The Hunt
Sam, Bobby, and Dean stood in the library in front of a pile of books and papers. A new case has arisen and this time it appeared there were going to be a need for all three hunters on this one. They know where the demons are and have everything they need to take them down, but there's just one itty bitty problem. The angels. There was no way in hell they were going to let the angels come along, but they couldn't leave them alone either. Even if Custos was here to protect them. They tried to call for help from the angels above, but apparently they were too busy watching The Life of Dean to give a crap.
"Someone needs to stay with them," Sam stated, eyes drifting over the two hunters standing around the table. Dean let out a long sigh.
"I'll st-"
"To hell you are!" Bobby burst, glaring at the older Winchester. "I get it. They're your angels and you want to be the one who takes care of them, but here's a news flash, Angel Daddy, you're the best hunter in this room!" Dean stared at Bobby with wide eyes, blinking in surprise. Angel Daddy? Hell, where did that nick name come from. "I'll stay with the idjits. I'm getting slower anyway," Bobby decided. Dean opened his mouth to comment, but Sam beat him.
"He's right, Dean. Our chances would be better if you were there. Custos will be here to protect the angels too. He's done it before." Dean knew he could trust Bobby and Custos to watch the angels, but that's not the point. The point was that he had made a promise a while back. Technically he made the promise more than once, but that just made it seem worse to break it.
"Dwean?" Dean turned around to see Castiel stumbling down the stairs with Custos at his side. The baby angel's hair was tousled and his tiny fist was rubbing drearily at his eyes. Dean's current frown turned into a smile at the sight of the sleepy angel and Dean walked over to the little guy, sending a glare over his shoulder at the other two hunters.
'Hey, Cas, shouldn't you be sleeping?" Dean questioned, lifting Cas into his arms and patting Custos on the top of the head. Castiel snuggled his face into Dean's neck as the hunter rocked him and frowned up at the hunter.
"I had the nightmare again," Cas stated sleepily. Dean's smile fell slightly and Cas buried his face into Dean's shirt. "Can I sleep with you tonight?" Castiel asked. Dean froze, eyes skimming over to his brother's and Bobby's. Shit. Now what should he do?
"Yeah," Dean whispered softly, ignoring the current glares his back was now receiving. "Just go crawl up into my bed and I'll meet you up there." Cas nodded, jumping out of Dean's arms and prancing over to the stairs and jumped up on them one by one. Dean let out a sigh, turning his gaze to Custos and scratching the dog's ears. "You watch over him, alright?" Dean ordered. The puppy yapped in agreement before bounding up the stairs after Cas. Dean sighed again, shoulders slumping. "I promised to watch over them. I'm not going to break that for some case," Dean decided, rushing up the stairs after Cas before Sam or Bobby could question or argue.
Cas tossed and turned on his pillow, sweat flying down his face as the screams in his dream became louder and louder. It was almost like it was real. He could even hear Custos howling angrily as the demon's clawed their way into the house.
"NO!" Cas screamed flying up out of bed. "Dwean-"the angel quieted, realizing that he was alone in Dean's bed. It was dark and horrible quiet. Tears swam down his eyes as he looked for any sign of Dean. Dean's side of the bed was cold and his boots were gone. Cas pushed himself off the bed and slowly opened the door. "Dwean?" Cas cried. A crashing sound came from downstairs. Cas froze. "Dwean?" The noise continued and Castiel slowly inched down the steps, heart racing in his chest. When he came to the last step, Cas peaked out into the sitting room, stomach turning instantly. Custos lay in a heap on the floor, slash marks opening him up and a demon standing over him with a bloody fist. I tiny gasp left Castiel's lips and that was all the creature needed. It whirled around, eyes black as night and lunged at the baby angel. Castiel screamed, trying to run back up the stairs, but he was slow compared to the demon.
Thwack!
The demon flew back as a glistening golden wing sliced against its face. Castiel froze as Gabriel appeared in front of his little brother and Balthazar zipped into view as well. The demon smirked, clicking its fingers to reveal another demon. This one was holding Bobby's neck, ready to snap it in two. All three angels stood still, knowing that Bobby could be killed in an instant. The demons each smirked and the one that now had a long bloody mark running across his hazel eyes stepped in front of the angels.
"Nighty night, Angels," the demon cackled, lifting a hand clutching an angel blade above Gabriel's chest.
"NO!" Bobby shouted, spinning around in the demons hold and kicking it in the gut, once Bobby was free, Gabriel moved. His tiny fists picked Castiel up and grabbed Balthazar's hand. "Run for it, idjit" Bobby shouted, standing in the way of the demons so the angels could get through the door without worry of being attacked. Cas tried to pull himself away from Gabriel and drag Bobby along with him, but his brother only clutched him tighter. Bobby turned his head slightly to glare at the angels standing in the doorway. "RUN!" Bobby shouted at the angels. Gabriel turned away dragging his brothers through the door. Castiel screamed, reaching for Bobby, but the door slammed shut and soon they were running through the forest all alone. Gabriel held Cas closer to himself, tears staining his own cheeks, but he had to keep his brothers safe.
