Sam was shaking with grief as the Angels left but he still managed to half carry Dean inside the Bunker. His brother, much to his dismay, was not faring well, but that was to be expected what with the man he loved sacrificing himself. Again.

"Sammy," Dean whispered suddenly, clutching the coat around him.

"I'm here," Sam said soothingly.

"Don't leave me," Dean said, his eyes bright. "I can't loose you."

He felt his heart clench and shatter. "I won't," he promised. "Dean, I won't. But you have to stay with me."

Dean nodded like a small child, gazing up at Sam with an expression of absolute grief. Sam could tell Dean was angry at himself for allowing himself to do this, to become rendered useless in front of his brother. "God Sammy," Dean whispered. "We've killed the Biggest Bad, we've closed Eden." His voice cracked. "Are we done?"

Sam felt tears forming against his will. "I don't know," he whispered, letting them slide down his face. "I can't see anything else but hunting for us and I want to get out, I want you to get out. I want a normal life, I want to maybe settle down maybe with a hunter maybe now and be safe. For a once in my life that I can remember I want to be so safe I crave danger."

"I'll keep you safe, Sammy. I always try and I will until I die." Dean hated himself for making Sam cry like this. "Come here," he said softly, forcing his overworked, underfed and exhausted body up to embrace his brother. He felt Sam shaking against him as his brother hugged Dean in a way that he hadn't been hugged in a very long time, like he was the taller one, the steadier, sturdier one.

"I know you will," Sam whispered. "But I can't keep you safe, I could keep Charlie safe, oI couldn't even keep Kevin safe."

Dean pulled back and placed both hands on Sam's shoulders. "Hey," he said, angry that his brother was blaming himself. "Charlie and Kevin were my fault." He paused. "And you don't need to keep me safe- I'm invincible."

It was a feeble attempt at a joke but Sam smiled sadly and shook his head so it was worth it. It was the game they used to play where Dean would come back from a hunt sore, bruised, and covered in slime or blood or whatever and Sam would ask if he was alright. 'Of course,' Dean would laugh, no matter how much he was hurting because Sam didn't have to know, because Sam was Dean's responsibility and not the other way around. So he's smile and force back grimaces and ruffle Sam's hair saying, "it's not your job to be worried about me; I'm invincible!"

"It's okay," Dean whispered, casting out a fishing line in his mind, searching for distractions, any distraction from the pain he felt. "I'm going to get us some food." He got up and stumbled, nearly falling onto Sam's lap in the process.

Sam looked at him kindly. "How 'bout I get something? You can't even stand properly."

"M'kay."

"What do you want?"

"I don't care. Whatever's easiest."

Sam stumbled out of the room, feeling rather light-headed himself. He cast one small glance back at Dean, wishing he hadn't when he saw Dean's face crumple and new tears to roll down his face. His heart ached as he turned away again, wiping his own eyes. He had to block out his pain, he had to breathe and calm down and take care of Dean because Sam knew what this felt like, he had learned how to live with the constant ache where Jess had been and he hoped Dean could do the same.

After all, Cas was gone now, not coming back.

Asmodei swung his blade in a fruitless effort to slice at the things surrounding him. Despite knowing death was inevitable he did want to go down fighting. He heard Cas gasp as one of them but at him. In the darkness he saw nothing, heard only snarls and felt teeth and claws tearing at his clothing and flesh.

"Regretting this yet?" Asmodei said with a huff of laughter that turned pained as a creature wrapped snarling jaws around his leg.

"Sam and Dean are out." That was all he said but somehow it carried so much more meaning than just 'Sam and Dean are out'. Asmodei felt his heart grow heavy as he realized just how utterly in love with all of Humanity Cas was.

"They will never forgive themselves," Asmodei told him, cutting a creature who leaped away with a howl of misery.

"But they will be alive," Cas said. "And maybe they will understand why I had to." A grunt was heard as Cas cleanly cut the head off of one of the beasts. "Gabriel and Lucifer will always mourn you."

"As will they mourn you."

"Heaven will never forgive me."

Asmodei hissed as a creature dragged its stinging class across his legs, ducking to drive the blade up and under its chin. He yanked it out, feeling blood drip down the handle. "Heaven is stupid," Asmodei said. "It is. Heaven believes in a God who has abandoned us."

"You don't?" Cas asked, surprised.

"I've decided humanity is a more solid thing it out my faith in."

"I am glad." Asmodei heard a gasp from Cas and then a sick snapping noise. "These are disgusting aren't they Asmodei?"

"They are."

Cas laughed almost bitterly. "We'll be dead soon enough."

Asmodei nodded though he knew his brother couldn't be seen in the utter blackness. "We will."

Dean was oblivious to hunger buffeting the inside of his stomach, the all consuming grief blocked it. Cas. His mind was in a state of numb oblivion, tiny thoughts squeezing through his brain, reminding him of the looming fact that Cas was gone.

"Why?" Dean said softly, asking the empty room around him. "Why did it have to be you Cas?"

He thought he heard a soft whisper, a gravely tone saying something but he couldn't make out the words. Dean, he told himself. You need food and water and sleep. You won't do Sam any good if your like this.

On queue Sam entered, carrying a bowl of soup and a sandwich. "Eat the soup first," he instructed. "You haven't eaten in a while and dry foods bound to make you sick."

"Did you make yourself some?" Dean asked, gratefully taking the plate and bowl.

"Mine's in the kitchen. I'll bring it out if you don't want to be alone."

He didn't want to be alone but he knew that he had to stay strong for Sammy so he shrugged. "If you want to."

"I will," Sam confirmed. "Be back in a second." He briefly put a hand on Dean's shoulder and squeezed.

Dean said nothing, just splashed his spoon in the creamy chicken broth until Sam came back, his mind crying out for the Angel he loved.

AN: thanks for all the feedback I've gotten on this so far, I appreciate it soooo much! Btw I updated past chapters 23-27 (I think those were the numbers) so they make more sense cos I fucked up originally. Please enjoy this chapter and the chapters to come. We're almost to the end guys (meh we have several more chapters, I'm surprised your not sick of my hurting these babies btw I haven't said anything on the finale so I know it's late but imma do it now.) I was kinda disappointed with the 'you're important Cas' scene like BROTHER REALLY?! No but honestly want more Cassie in this, I miss my Angel and Sam and Dean need to learn to appreciate him more (that might just be the bitter Cas-girl talking). Anyways THANKS! I have had four coffees and two caffeinated teas soo...