Heaven Can't Wait Part 1

Lebanon, Kansas

"That's your 'big news', it's that you, that you translated the tablet into… doodles?" Sam asked as he bottle-fed Grace.

"It's cuneiform," Kevin replied, earning confused looks from Sam, Dean, and Angela. "I-I hit a wall translating the tablet into English. But I found an ancient codex, uh, linking the Angel script to proto-Elamite cuneiform, and I was able to translate the tablet and the footnotes into Elamite, which is…"

"Doodles." Dean finished.

"It's extinct."

"Well, can you read it?" Angela asked.

"No one can." Kevin sighed heavily. "Scholars have tried for centuries."

"So, it's a dead end?" Dean slapped the papers down on the table.

"N-not quite," Kevin replied. "Now, most proto-Elamite is abstract, but I was able to decipher one phrase from Metatron's footnotes. 'Falling angels.'"

"Okay, so, the footnotes refer to Metatron's spell?" Sam raised a brow as he set the bottle down on the table.

"Maybe."

"Okay," Angela walked over to one of the bookshelves. "Well, maybe if we can decipher the footnotes, then we can reverse the spell and…"

"Punt those winged dicks back to Heaven." Dean slapped the table, ready for action. "Where do we start?"

"Research," Sam replied as Angela put a stack of books on the table.

"Ah!" Grace cooed as she clapped her hands.

"That's right, Gracie." Sam smiled. "We comb through the library, see if we can find anything else on Elamite."

Dean looked less than thrilled as he read the title of one of the books. "Zimmerman's Encyclopedia of Extinct Languages… Volume One: Adai to Atakapa. How many volumes are there?"

"24," Kevin replied. "Don't worry, we've found them all."

"Awesome," Dean muttered sarcastically.

Suddenly, Angela's phone started ringing. Her brows furrowed as she answered it.

"Hello?"

"I may have a case for you." Castiel's voice rang through. "Four missing in Rexburg, Idaho. Presumed dead, but no bodies have been released to loved ones. And, there were reports of a strange substance at the scenes."

"Oh, well, hello to you too, Cas," Angela replied. "How are you?"

"I… am busy."

"Alright," she sighed. "So, how do you want to do this? You want to meet up at the latest scene? You want me to pick you up? What?"

"Um… I've got my hands full over here." Castiel replied. "I just—um…"

"Cas? Hello?" Angela's brows furrowed.

"Thought you would want to know about the case."

"Hey, you sure everything's…" she trailed off when she heard the phone click. "Okay."

~/~\~

"So, he said nothing about where he is or—or what he's been doing?" Sam questioned as Grace tugged at Sam's hair.

"This is Cas." Angela shrugged. "He's not exactly Chatty Cathy, babe."

"And you're not even gonna see him when you're in Idaho?" Sam raised a brow. "Also, why is Dean going?"

"Cas said he wants to keep his distance." Angela shrugged. "And I told Dean that I could handle it. But he insisted."

"Baby, what's the point of this?" Sam sighed. "I mean, it's barely even a case."

"Well, then we'll have a look-see, and if there's nothing there, we'll come right back home," Angela assured.

Sam sighed and adjusted Grace in his arms. "I can come with you guys…"

"Sammy, we got this, I promise." She assured with a soft smile.

"Dean just wants to bail on research," Kevin muttered.

"Probably." Angela agreed. "Look, Sammy, I'll call you if anything goes wrong."

Sam sighed, knowing that he wasn't gonna win this one. "Fine. Just keep me updated. And be safe, Angie."

"I'm always safe," Angela replied.

"One time you jumped into a ridiculously deep pool…" Sam countered. "You almost drowned."

"That was years ago! I barely even remember it." She countered. "I love you, Sammy."

Sam smiled softly and leaned down to kiss her softly. "I love you, too."

Angela smiled and pecked Grace's cheek. "Love you, baby girl. Be good for daddy."

Grace just clapped her hands and giggled. Angela gave Sam one last kiss before walking off to meet Dean at the Impala.

~/~\~

Rexburg, Idaho

Dean and Angela stood outside of the victim's cabin dressed in their FBI apparel.

"So, uh, four missing?" Angela questioned.

"Four dead." The Sheriff corrected. "Just got confirmation."

Dean and Angela ducked under the yellow tape, followed by the Sheriff.

"And, uh, any common threads you can think of?" Dean asked.

"Well, Joe in there had the suicide hotline on speed dial," the Sheriff started. "The gal before him was a shut-in. Had enough anti-depressants in her medicine cabinet to stock a pharmacy. The first victims—a married couple out of Sugar City. Pretty much a walking billboard for no-fault divorce."

