Dean grunted as he wheeled himself from underneath the car and got up, wiping his grease-stained hands on faded jeans. He beamed when he leaned into the cabin and started her up, the engine roaring to life. "Haha listen to her purr!"

Castiel smiled at Dean's joy. It radiated off him in large quantities and was utterly contagious "You seem to enjoy this quite a lot"

"I do" Dean came around to the open bonnet where Castiel had been standing, observing Dean as he worked; and leaned over to tighten a few loose bolts and sigh in contentment, "I tell ya, restoring these babies are great"

He stood up, admiring his work "There's just this feeling of fulfillment when I finish a project, bringing one of these back to life. It's the one good thing I can do"

"I have to disagree with that" Castiel moved closer to Dean, standing right next to him as Dean looked up questioningly "This is not the only good thing you have done Dean, I'm sure Sam would agree with me"

Dean laughed nervously, scratching the back of his neck and looking away from those searching eyes. "Yeah well..."

Castiel was right. Dean had basically raised his brother after their mother died in a fire. Dean was 4 when it happened and Sam had only been a baby. After that, their father pretty much lost his mind with grief and was never home, never there for his sons. Dean had to be mother and father to Sam, he gave up on high school and college which honestly wasn't a big deal for him; so he could get a job and send Sam to school.

Selling the old cars in their grandfather's house after he restored them was in a large part the reason why Sam was able to go to law school now.

For Dean though, it was no big deal, simply a part of his duty to make sure that Sam would have a great life. When it came to Sam, he had no regrets. He was proud of his little brother and knew he would achieve everything he dreamed of.

Castiel felt an extreme level of awe and respect for this human, whose soul seemed to be purer than anything he had ever seen. A man who lived, not for himself but for someone else. Something that Castiel had always been fascinated with, a trait only humans possessed.

There was silence between them, a comfortable silence that was filled with the quiet rumbling of the engine. Dean cleared his throat, looked around a bit before announcing that there was something he needed to get upstairs. Castiel nodded and watched him leave; Dean glanced back at him once, throwing him a smile which Castiel fondly returned.

As Dean's footsteps disappeared up the stairs, the sound of the engine stopped.

Castiel looked over at the car and squinted in confusion. Dean didn't mention these cars to be the ones that turned themselves off, he remembered their earlier conversation about modern vehicles and how they couldn't compare to the classics even with their various features.

He moved to the side of the car to look inside the cabin, running his finger along the side. It was still warm, but the vibration had stopped.

Castiel concentrated and realized that even the subtle sounds that resonated within the bunker on a daily basis had ceased as well. A chill ran up his spine.

"Hello Castiel" he turned and faced the man who had appeared behind him wearing a self-satisfied and triumphant glare as if he owned the world. Which technically he didn't since he was not the oldest. However, no one bothered to point that out.

"Raphael"

Castiel's heart quickened, he had known this day was coming, that he couldn't run forever but he had hoped that there was still more time "Have you come to kill me then?"

Raphael lifted his head as if the very thought appalled him "Oh no, I would never get my hands dirty on a rebel such as yourself. That was Lucifer's job"

"Well he didn't do a very good job" Castiel was still baffled as to how he had escaped Lucifer's clutches. Usually, prey never escaped the snake, especially when he was angry.

"Your punishment will come, Castiel, it is only a matter of time and it will be far worse than death"

Raphael stepped closer to him and Castiel fought with himself to stand his ground despite his fear. "You will watch them die, before dying yourself. That is a promise"

"No!" his blood boiled and his lungs tightened "You leave them out of this. They have nothing to do with any of it!" the very thought of Dean in danger, or Sam made him want to kill the Archangel on the spot. Or die trying.

"The contrary. They have everything to do with this. Dean Winchester is the reason you disobeyed, he is the reason you have put a stain on all Angel kind. All evidence of your disobedience must be...eradicated"

"Please..." Castiel couldn't feel his body; his knees were like wet paper. He had to lean against the car for support.

"Please, just take me. I will come peacefully, I will accept any punishment you have to offer just please...spare them. They're only humans, I'm the one who did this, I'm the one who should be punished"

Raphael studied the younger angel for a moment before his laughter filled the quiet room, hollow and without remorse "Who do you think you are? I do not need your permission to drag you off to heaven's prison; I do not need your cooperation Castiel. I will take it, and they will die as your punishment. That is final"

"Cool it on the hardass shtick won't ya Raphy" Castiel's heart leaped with joy at hearing that familiar voice, the one brother who had seen things his way.

"That is the appropriate action, Gabriel. Nothing you say now matters" Raphael didn't bother looking in Gabriel's direction.

The youngest archangel simply shrugged and twirled the candy stick that was between his lips. "Yeah sure, and does Mikey know you're planning to smite humans without his permission? You know how he gets about daddy's rules."

Raphael sighed. "I'm sure Michael has more important things to worry about"

However, despite his words, he looked at Gabriel with a thoughtful expression,
Gabriel simply shrugged "Well, if you think he won't be pissed then go ahead, be my guest"

Silence permeated the room once more. Raphael looked between his little brother and the fallen angel, then directed a glare towards Gabriel "This is not over"

The two younger brothers were left alone and Castiel let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. Gabriel sighed and glared at the spot that Raphael had occupied "You know he's right. This is definitely not over"

"I know..."

"...Michael didn't want to do this you know..."

Castiel glanced up at his older brother, his eyebrows raised in surprise.

"Yeah, I was surprised too; he was going to let you go. As long as you didn't come back"

Gabriel shook his head and sighed frustrated. "But no, Luci had to convince him that it was a bad idea, that your disobedience would cause the other angels to rebel..."

He looked solemnly at Castiel who had remained deathly silent. "If you don't give yourself up now, Michael won't have a choice but to go with what Raphael wants. Dean and Sam would die"

"I know..." Castiel closed his eyes and ran a hand through his hair "I know what I have to do. I just...I just need a little more time"

"I don't know Cassie, it's a pretty tense situation. It's me against Luci and Raph and I don't-"

"Please..."

Gabriel sighed. He walked over to where Castiel was still leaning on the car and touched his shoulder trying to smile, and gave him a reassuring squeeze. "Alright little bro, I don't know how much I can get ya, but I'll try"

Castiel nodded and looked into his brother's eyes, Gabriel was genuinely sad for him and it made his heart hurt. His older brother hugged him tight and whispered "I wish they could see things your way, I wish none of this had to happen. I'm so sorry Cassie"

"Thank you. You've done more than enough for me"

Gabriel sighed and pulled away before he too disappeared, leaving Castiel with his thoughts.