Chapter 8

Anna woke up, the angel radio going crazy as she thought she heard Castiel's name. There was silence afterwards, the angel knowing what it meant.

Crowley laid next to her, sleeping lightly. / Gabriel was still dead asleep, his body tired. He'd turned off angel radio a while ago, preferring the silence and the solitude he had without it.

Anna shook Gabriel, tears in her eyes. "Gabe..."

Gabe blinked awake, "Wha..?" he muttered, sitting up. "What's wrong?"

"It's Cas..." She said.

"What's happened?" he murmured, gently wiping away her tears with his thumb.

"I think he's gone... I heard his name on the angel radio."

"Cas is gone..?" he choked out, his own tears beginning to form.

"We've got to find him."

Gabriel nodded. They'd have to be careful. The last thing they needed was leading Lucifer back here.

She nodded, getting up and getting dressed. "We've got to take a chance that he might be alive."

Gabriel nodded, dressing back into his own clothes.

"I can look for a signal for him. Then we need to bring him back here."

"We have to make sure we aren't followed. If Lucifer finds out about this place, we're all dead." Lucifer might have been his older brother, but he terrified him more than anything else.

She nodded. "We also have to tell Crowley."

"I got it." Gabriel offered. He wasn't sure where the demon was, and he did not want to interrupt him. He had seen Crowley's wrath before, it was not something he wanted to mess with.

She nodded. "I'll be right back." She said, popping out to where she felt Cas' signal.

Gabriel knocked gently on Crowley's bedroom door. "Uh, Crowley, Anna and I will be back a bit later." he didn't wait for a response, disappearing to meet with Anna. Leaving was easy, coming back without being followed was the tricky part.

Anna got there first, seeing Cas. "Cas? Are you alright?" She asked, hearing him struggling to breath. "Cas, it's okay. We're going to get you out of here."

Gabriel glanced around worriedly. Cas shouldn't be alone. They might have walked right into Lucifer's trap.

"Gabriel, we need to get him back." She said, only sensing the three grace signals.

Her words snapped him out of his trance. He blinked, looking back at Castiel. "Right, sorry."

"There's no other angels here."

"Not what I'm worried about." he grunted. He lifted Castiel's arm over his shoulder.

She nodded, helping them back. "Get Cas on the couch. I'll go get Crowley." She said, rushing over to the door.

Gabriel set Cas on the couch, beginning to bandage them up. / Crowley luckily, had gotten dressed. Kylie was still asleep, and he'd left a mug of tea for her on the nightstand.

"Cas is hurt, Crowley. Really hurt." She said, looking scared.

Crowley blinked. Cas? He walked past her, walking into the living room. Castiel was lying on the couch, his breathing shallow, as Gabriel tried his best to fix him up.

Anna looked worried, knowing that was her brother on the couch dying.

Crowley stood there without remorse. He wasn't sure why Anna had brought him out here, but he'd stand her. / "C'mon Cas, stay awake with me. Don't you dare fall asleep on me now." Gabriel murmured, trying to get the bleeding to stop.

"You know something right? Please… he's your best friend."

Crowley blinked, looking at her. His best friend? He didn't have /friends/.

"Please... We can't lose him." She said softly. / Cas was struggling to stay awake. "Lucifer... He's coming... He's got a tracker on all of the angels."

"Shit." Crowley muttered. / Gabriel's eyes widened in horror. Lucifer was coming, and most likely for him.

"You and Anna are in danger. Anna most of all. Cause apparently you have a weapon that can kill him." Anna looked at them and nodded, pulling out the archangel blade.

Crowley blinked again. A weapon he hadn't known existed. This meant they didn't have to take the Mark. "We'll need to kill him." he growled.

They nodded. "We'll need to get Kylie somewhere safe." She said, looking at Cas. "And we're not going to lose you either."

"Leave Kylie to me." Crowley murmured. He didn't trust them to keep her safe.

They nodded, Cas looking at him. "Crowley... you have to run. He'll come after you next..." He said, his breathing even shallower.

"I know. Make sure he's dead before then." Crowley muttered. He'd have to keep Kylie away from him, at least for a little while. He didn't like it, but he would have to do it.

He nodded, looking at the two angels trying to save him. "You both need to stay safe too... Don't leave me have died in vain." "You're not going to die, Cas..."

Crowley was already walking back towards his bedroom. He gently shook Kylie awake. "Kylie, love, wake up." he said softly.

Kylie woke up, looking at him. "What's going on?" She asked him. / Cas smiled, his eyes closing. "I'm sorry, Anna."

"We need to go, love. Lucifer is coming. I need to take you somewhere safe." he said softly.

She got up fast, getting dressed. "Where are you taking me?" She asked him, seeing the look in his eyes. "I'm going alone, aren't I?"

He nodded, frowning. "Me going will just put you in more danger." he said softly.

"You'll come find me afterwards, right?" She asked him.

"Of course, love." he murmured, kissing her gently.

She kissed him back, smiling. "Where do I go?" She asked.

"It isn't the nicest of places, but I assure you you'll be safe." he said softly. He was hoping this idea would work.

"Where is this place?" She asked him, looking confused. Anna stood in the doorway. "You might have to remove her memories. Lucifer could still try to use her to get to you." She said, the tears in her eyes.

Crowley turned to her, eyes flashing momentarily. He turned back to Kylie. "Only if you think I should. I can give them back." he said softly.

She nodded, knowing that if he died, it'd be kinder. "I think it'd be best." / Anna returned to Gabriel, getting into his arms and letting the tears fall.

Crowley nodded. With a flash, they were somewhere else entirely. He handed her a bottle, as well as a lighter. "Make a ring of it. Its holy fire, it should keep an angel locked into it." He said softly. "Are you ready for me to take the memories?"

She nodded, kissing him. "I love you." She said softly.

"I love you too." He murmured against her lips as he kissed her. He gently pulled away, pushing two fingers to her forehead.

She closed her eyes, waiting for him to finish.

Within a moment, all memories of him were gone.

She opened her eyes, seeing an unfamiliar face in front of her. "Who are you?"

"No one, love." he answered, trying his best to keep the pain out of his voice. Within a flash he was gone again, back at the bunker. He was ready to fight Lucifer, even if it meant dying. At least she'd be safe.

Anna looked scared, nervous. "We're ready for him. If he comes and doesn't send his followers."

"I can take care of some measly demons." Crowley growled. He was prepared, and in an offensive stance.

Anna nodded, looking scared as she looked at Gabriel. "If we don't make it through this... I love you."