A/N: I'm back! And WOAH Season 10 is so freaking good so far! I'm loving it! As a side note, I've written up to Chapter 13 BEFORE the Season 10 premiere. I'm trying to stick with my original thought process beforehand, and to not let the new episodes change things. But if they DO, I'll let you know.

Thanks to Acute-angle-101, XXBlackfireXX, Cindy, and suburbantimewaster for continuing to review! You guys keep me going! And Cindy: Gah, I WISH I wrote for a living! That is the goal... :) And how was the convention? That sounds like so much fun!

Also, school is getting to be a little more than I can handle currently, so the chapters may come a little slowly from here on out... :( I'll post as often as I can, and I promise I won't abandon the story! I just need to make the time to write!

As a final note: for this chapter... You might want to pull up the song "Just Give Me a Reason" by Pink and have it at the ready ;) Enjoy, guys!

Chapter Eleven

"Candy, Candi?" Gabriel smirked at his own play on words, but Candi didn't look as amused. The fireworks were still going, making their way to a glorious crescendo.

Despite the look of slight annoyance on her face, Gabriel turned so his back was leaning against the rail, and he leaned closer to her face. "What's your favorite?"

She leaned back a bit, not liking the close proximity. "What?"

"Candy. What's your favorite candy?"

She hesitated before answering. "Skittles. The sour kind."

Gabriel reached deep into his pants pocket, pretending to search for something there. Then, he drew out a pack of skittles. The sour kind. He offered them to Candi, whose eyebrows shot up past her bangs. "Do you just carry a pocketful of candy to lure children here with?"

"They're not always children," Gabriel hinted suggestively. That gained him a punch in the arm. But it wasn't hostile or angry. It was more…. Playful.

She took the skittles from him and opened the bag, pouring a few in her hand and popping them in her mouth. She offered some to Gabriel, who accepted his own small handful.

Then they went back to watching the fireworks. Gabriel couldn't help stealing a few glances at her. She was such an odd little thing. She looked so fragile, yet had a strong spirit. He could see how brightly her soul glowed, even in the midst of her recent tragedy, and continued hardships. Heat glowed from the bottom of his stomach as he watched her watching the fireworks. Was he craving sugar? He began feeling restless.

Candi suddenly turned to him. "How old are you?" she asked. "Because I can't decide."

He smirked. "How old do you think I am?"

She narrowed her eyes at him, then shrugged, looking back up at the fireworks. "I don't know… late twenties? Early thirties?" Her eyes flickered his direction again.

Ha. If she only knew.

Right then a huge firework went off, and it lit her eyes and her cheeks and her hair up in a red hue. She didn't notice. She was still watching him, waiting for his answer. But that sudden light on her face… It threw him. He blinked, trying not to let his smirk falter. But there was something strange going on here. The heat in his stomach grew into something uncomfortable, like nerves.

The light left the sky, and the red hue disappeared. The moment was broken, but the strange and almost uncomfortable warmth still lingered.

Candi cleared her throat. "So… am I in the right ball park?"

Gabriel snatched her skittles from her and poured some of them into his hand. "Around there, yeah," he muttered.

Candi didn't reply, and they both turned to watching the fireworks. Gabriel refused to look at her again while they did so. Every time he did, he felt more restless. He didn't understand why. The feeling twisting around in his chest and stomach was foreign to him.

The grand finale was soon shooting through the sky, but Gabriel couldn't even focus enough to enjoy it. In his peripheral vision, he saw Candi lean forward. He risked a glance. She must have sensed it, because her eyes flickered to his. He instantly looked down at his hands, which he began rubbing together. Then he forced himself to stop. Was he really so uncomfortable that he was showing signs of nervousness? But what could he possibly be nervous about?

Before long, the sky was no longer lit with the bright explosions, and all became quiet except for the cheering on the beach below. Gabriel turned away from the rail. "Well. That was mediocre," he said, making his way to the door.

"I thought it was great," Candi said. He glanced her way, hand on the door. Her back was to him, and she was still leaning against the rail, looking up at the stars that now glimmered overhead.

A strange fluttering beat its way around his core. He pushed it forcefully away, and rejoined her at the railing. He watched her face, trying to dismiss the warmth that was spreading to his fingers and toes. She finally turned to look at him, and their faces were a foot apart.

Her blue-grey eyes flickered over his face, and a small smile grew on her lips. "Thank you," she said quietly.

Gabriel opened his mouth to say something clever and witty and possibly offensive, but found he had no air to speak with. He had been holding his breath. Why had he been holding his breath?

