A/N: A little time jump going backwards in this Chapter.

So in a way a prequel to the Chapter One.

In this it will have only been eighteen months since the Croatoan Virus began, six months before Cas is cleared of his Grace he loses something just as valuable.

Finding survivors was tricky having to smuggle himself in and out of each city and new state Dean needed to rely on his survival skills alone.

His Angel had found him first, managing to save him from a swarm of Croats and the two had stuck together through it all.

They made their way to Bobby's and began to make calls to see who was out there. More so than not it hit dead ends.

For a small while things were safe at Bobby's until a few stragglers of Croats found them, sure enough once one came, they all did. No easy task given Bobby's handicap but somehow through ringing ears and close shaves the van containing the Winchester, Singer and Novak was speeding away.

They had found a small band of abandoned cabins and located themselves as safe houses. The few survivors they did pull in, including the Prophet Chuck the 'Resistance' as both Chuck and Cas deemed them to be started creating a routine for making supply runs, helping the sick or wounded or traumatised and who would be on hunts. Locations were the first to be tackled, shared stories gave everyone a clear idea of where was relatively a 'Safe Zone' and those that became 'Hot Zones'.

Cas was still dawning his 'Holy Tax Accountant' look, it still made him stand out like an agonising thumb but Cas was determined to keep his coat and Jimmy's belongings.

While out on a Hunt including Dean, Cas and a new made named Rich, the trio were out looking for supplies, the Colt and after rumour had thinly spread through the grapevine Lucifer was back out and roaming Earth once again, so his location was also on the high priority list.

Cas usually disappeared to check ahead, he did eventually after he replaced his footing. Recently he had struggled to land correctly, keeping quiet about it seemed the best option in the Angel's mind knowing full well Dean (or Bobby) did not need that kind of excess weight to their shoulders.

Once inside he slipped through the narrow halls and those containing Croats. He found himself slowing down and did throw himself into a wall. Growing frustrated with himself he made his way back to Dean. Mid flight, agonising pain shot through his shoulder blades, yelling his slammed into a car roof caving it in.

"Cas!" Dean ran up to the fallen Angel and pulled him to the ground, "Rich, watch my six"

Rich did as he was told.

"Cas? Cas, you hearing me?"

"Yes, Dean. I don't understand how that happened" Cas picked himself up, wondering why Dean was staring at him so fiercely "What?" Cas asked.

"You alright?" Dean wondered

"I'm fine," Cas brushed the dust off his coat and began to explain what he had seen in the warehouse. Dean noticed a few scattered feathers on the crushed car, he picked two up and stashed them in his pocket to ask Cas about later.

It ended in a safer walk back to the jeeps. Rich took his own while Dean drove Cas back, the Winchester was teaching the Angel to drive just in case during the few nights they were alone and had little company. The Angel was unamused by the idea but Dean was patient and knew Cas was making progress in his own time.

Cas had to shift himself in his seat several times, he seemed irritated by something

"What's up?" Dean asked not taking his eyed off the road

"The sky is above us, Dean"

Dean deflated and rolled his eyes, "I meant with you, squirming isn't on your usual list of things to do a vehicle"

"I don't know," Cas replied truthfully.

"OK, does it have something to do with these?" Dean pulled out one of Cas' feathers from his pocket

"Where did you find that?" Cas quickly but carefully took his feather back

"On the car you dropped on. Now I repeat, what's going on"

"What part of 'I don't know' escapes your understanding, Dean!" Cas snapped

"Jeez, touchy" Dean muttered to himself "Just... let me know if you lose anymore, got it"

"I don't-"

"It's not up for debate Cas" Dean finally looked at him with fading glasz eyes

"OK, Dean"

The rest of the journey rested in silence, bar Cas' coat shifting against the seat when he did.

Returning to the cabins Dean and Rich dealt with the supplies they found, Cas felt unneeded so he made his way to one of the smaller cabins to find out what exactly was going on with his wings. He was barely able to take off his coat, tie, blazer and shirt without wincing, he angled his neck to see his left shoulder blade raw. It was sudden but the Angel heard and felt his Wings snapping and breaking. He cried out, dropping to all fours, his feathers began to flutter beside him. In his agony he hadn't heard Dean bash in the door and rush to his side, inside Castiel's mind Jimmy's vessel was breaking, he could feel his shoulder blades and back being ripped open, the muscles and tissue being shredded as his wings were being forced out of his body. To Cas it felt as if multiple Angels had piled on top of him and them began to tear his wings off his back, ripping chucks of feathers and snapping all the bones off for fun.

The flashing bright light appeared beside Cas, Dean stared in horror as he could now officially see what was happening to Cas' body. Watching the shadows slowly disappearing Cas let out one final scream as his wings were pulled out of his true form's back, the light fizzed out. Cas thumped onto his stomach, gasping for air, Dean took off his coat and gingerly placed it on top of Cas' exposed upper half there was no blood or breakage in the skin on Jimmy's vessel, Cas' Grace had healed the scarlet coloured skin quickly.

"Dean..?" Cas wasn't sure he actually spoke but Dean replied.

"Right here, Cas"

"They're gone" Cas sounded broken, similar to finding out from Joshua revealing God had left and did not want to be found.

"It's OK, I think," Dean wasn't sure what to do, he heard Cas snort.

"No, it really isn't" Cas stared up to Dean with watery eyes, he cringed as he pushed himself up onto his knees, the larger jacket sat awkwardly on his shoulders.

Both Winchester and Novak watched the discarded Raven feathers begin to flow away, Cas just stared on in defeat. Dean had caught another two before they scattered away; they were both medium in size and contained a little sapphire blue on the tips.

Dean made a promise to Cas he would keep them safe, later on placing them in his journal later on they could stay untouched and with Cas when he needed them.

Guilt ebbed it's way through Cas, deciding he had failed himself, Jimmy Novak's memory along with the Novak's themselves he found some spare clothes; a light blue shirt that was heavily crumpled and a pair of deeper blue jeans with fragments of tears in the knees and some boots that conveniently fit Cas returned to find Dean had left, his new clothes were uncomfortable but they would do. Dean's coat was still resting on the floor along side Jimmy's. Folding Jimmy's clothing away as neatly as he possibly could he stored them away in a tiny cupboard. Dean spotted Cas leaving, first believing it was someone else and hoped his friend would be OK.

Sometime later, possibly a month as it was harder to keep track of time, Cas became comfortable and a little confident without his wings.

After a failed Hunt Dean was surprised to see Cas sitting on the ground taking apart and putting together guns.

"I found something you may want to see" Cas jumped up with a loaded gun and took out Bobby's old camera, "Humour me"

Dean shrugged and called out, "Bobby, think the film still runs?"

"Don't see why not," Bobby set up the camera for a thirty second timer giving everyone time to prepare. All 'Resistance' were armed in the photo, it was pure luck they were able to print it. Cas stored the camera away with Jimmy's clothes.

While everyone was eating at what little food they scrapped together Dean noticed Cas picking at food, clearly seeing the doubt and insecurity of his situation, Dean had witnessed Cas' wings dissolve into nothing, what else could happen to his friend? Dean later confronted Cas about his concerns but both were producing a hell of a lot more questions than answers leaving them at a stalemate.

Cas was already starting to lose himself. Dean hoped Cas wouldn't lose his life because of it, silently vowing to keep one of his few family members safe.

Extra Note: Already have an idea for Chapter 8.

It might be shorter than all the others. Don't know yet.

Will be updating as soon as it's finished.