Castiel felt like his body was on fire. The humans finally stopped pulling the feathers from his wings. The searing pain still didn't let up however. "Listen to me, whatever Alacastor has promised you it's a lie."
"Shut up monster!" yelled Ella
The angel hissed in pain. "I don't know what the demon has told you but I am not a monster."
Ella rolled her eyes. "Sure you're not a monster, says the man who just blew out all the lights, and almost made us deaf." She laughed to herself and looked over at Chris.
"You angels claim to be on the side of right, side of justice but your kind is no different than demons. You take over a body and use it as your own." Said Chris, hatred dripped from the young man's voice.
Castiel looked up at the man frowning. "I am nothing like a demon."
"Bull shit!" Ella shouted. "Your kind ruins family!" Ella stomped around him glaring at him. "One of your kind ruined our life. They took over our brother. Told him once he was done he would be free! And that's not what happened! Our brother was killed because he was hosting an angel."
"I am sorry for your loss,"
"Sorry? Oh yeah I'm sure you're really sorry. You monsters don't feel anything! You don't even know what sorry is!" yelled Chris
Ella marched up to Castiel. "Did you consider the family you ruined? That vessel had a life then you took it from him."
"He was a devout man he agreed to this." Castiel said.
"I'm sure you tricked him like all the other angels do." Said Chris
Alacastor entered the room. "Okay you got everything from him?"
"Yes." Said Ella holding up a bag of feathers
"Good we need to get out of here." He eagerly took the bag of feathers. "The Winchesters are probably on their way." He dug out a feather and smirked at it.
"We are just going to leave him for them to get?" Chris asked
Alacastor smirked again staring at the feather. "They aren't any concern of ours, come let's go."
The three of them left leaving Castiel there. The pain was still coursing through his body. The humans' words kept plaguing him. Was he really no different than demons? He frowned; he did take Jimmy Novak's body. He took a lot from him, his future his family, the man's soul was able to go to heaven when Castiel was killed by the archangel, but at what cost. Jimmy didn't get to see his daughter grow up, didn't get to live out his life with his wife. Castiel bite his lip guilt swelling up in his soul. He groaned his grace was weak from contacting Dean. He knew the hunters were on their way but he worried about Alacastor already seeming to know they were coming. He stood from his chair. His legs felt like jelly from sitting for so long.
The holy oil blaze still burned occasionally lapping up at the end of his already sore wings. Tired as he might he couldn't get his wings back into the ethereal plane. He folded the black feathered wings close to his body as he could and looked around. He worried the demon and his human help had set a trap for the Winchesters. He's body ached again. He tried to move around the small area trying to work the soreness out of his legs. Fire licked at the bottom of his coat. He figured the bottom of it was burnt. Great. Not that the coat was a big concern but he had grown fond of it.
He heard a door open from above. He's heart leapt was it help? Did Dean finally come to help? "Help!" he cried out his voice almost cracking from the screaming he did earlier. His body ached fighting against itself wanting to collapse. No he couldn't the fire would eat him alive. "Dean!" He screamed his voice horse. His legs were giving out and he dropped to his knees. He's sore arms, and searing wings it was like his own body was waging war against him. "Help." It was the most pathetic sound he ever heard. If he wasn't in such bad shape he would embarrassed.
"Cas?" a familiar gruff voice called
He looked up. "Dean!" He cried. Just then the door in front of him swung open with a thud.
Just then Dean, Sam, Bobby and for some reason Crowley poured into the room.
"Dean!" He cried again as said Winchester ran to him along with Sam
"Don't worry we'll get you out." Said Dean confidently as the two of them tried to stomp out the fire
"You alone in here?" Bobby asked he held his gun steadily surveying the room
"I don't know." Castiel said his voice cracking.
"Shhh it's okay." Dean said with a soothing voice sensing Castiel's distress
"There was a demon and two humans that's all I know of. They said they were leaving though."
"I'm going to do a once over." Said Bobby
"I'm going to see if I can find Alacastor." Said Crowley. Or at least figure out what he was planning.
"Why are you here?" Asked Castiel, he worked hard to make his voice not quiver when he talked to the demon. He would not give another one of Hell's creature the satisfaction.
"Alacastor, the snot nosed little shit should know better." the demon frowned then looked at the angel. "Boy you look like hell mate." The demon walked over to them
Castiel glared daggers at him. "You would know one of your men did this to me."