Candi's smile grew. "What? Cat got your tongue?"

Gabriel felt the overwhelming urge to boop her nose, see her reaction. He mentally slapped himself, and pushed hard off the railing, trying to snap himself out of whatever mental block he was having so he could come up with a witty comeback. He was coming up dry. So he changed the subject.

"What's your favorite song?" he asked, shoving his hands in his pockets and watching her face. She tilted her head to the side, a little thrown by this sudden turn. Then she looked more and more bashful as she thought.

"You don't seem the type to like my taste in music," she said.

"Try me."

She made a show of thinking again.

"Just tell me the first song that pops into your head…. Go."

"Just Give Me A Reason," she blurted with a shrug. "By Pink. And that Fun guy."

Gabriel smirked. "What makes him fun?"

"No, it's the name of his band… Fun." She shrugged again. "You know, Those Nights, We Are Young…"

Oh, yes. He'd heard the last one plenty. He didn't mind that band. He tipped his sailor's cap in her direction. "Be right back."

He left her at the rail, rushing inside where the magnifying glass was and snapping his fingers. A stereo system popped up, complete with the nicest speakers around. "Just Give Me A Reason" started right up. He sauntered back to the door, leaning smugly against the frame. "This one?"

Candi turned, leaning her back against the rail and listening. A smile grew on her face. "Yeah. This is it."

Gabriel nodded, listening, keeping his eyes on Candi. "Is it always this mellow?"

She shook her head. "It'll pick up."

The stars were so bright behind her, giving her a kind of halo. Her eyes glistened in the dim light from the lighthouse. She frowned. "What?" she asked.

Candi suddenly didn't seem like an awkward gosling anymore. Maybe it was because they were up high, and Gabriel liked that. Or maybe it was the stars. Or the music. Whatever the case, he stepped forward, offering her his hand. "Shall we dance?"

Her cheeks tinted pink. "I don't really… dance…"

He took her hand, and twirled her just as the song picked up, gaining a beat. When she faced him again, she was smiling. He spun away from her, taking off his hat and bowing. She laughed, and he straightened, placing the hat back on his head and extending both arms out to her, giving her his most mischievous look.

She shook her head, the smile now wide on her face. She took his hands just as the chorus struck up, and Gabriel twirled her again. She spun out, and he brought her back in. She was so close now. He could see all her freckles, her lips parting as she inhaled. That foreign feeling gave a violent twist, and he let go of her, spinning away as if nothing had happened.

"Watch these moves," he said, swaying and snapping his fingers.

She laughed and joined him. They took steps closer to each other, then he dodged behind her. She spun, and they were both stepping backwards, further away from each other. Then they both spun together again, and Gabriel grabbed her hands, pulling her in again.

They danced for the remainder of the song. Candi's giggles were full out laughs now, and he jerked her back a little too forcefully. She fell against him, her body shaking with laughter. He straightened her, and the song wound down to its close. He grinned at her.

"You can dance," he told her.

She shook her head with a laugh. "No, that was all your great leading." Her eyes were shining brighter than he'd ever seen them. He would be content with dancing with her up here all night long.

She finally pulled away from him and checked her phone. "Jen's wondering where I am."

Gabriel watched her, trying to reign in the foreign feelings that were now pulsing through him. "You should probably go," he suggested.

She smiled at him. "But I'm having fun."

Me too, he wanted to say. But he wasn't going to. He tried to think of a witty remark, and blurted with, "All the girls do."

He instantly regretted it.

Her smile faded, and all he could do was watch as she realized what he was implying. "Oh. Oh." She shook her head. "And here I was thinking you weren't such a jerk after all."

He didn't know what to do. Take the comment back? Could he even do that without making it worse? He only shrugged. "I prefer arrogant dick," he said.

She shook her head again, backing away from him. "Yeah, I'm going to go. Goodnight."

Her tone had changed. It was cold, unwelcome. He watched as she disappeared inside the stairwell. He stood there several moments, her lack of warmth leaving him chilled to the bone. He swallowed. He hadn't meant for it to take that turn.

But what was he saying? Why did he even care? She was just a human. Dean's human, no less. Since when did he care what others thought of him?

He heard the door open at the base of the lighthouse, and slam closed. He peered over the railing, watching as Candi marched in the direction of her bike.

Go to her, he thought. Apologize.

But he was much too prideful for that.

He watched her ride away, leaving the night quiet and empty.

It'd been three weeks since Castiel called saying he would help fix Heaven, and Sam was at a dead end. He though there was some suspicious activity going on in Wisconsin that might have something to do with Dean, but he found nothing there.