"Were they all basket cases?" Dean raised his brows.

"If you asked me to make a list of the county's saddest sacks, these four would've been right on top." The Sheriff replied.

Angela pursed her lips. "Alright, so, four unhappy people, one of them definitely suicidal. But you've ruled out suicide?"

The Sheriff handed blue gloves to Dean and Angela. "You guys are gonna want to put these on."

~/~\~

Dean, Angela, and the Sheriff walked into the cabin, which was completely covered in a pink substance. Dean grimaced as he looked around.

"This look like suicide to you?" the Sheriff raised a brow.

"Blood?" Dean asked.

"If the tests come back same as the others… it's everything. Blood, skin, hair, nails. Internal organs. Even clothing fibers. Like these poor souls got run through the world's finest wood-chipper."

"What about witnesses?" Angela questioned.

"Same as the rest." The Sheriff sighed. "Neighbors reported some kind of pink flash. By the time we got here, all that was left was… this."

~/~\~

Angela was on the phone as Dean pumped gas into the Impala.

"Yeah, we're almost through the texts over here." Sam sighed. "We got nothing."

"Have you tried Professor Morrison?" Angela asked.

"Yeah, he's unreachable," Sam replied. "He took a sabbatical to live amongst the Tobrianders of Papua New Guinea. Needless to say, we're pretty burnt."

Angela pursed her lips. "Well, there's one guy there who is nothing if not well-rested."

"Crowley?"

"It's worth a shot, right?" Angela replied.

"I guess." Sam sighed heavily.

"Just be careful, okay, babe? Don't fall for any of his 'quid pro quo' crap." Angela replied softly.

"Noted," Sam replied. "So, what about you and Dean? How's Cas's lead panning out?"

"Four victims suddenly exploded. We tried EMF. We've looked for hex bags, sulfur—nothing." Angela explained.

"Spontaneous combustion? Maybe the Thule?" Sam suggested.

"No, no, no. Already ruled them out." Angela replied. "The bodies were vaporized. They weren't burned."

"That sounds like a real case," Sam replied concernedly. "Baby, I should be there."

"Sammy, I promise, we got this one covered," Angela assured. "How's Gracie doing?"

"She's good. Right now, she's playing on her activity mat." Sam explained.

Angela smiled softly. "Tell her I love her, okay? I miss my girl."

"Will do," Sam replied. "I love you, Angie."

"I love you too, Sammy," Angela replied with a small smile. "I'll call you later, okay?"

"Be safe, baby," Sam replied before hanging up.

~/~\~

"Good day, ma'am." Castiel handed the woman her lottery ticket. "And good luck!" he added with an emphatic thumbs-up.

The woman looked puzzled and gave him a thumbs-up in return before she left. Dean and Angela walked up to the counter.

"I'll have some beef jerky and a pack of menthols." Dean grinned.

Castiel's eyes widened. "What are you doing here?"

"Gee, it's nice to see you, too, Cas." Angela retorted.

"It's… Steve, now." Castiel gestured towards his name tag. "And… uh, you know you surprised me."

"Well, the feeling is mutual," Dean muttered. "I mean, we knew you had to lay low from the angel threat, but, uh, wow. This is some cover."

"My grace is gone," Castiel stressed. "What did you expect? Do you have any idea how hard it was? When I fell to Earth, I didn't just lose my powers. I—I had nothing. Now… I'm a sales associate."

"A sales associate?" Dean raised his brows.

The delivery guy walked in and handed Castiel a clipboard. "Hey, Steve. Sign here?"

Castiel took the clipboard and signed it as he continued speaking. "I'm responsible for inventory, sales, customer service. I keep this place," he handed the clipboard back to the delivery guy. "Thank you. Clean and presentable. And when my manager's busy, I even prepare the food."

"Wow." Dean nodded. "So, you went from fighting… heavenly battles to nuking taquitos?"

"Nachos too," Castiel replied proudly.

~/~\~

Sam sat on the edge of Crowley's table. Crowley held one of the papers with the 'doodles' of the cuneiform.

"I've been politely asking for reading material for weeks, and this is what you bring me?" Crowley set the paper down and pushed it back towards Sam. "Pass."

Sam rolled his eyes. "Can you read Elamite or not?"

"It's by no means my favorite of the ancient tongues, but yes."

Sam sighed, clearly annoyed. "Will you help us read it?"

"Why on earth would I?" Crowley scoffed.

"Because I was there that night. I saw what humanity did to you." Sam reminded. "Like it or not, there's still a little part of you that's not a douche."

"Sorry, Moose," Crowley smirked. "To the last drop."