"Gabriel, what do we do?" Balthazar questioned as they weaved past trees and jumped over large rocks. Gabriel bit at his lips.
"I don't know the angel said with a shaking voice." Castiel looked up from his brother's shoulder, still crying.
"Dean. We need to find Dean and Sam," Cas sniffled. Gabriel shook his head.
"Cassie, they're gone. They left. We're on our own now," Gabriel told the baby angel. Castiel pulled away from his brother, falling into a puddle just below Gabriel's feet. "Cas!" Gabe and Balthazar screamed, reaching for their brother, but Cas pulled away, shivering.
"NO! Dwean promised! He said he'd protect us. He wouldn't leave us." Castiel cried, he was practically gasping now, unable to catch his breath as the tears choked him. Gabe's face fell farther and he enveloped his smallest brother into a tight hug.
"I know, Cassie, I'm sorry, but…" Gabe trailed off and each angel looked around their surroundings. Why was it so damn quiet? Cas clutched tighter to his brother and Gabriel lifted him up, backing up behind a tree and dragging Balthazar with him by the arm. A demon stepped out from the darkness just then, blood covering its face and teeth. In its clutches was Bobby's torn up cap. Balthazar let out a soft sob at the sight and Gbariel covered his brother's mouth with a free hand. The demon's head popped up and it began to scan the area. Castiel's heart pounded in his chest as he watched the demon come closer. He'd be on them in moments. "Balthazar, take Cassie," Gabriel whispered finally, shoving Cas into Balthazar's arms. The angel's stared at their brother in confusion.
"Gabby, what are you doing?" Balthazar questioned. Gabe lowered his head slightly.
"Bobby's down, Custos is…well, out of commission, and the Winchester brothers are MIA. Someone has to make sure you two are safe."
"No, Gabby, please," Cassie sobbed, reaching for his brother. Gabe pushed Castiel's hands away, tears running down his face.
"It'll be alright, Brother," Gabe sniffled, stepping away from his brothers. "You're going to be alright. Find Dean and Sam. Get out of here," Gabe told the angels. Balthazar and Castiel tried to object, but Gabriel enveloped them in one last hug. "Stay safe," Gabe whispered before vanishing from the spot and appearing a ways away. The demon turned to stare at the archangel and smirked.
"Better run little angel," it hissed. Gabriel laughed, popping a sucker into his mouth.
"Running is what I do best," the angel teased, running in the opposite direction of his brothers. Castiel and Balthazar stood there for the longest time until a scream erupted from a ways away. Castiel could feel Balthazar's heart pounding and before he knew it Balthazar was pushing him onto the ground. Cas frowned in confusion. What was Balthy doing?
"I'm going to help Gabriel, Cas. You stay here. I promise that I'll come back with Gabriel," Balthazar said with a shaking voice. Castiel shook his head frantically, clutching his brother tightly.
"No, take me with you, Balthy. I don't want to be by myself," the angel sobbed. Balthazar shook his head, pressing a soft kiss to Castiel's forhead.
"I'm sorry, Cas, but it's too dangerous," Balthazar whispered, Castiel clutched tighter to Balthazar when the angel tried to pull away and sobbed painfully.
"I don't care! I don't want to be alone!"
"You will be if you don't let me go and help Gabriel!" Balthazar shouted. Castiel stared up into his brother's blazing eyes and stepped back, looking more hurt than anything. Balthazar gave him a sympathetic look before lifting Castiel in his arms and holding him tightly, pressing a kiss once again to his brother's temple. "I'm sorry, Cassie, but this has to happen." He let go of Castiel, pushing his brother behind a tree. "I'll be back," were the last words Cas heard his brother say before Balthazar disappeared into the thick forest. Cas sat on the cold ground behind the tree alone. He waited and waited, wishing for any sound, but it was just dead silent. Castiel's dream came back to him in that moment. The dark, the cold, the fear. It was all here right now. It was no longer a dream. It was reality.
"Cas?!" Castiel lifted his head at the familiar call. Dean? Was Dean really here? The angel jumped out of his hiding spot, eyes glistening with heavy tears as he tried to find the hunter. That's when he saw him. The demon. It smiled at him, holding a recording device playing Dean's voice over and over again. The angel's heart sank and the demon grabbed him by the throat, squeezing the air out of the angel's lungs. Cas sputtered, trying to get in a breath, but there was no chance. He was way weaker than the demon.
"Goodnight angel," the demon whispered before Cas' vision completely darkened and the angel collapsed into a heap on the floor.
Dean jumped as Castiel scream broke the window and sent a glass of water on the nightstand bursting into a shatter of clear shards. The angel was leaning against the headboard, hyperventilating and wailing.
"Shit, Cas! What's wrong-" Castiel pulled away from Dean, crying hard and screaming. Dean pulled his hands away, watching as the angel freaked out. Plump tears rolled down Castiel's cheeks and his wings were shaking so hard that Dean thought that the angel was having a panic attack. Correction, Cas was having a panic attack. Ignoring Castiel's shrugging away, Dean reached for the angel and held him so close he could feel Cas' little heart beating like the energizer bunny's drum. Dean felt his own heart elevate and jumped off his bed, taking the screaming angel downstairs.
