack asked. "Why?"
The demon scoffed. "Why? You're the son of Lucifer, kid. All of of heaven and hell wants you, for our own reasons."
Castiel surged forward and fought for all he was worth, but for every demon he killed, another seemed to take its place. He could not let them take Jack, one of the few good things left in his life, away from him.
In spite of his efforts, demons eventually circled behind and in front of him, blocking his path to Jack. There were too many of them for Cas to take on at once, on his own. In that moment he understood how Claire had felt on the hunt that had started him down this path.
Taking advantage of Castiel's hesitation, the lead demon grabbed Jack's arm, holding him in such a way that there was little possibility for Jack to break free.
"You're not so great of a hunter after all, are you?" The demon taunted. "I expected so much more from the legendary Patron Saint of Hunters."
Cas managed to take a few steps forward, though any other move he made would be futile. "Will you shut the fuck up?" He growled, already grown weary of the demon's nonsensical and ineffective taunting.
Before Cas could make another move, the demon laughed. "Sorry, no can do. But thanks for letting us take what we came for, angel."
Cas stared hopelessly at Jack, while reaching for his angel blade, which had fallen to the ground in the midst of the fight. Before he could make another move, the demons that had surrounded him gravitated back toward their leader.
And then they dragged Jack away, and disappeared.
"Jack!" Castiel exclaimed, though his efforts yielded no results. It was too late. Jack was gone.
In that moment, Castiel felt a connection opening between their minds through angel radio. It was a small comfort to him, a remnant of the bond they had shared before Jack had even been born.
At a loss as to what to do next, Cas sent Claire a hasty, desperate text explaining the situation. Her reply was prompt; she would be there soon, and they would find Jack and bring him home safely, together.
"Don't worry, Jack," Castiel said, attempting to reach him through their newly established angel radio connection. "We're coming to save you."