Sam got off the table and leaned over it towards Crowley. "Crowley, the only reason you're alive is because my wife and brother thought you would be useful. So far you've done jack." He glared. He sighed and shook his head. "Back to plan 'B,' I guess."

"Which is?" Crowley prodded.

"Give you up to Abaddon." Sam shrugged as he took the paper and started walking away.

"You think you can threaten me with that hack?!" Crowley snapped.

Sam paused, then turned to face Crowley.

"She's all fury, no finesse." Crowley continued.

"I'm not so sure," Sam admitted. "Our last encounter with Abaddon, she was, uh—she was pretty terrifying. Scarier than you've been in years."

"Bring that to me," Crowley demanded.

Sam walked back toward Crowley with the paper and handed it to him. Crowley wadded it up and threw it in Sam's face, temper-tantrum style. Sam looked pissed. He walked out of the room, shutting the door behind him.

~/~\~

Castiel carried a box of small jars, Dean and Angela following behind him.

"This is not you, man." Dean groaned. "You are above this. Come on."

"No, Dean." Castiel put the box on the counter. "I'm not. I failed at being an angel. Everything I ever attempted came out wrong. But here… at least I have a shot at getting things right. I guess you can't see it, but… there's a real dignity in what I do—human dignity."

"Hate to interrupt you guys," Nora cut in. "But, Steve? A customer had an accident in the men's room."

"I'm on it." Castiel nodded.

"Oh, and tonight—7:00 at my place work for you?" Nora smiled.

"Great." Castiel smiled back.

"You're the best!" Nora replied before walking off.

"That's what this is about." Dean chuckled.

"What?" Castiel's brows furrowed.

"The girl." Angela nudged Castiel.

"No," Castiel shook his head. "It's not. Nora—she's a very nice woman, I'm pretty sure she's not a reaper intent on killing me… and she's asked me out. Going on dates—that's something humans do, right?"

"Yeah." Dean nodded. "I mean, my dates usually end when I run out of singles…"

Angela gently smacked Dean's shoulder before looking back at Castiel. "Yes, Cas. That's something humans do. We're happy for you."

Suddenly, Dean's phone started ringing and he walked about a foot away.

"This is Agent Lee Ermey," Dean answered. "We'll be right there." He assured before hanging up. "There was another kill, over at the high school. You comin'?"

"I wouldn't be much use." Castiel sighed. "I don't have my powers."

"So?" Dean shrugged. "Angie and I have never had powers."

"You're hunters," Castiel argued.

"And you're a hunter in training, remember?" Dean reminded.

Castiel pursed his lips. "Yeah, I remember. You said I sucked."

Angela shot Dean a look, and he sighed heavily.

"I didn't say that. I said that there was, uh, you know, 'room for improvement.'" Dean corrected. "Come on."

"Alright," Castiel sighed. "My shift's over in five minutes, and my date's not until later, so…"

"Attaboy!" Dean grinned. "Angie and I will go get the car."

"Not just yet. I have to clean the bathroom?" Castiel pointedly reminded Dean.

~/~\~

Dean and Angela, in their normal clothes, walked up and flashed their badges to a cop. Castiel, still in his work clothes accompanied them. Dean and Angela noticed a cop talking to a young girl and headed that way while Castiel looked at the scene in horror and recognition.

"One second, we're talking, and the next, she just… stops." Jace recalled. "And then everyone in the cafeteria freaks, rushing, and pointing out the window, at…" she broke into sobs. "C-could that really be her?"

"And nobody saw anybody else at the scene—a man, a woman… anything unusual?" Angela asked gently.

Jace just shook her head.

"Your friend, was she, uh, depressed?" Dean questioned.

"Depressed?"

"Any thoughts of suicide?" Angela asked.

Jace's brows furrowed. "Ew. No. I mean, she was kind of bummed that dick-bag Travis broke up with her in front of the whole school."

"Kind of bummed?" Dean raised his brows.

"Yeah. Like more bummed than when she got a 'C' on a quiz, and… less bummed than when her parents split up." Jace explained obviously. "Kind of… bummed."

"Right." Angela nodded. "Excuse us."

The two hunters walked towards the Impala, where Castiel was leaning.

Angela's brows furrowed in concern. "Cas, what's wrong?"

"I've seen this before," Castiel replied grimly.

"What? Where?" Dean questioned.

"In Heaven."

"What, you're saying an angel did this?" Angela frowned deeply.

"It's no ordinary angel," Castiel muttered. "This is bad. This is very bad."

A/N: Hey, guys! I hope you enjoyed this chapter! And if you caught that reference to Playthings then good job ;) Don't forget to leave a review! Love you guys, xoxo.

~Emily