The King of Hell scoffed and shook his head. "Got the wrong idea feathers," He gestured to the room. "Not one of my ideas. I'm here to stop him I had nothing to do with this."
"You don't know what he's doing either?" The angel asked.
The demon frowned. "No I do not. I certainly would like to know what he is doing just like the rest of you." And with that the King of Hell walked off
Sam and Dean finally got the fire out. Sam looked at the bottom of Castiel's coat. "You're coat got burnt."
Castiel nodded. "It is a shame I grew rather fond of that thing." He's body still ached.
Dean reached out and laid a hand on the angel's arm.
Not being able to hold it in the man cried out in pain.
Dean jerked his hand away. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry." He said fast. He assessed the angel quickly without touching. He's arms were bloody no doubt they cut him, he's face looked bruised probably hit during the capture, and his wings… wait his wings. Dean's eyes fell on the angel's black wings. "Wings?" He asked more so than stated
Castiel shuddered in pain biting back tears he said. "Alacastor did a spell and it made them appear. I haven't been able to return them to the ethereal plane since."
Sam looked up at Dean. "We got to get him out of here Dean. He's in bad shape."
Dean nodded. He reached over to the angel again. The angel started backing away from him fear was in his eyes. "Shhh Cas it's okay. I didn't mean to hurt you earlier just relax."
The angel nodded. Tears were building in his eyes. "I'm glad… I'm glad you came to save me." He bit his lower lip trying not to cry. "It took most of my energy to summon you."
Dean fought his own tears. Seeing his best friend hurt like this hurt him more than anything. He uttered soothing words as he gingerly rested his hand on Cas. The angel leaned into as the eldest Winchester tried to hug him without causing pain. "Of course we came to save you why wouldn't we?"
Sam looked at Castiel. "What hurts the most?" He asked gently. He reached out to his arms and was trying to assess the damage.
"It all hurts." Castiel whimpered.
Sam looked over at Dean. "We have to get him out. These wounds are bad."
"Can you not heal yourself?" Dean asked the angel breaking from the hug
The angel shook his head. "I can't spare anymore grace my 'batteries' are low."
"Can you walk?" asked Sam
"I can try."
The two Winchesters helped the angel up who was leaning into them for support.
"Let's get Bobby and go." Said Dean
About that time Bobby came back. "Place is clean can't even tell there's been anyone here." The older hunter looked at the angel. "Jesus, looks like they put him through the wringer."
Crowley reappeared as well. "Not a damn thing in this hell whole. Looks like Alacastor has a hell of a cleanup team. This was the only thing I found." He said holding up a black feather. "I assume it's yours."
Dean snatched the black feather from Crowley. "Okay we're done here. We didn't find your man, now go."
The king of hell smirked. "Oh I see how it is. Have me help you on a raid then kick me out once it's over." He looked over at the angel again. "You really should help your friend." He said almost like an omen then vanished
Castiel's body had a flash of pain and he's body titled slightly.
"We need to go." Said Sam adjusting his weight to hold up the angel
The four man headed to the Impala. Bobby kept his gun raised as they walked through assuring that no one had entered the place since they left.
Castiel looked around the vacant halls and soon noticed they were in an old abandoned factory. He's hands ached from being burned and it felt like it was travelling up his arms which were sore from the bloodletting, his wings ached from being drawn into this world and plucked. An angels' wings where the most sensitive part of their being. Castiel tried to move them hoping maybe he could fly to safety so he didn't have to rely on the Winchesters. He bit his lips again feeling pain coursing through them. More than likely he split his lip from repeatedly biting them.
"Don't try to move." said Dean. The oldest Winchester was having a hard time supporting his friend. He adjusted Castiel's weight and then said, "We are almost out of here." Much to his alarm he felt something warm and wet drip on his arm. He looked to the angel and realized that his wounds on his arm reopened. "Shit!" He yelled, "Sammy stop."
Sam stopped, "What is it?"
"He's arm reopened."
"We're almost to the car. We can fix him up there who ever had him could come back anytime." Sam said. He's voice filled with worry and he looked around the room almost like he was expecting someone or something to arrive
"Sam's right Dean, we got to go." Bobby said
Dean looked at his celestial friend. "Are you going to be okay, Cas?" he asked. He took out his bandanna that he kept on himself to help with injuries. He wrapped it as tight as he could around the arm.