He was starting to get desperate. He considered calling Crowley, but in the end, didn't have to.

Crowley came to him.

Sam had gone out to get a beer when Crowley popped up beside him in his booth. Sam startled, and clutched the gun inside his waistband.

"Calm yourself, Moose," Crowley purred. "I'm here to help."

Sam forced himself to relax a bit, but still kept a wary eye on Crowley. "Why?"

Crowley sighed, and his hand gingerly touched his side. "Dean's gone… rogue."

"He tried to kill you, didn't he?"

Crowley waved the bar tender over for a drink, then leaned close to Sam. "He's a danger to everyone, not just demons."

Sam nodded. "How can you help?"

"Honestly, I only know as much as you do. But I'm prepared to make a deal."

Sam frowned. "Like a crossroads deal?"

Crowley dipped his head in a shrug. "You know that's the only way I can use my special abilities."

Sam shook his head. "No. No, I think I'll hang on to my soul a little bit longer."

"I'd give it right back."

"It'll be a last resort."

Crowley leaned back, rubbing at his chin. "Then what do you propose?"

Sam took a swig of his beer and eyed Crowley. He wasn't to be trusted. But the way things were, Crowley could be one of his greatest allies. Finally, he spoke. "The key… is Metatron."

"Ah, yes." Crowley leaned forward. "Continue."

"Dean knows that Metatron is still alive. He'll want to kill him. We could use this to our advantage."

Crowley's drink came, and he gave it a swirl. "And why, pray tell, haven't you done so already?"

Sam hesitated before answering. "Because… he's the only thing keeping Cas alive."

Crowley took a sip of his drink. "How so?"

"He's fueling Castiel's stolen grace with his blood. Apparently, his blood is the only kind Cas can take."

"It's a lie," Crowley huffed. "The bastard just wants to use Castiel's situation as protection."

"I've thought about that," Sam said. "I guess… I guess Castiel could always try another angel's blood and see what happens."

"Bloody nothing than what's already happening, most likely," Crowley grumbled.

"You really think Metatron's lying?"

"Really, Moose, I had no idea you were so thick."

Sam brushed off the jab, and pulled out his phone. "I'll call Cas."

"And once it's established that he can live without the scribe of God, we can sacrifice Metatron to the monstrosity that is your brother, yes?"

Sam found Crowley's enthusiasm slightly contagious. "Yes. And then we'll catch Dean."

After hanging up with Sam, Castiel pulled Hannah aside. "I need to ask you a favor," he said.

She seemed to puff up at the idea of helping him. "Yes?"

He led her to the room where they pumped Metatron's blood into bags, and Castiel helped hook Hannah up to it. She looked concerned. "But Metatron said…"

"When has anything Metatron said been reliable?" Castiel countered, watching Hannah's blood fill the bag.

Hannah still didn't look convinced. "Castiel, when humans get a blood transplant that isn't compatible, they die. The complications are too much."

"I understand your concerns." Castiel unhooked Hannah, and prepared to pump the blood into his own veins. Hannah grasped his arm.

"Is it really worth the risk, Castiel?"

He paused a moment. He didn't want to be tied down to Metatron forever. And he didn't want to be the roadblock to finding Dean. If Metatron was needed, Metatron they would use. It would be best to find out how that would affect Castiel now.

Besides, if something went terribly wrong, Metatron wouldn't have Castiel to hide behind anymore.

He stuck the tube into his arm. Hannah watched anxiously as her blood flowed into his veins.

Within seconds, Castiel knew something wasn't right.

The blood was burning him. It scorched its way through his body, making him feel like he was being quenched with fire. He quickly ripped the tube out of his arm, but the fire was growing in intensity. He gritted his teeth, and a high pitched ringing grew in his ears. He cried out, and he felt Hannah leap to her feet.

The ringing in his ears was going to split his head open. The fire was everywhere; he couldn't escape it.

This was it. He was going to die. Shrivel up into a dry husk.

He would never see Dean again.

He screamed, his body convulsing.

And suddenly, the fire receded. He felt something cool, like the trickle of water, moving from his forehead and spreading to the rest of his body.

He gasped, feeling how raw his voice was from the screaming. He shook, exhaustion taking over. His blurred vision slowly became clearer. There was a hand on his head, and a bag of blood hooked into his arm.

"Told ya," a horribly familiar voice chanted. "Let me know before you try to kill yourself again, Castiel."

Castiel closed his eyes, and green eyes flickering to black appeared behind his eyelids. They were cruelly amused.