"Sam, Bobby!" Dean called, racing into the sitting room where the hunters had now moved to watch Game of Thrones. The hunters were already on their feet, but not because they heard Dean calling. The TV, windows…everything glass had shattered from Castiel's screams. Sam and Bobby stared at the whaling angel with confusion.
"What the hell did you do, Boy? Roll on top of his wing in your sleep?" Bobby sputtered. Dean shook his head.
"I…I think it was a nightmare," Dean explained, rocking Castiel back and forth in his arms.
"About what?!" Sam yelped, momentarily covering his ears as Castiel's crying grew louder. Dean shook his head, turning on his heels and going to the kitchen. Sam and Bobby followed him into the kitchen and watched as the hunter poured some warm milk into a Sippy-cup and positioned Castiel so the angel was being held like a baby.
"Hey, Cas, hush now. It's alright. I'm here. I'm right here," Dean cooed. Castiel clutched onto Dean's pajama shirt and sobbing into the fabric. Dean rocked the angel gently leaning down and pressing a soft his to Castiel's temple. Cas' fists tightened and the crying began to turn into harsh gasps as the angel tried to take in a breath. Dean set the milk back down on the counter, sitting down on the kitchen table and sitting the frightened angel in his lap.
"Cassie?" Balthazar called from the doorway. Dean glanced up to see both Gabriel, Balthazar, and Custos peeking into the room. Dean lifted a finger to his lips, turning his attention back to the angel in his lap.
"Cas, take deep breaths. Come on. Yep, just like that," Dean encouraged while rubbing Castiel's back. The angel mimicked Dean's deep breathing pattern, slowly coming down enough to he wasn't hyperventilating, but the tears were still falling. "What's the matter, Cas?" Dean whispered, picking the angel back up and holding him like a baby once again. Castiel tried to speak, but his voice was too hoarse from crying. Dean grabbed the warm milk again, holding the Sippy-cup to Cas' lips. The angel opened his mouth and wrapped his small fingers around the cup. Dean still held it, noticing how much the angel was shaking. Dean sent a glare at his brother, but it was unnecessary. Sam was simply watching Cas with worry, not really caring about the fact that Dean was feeding the angel like some worried mother. After a few slurps, Dean pulled away the bottle and the angel rubbed at his eyes, forcing away the tears.
"We…we…okays?" Cas questioned, eyes scanning over his brothers, Custos, and Bobby briefly before meeting Dean's eyes with his own. Dean frowned slightly until he realized that whatever happened in that blasted nightmare was something that had to do with the group all together.
"Yeah, we're fine, Cas," Dean whispered. Castiel nodded, eyes fluttering shut and body going limp in Dean's arms. Dean's lips touched down on Castiel's nose and the angel cuddled closer in his peaceful sleep.
"Cassie ok now?" Balthazar questioned, walking into the room completely, holding Gabriel's hand. Dean looked the baby angel over.
"I hope so," was all Dean said, before beginning to rock the angel back and forth again. Bobby let out a long sigh, scratching his head as he watched the angel sleep in Dean's arms.
"Damn it. What do you think could have frightened him like that?" Bobby questioned. Everyone was silent. No one really knew other than Cas. There really had been no reason for the angel to freak out like that. There had been no scary case of late, they played Mario, hide and go seek…there was honestly no reason for the angel to-
"Oh," Dean muttered softly, eyes squeezing shut as realization swung at him.
"What?" Sam questioned. Dean nodded at the stair case.
"I think Cas heard more about our little plan for hunt than we thought," Dean decided. Sam's eyes widened and Bobby ran a hand across his face. "Maybe he dreamed that something bad happened during the case?" Dean offered.
"But, we decided not to do the case," Sam jumped in. After you said no Bobby called Rufus to do it. Plus he said he had the nightmare again."
"Cas didn't know that," Dean said, nodding at the sleeping angel in his arms. "I had sent him upstairs by then." Dean chose not to say anything about Castiel's previous nightmares. The little angel didn't want to talk about it so he never asked.
"What do we do then?" Sam questioned. Dean got up from his seat and started towards the couch, with Cas and what was left of the milk with him.
"We let him sleep," Dean said softly before sitting down and cradling the angel in his arms. Balthazar and Gabriel followed suite, jumping onto the couch and watching their tiny brother sleep. Seconds later, Custos was sitting on the floor, Head resting on Dean's foot. Dean scratched the dog with a toe and Sam turned Game of Thrones off on the cracked television and replaced it with the Aristocats.
"Dean, are you sure we shouldn't ask him about the dream?" Sam questioned. Dean shook his head. Dean's had plenty of freaky nightmares before to know that Castiel would tell them when he was ready. Right now Cas just needed some peace.
Foreshadowing for a HUGE chapter yet to come. I can't tell you when I'll post it, but you will know it when you see it. There will also be another nightmare fic later on. Oh, and for those of you who have been sending requests they are being written. I've just been very focused on getting the big chapters all planned out. Thanks for reading!