Castiel let out a sudden cry at the cloth that tightened around his arm. "I think so." He's voice sounded so weak. He questioned if he really was alright. Before the angel could self-reflect any further he realized they were outside. Once he laid eyes on the Impala he felt his spirits lift. He knew that he was not dreaming that he was finally free and among friends.
"Let's get him in the back. Sam you drive." Dean said as he handed his brother his keys.
Sam looked at him and arched his eye brow as Dean got in the back with Castiel. Sam got in the driver's side and Bobby got in the passenger's side. Starting the car Sam began his drive back to the motel they were staying at. "Just hang on Cas we'll be there in no time!" Sam proclaimed noting how pale the angel looked.
Dean in the meantime tried to tighten the wrapping on his wounds. He was watching in horror his friend's grow pale. He looked over the arms again he had stopped the bleeding. "How are feeling, Cas?"
"Dean it hurts." Castiel all but cried. Out of reflex he tried to pull away from Dean and nearly hit him with a wing.
Dean frowned at him. "Calm down damn it! I know it hurts but you can't be thrashing around you're going to make it worse!" Yelled Dean
"Both you idjits stop!" Bobby yelled turning and looking at them.
"We're almost there." Sam said trying to reassure everyone as he turned the car down the street. They were pretty close to the motel now. He was grateful that it was night time and pretty late now. He frowned wondering about getting Cas out of the car especially with his wings out.
Dean finished his examination and made a mental note on what they needed to help the angel. He hoped that the arm healed themselves once his grace was fully powered after a little help. They couldn't exactly take him to the ER with two big black wings hanging out. What on Earth would they tell them he was a run-away Victoria Secret model? Smiling at his own musings he almost didn't notice they had made it to the motel.
"We made it." Sam said.
Dean and Sam got out and rushed over to the side Castiel was at. Helping the angel out of the car Sam said. "Dude you do not look good."
The angel looked up his eyes almost half closed. He figured if he looked as awful as he felt then he looked pretty rough. "I feel awful." He half whispered. He realized that the two Winchesters were holding him up again as they headed to the motel. The two were trying to stand in such a way that they could support him and hide his wings.
Bobby opened the door to the motel room and the two placed Castiel on the bed. Bobby came back with a first aid kit.
Castiel could feel his conscious draining. Dark spots clouded his vision he just wanted to rest.
Dean removed the wrapping on Castiel's arms. "This isn't going to pleasant." He spoke softly placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.
Castiel nodded. "I know." Pain shot through his arm as he poured some liquid on the wounds. He hissed in pain as he seen pass the bottle over to Sam as he did the same on the other arm. The two began sewing up his wounds. He wished his grace was strong enough to heal himself because this was indeed a painful process. He gripped the sheets on the bed trying to keep his cries in pain to a dull roar. Finally they finished his arms.
Dean looked at his hands. "Okay now that you won't bleed to death your wings."
Sam handed Castiel the bottle of booze they were using to clean his wounds. "Take a drink."
Castiel took it and gave it a big swig. Being an angel it took him almost a whole liquor store to get drunk but he appreciated the idea now. He felt a slight buzz as the alcohol worked its way through his system. "Please be careful they are very… sensitive to an angel."
"As careful as I can." Said Dean as he placed the rag on one sore looking spot.
Castiel yelled out and flapped his wing hitting Dean and nearly getting Sam.
"Don't do that!" Dean yelled. He knew it probably hurt but how were they supposed to help him if he kept moving.
"Maybe you shouldn't touch them." He folded his wings across himself. "They will heal once my grace has regained its strength."
The brothers looked at each other. Dean frowned. "Well don't come crying to us if it gets worse."
Sam shot his brother a dirty look then looked back at the angel. "If that's what you want Cas that's fine."
"You should get some rest." Dean said his annoyance replaced by concern. "We'll figure this all out in the morning."
Castiel nodded. Angels typically don't sleep unless a large amount of grace has been used. Usually his replenishes itself fast so he figured he'd just be asleep for a few hours. He could feel himself drifting off as they spoke to him.
Dean gave him a small hug. "Good night buddy sleep well."
Sam hugged him as well. "Get some rest okay."
The two left him and Castiel laid on the pillows and drifted off into sleep. He's limbs not as sore as they wore. He wrapped his wings tightly around himself so they would not get in the way of his rest. He drifted into a restful sleep glad that the brothers had found him in time. Yes tomorrow once he was at full strength they could process what happened. Tomorrow Castiel would find his answers.