It's funny, being an Angel meant you could do practically do anything your desired, you could flying around the entire circumference of the world Father was creating, travel through time, though recovery was required and you could even dive deep into the depths of Hell to save one man to help save the world.

As a Human, most things were limited; doubt crawled into your mind, ideas of becoming severely injured would cause fear and panic. Humans were a limited resource in Cas' mind now, he should know, he practically is one now.

One of the top items on his list he missed about being an Angel was strength: physically, mentally and emotionally.

Now he could barely muster enough of it to get up and fake his way through another twenty-four hours of living.

He was well aware of their Fearless Leader's worry and concern but Cas found a way to dupe Dean into believing he was OK; smiling exactly right, being prepared for the routine questions and nodding at the correct time seemed to help. Cas was now certain this was Sam's coping method of how to deal with the Hell around him before becoming Satan himself, he'd never release that thought, it always fit into the corner of his mind perfectly, floating around only when necessary.

Of all the times of thinking of the past, being pinned down by a alloy beam was probably the right one. The building they were searching the Colt for was falling apart to say the least. Croats were spread out along the entire area so everyone watched each other's back, created signals were shown at Checkpoints for an all clear, Cas was about to show his signal through the window when a short Croat had tackled him to the opposing wall, the entire room shook as Cas was desperately avoiding getting his neck ripped open, Cas had kicked the Croat off of him to fire a shot, his bullets were in the 'Extreme Caution' category so he had to make this count, however as Cas squeezed the trigger the Croat shifted, the bullet lodged itself through the ceiling supports and causing it to cave in on Cas. He heard a disgusting squelch of the Croats skull being pasted across the falling floor. The stench was enough to make Castiel gag.

Old problem; low on ammo. New Problem; slowly dying alone as a pin cushion.

He was sure he had blacked out as the next thing he knew more noise had surrounded him, he was sure there was more rubble and debris on top of him now. He could reach his gun and empty his clip to alert someone where he was, if anyone cared. Of course that little voice in his head told him Dean did, it took every ounce not to just drift into listening to the voice and damning the rest of his situation.

If potentially blood was entering his lungs and unconsciousness looming over his head he would have heard Dean calling for him.

Dean had heard the collapse of the building where he was sure Cas had entered. Giving his friend the benefit of the doubt he waited though he didn't quit fidgeting.

Three minutes had passed. Screw it, Dean wasn't exactly sneaking his way in.

"Cas?" Dean maneuvered around the dissolving structure, people that reached six foot shouldn't really have to bend or twist that way but Dean had to find his best friend.

"Cas?" Dean's voice bounced off the walls and carried on through the broken corridors.

It took a pain-staking long ten minutes and still nothing. He found a Croat with a particular head wound that was impressive and disgusting, Dean's eye trailed over the remains of the floor his spotted something blue, a very familiar blue

"Cas? Cas!" Dean dropped to his knees, brushing off the dirt and fragments of materials uncovering a worn baby blue shirt and one unconscious Cas wearing it.

Pressing two fingers under his nose Dean was slightly relieved to feel a little breath.

"Time to get up, Cas" Dean started to shove whatever was crushing Cas, slowly Cas began to regain himself, he tried to ask whoever was there but made a bizarre noise that he never wanted to make again

"Hey" Dean crouched down to analyse Cas, "I'll have you out in a minute, just try to keep your eyes open, it won't exactly be easy to lift what's actually holding you down" Cas nodded weakly as Dean continued his work.

Being careful wasn't quite on the agenda, the beam itself was stuck at an awkward angle, meaning Dean would need to shift the beam and Cas would have to crawl himself out. Continuing to black out was a dramatic problem, instead of breathing Cas believed he was inhaling and swallowing cement

"...De...an..."

"Just a second, Cas" Dean now only had the beam to deal with, he knelt down and stared down his bleary friend.

"OK. I'm going to move this, you're going to have to get yourself out, alright?" Cas gaped at Dean as a response.

"You ready?" Dean stood up still having his eyes locked on Cas. The raven-haired man(?) nodded and braced himself to move.

"On three" Dean spoke up.

Dean gripped the beam "One"

"Two" It began to move.

"Three" Dean used all of his strength to lift, he cringed as Cas gasped for air and flopped out of the way.

"Safe" Cas croaked out.

"Good-"

The beam dropped out the Winchester's grip voluntarily, taking out the rest of the flooring, Dean scooped Cas up and threw them both to a crumbling corridor.

"Cas" Dean pushed himself off his best friend and held him upright against his own chest, Cas was relieved he could finally draw a true breath.

"Thanks for that," Cas scrunched up his eyes, not realising his knuckles has transformed white from gripping Dean's shirt.

The Winchester had pulled the ex-Angel over his lap so Cas' ear rested above Dean's heart while he could stretch his legs, it gave Dean a slight vantage point of checking or spotting any injuries but Cas' luck held out, for once it would just be some bruising and maybe a cracked rib or two. Both believed it was better than Death taking them by far. The duo had stuck to their secret code; one didn't go without the other right behind them, that's how it would be between them.

"No problem. Let me know when you can move"

Cas nodded, his entire focus lay with the beating of Dean's heart. It gave the illusion of a lullaby

"You should have just left me there" Cas maybe be Human-ish but that didn't mean his social and verbal filter had altered in any way.

"Not a chance in Hell would that be happening, Cas. I promised I'd look out for you," Dean gripped Cas a little tighter "and I intend on keeping that promise"

Extra Note: Still open to suggestions as I am running out.

Figured out about halfway through writing this Chapter I was inspired by CW's Arrow Season 1 Finale (Ah... The good times...) of Tommy and Laurel's final scene together.

Let me know what you all think.

Can't tell you all how much I appreciate the views and feedback.