In the middle of their staring match Gabriel materialized holding two bags with the biggest shit eating grin the world had ever seen.

"Sorry to interrupt your eye sex-"

Dean let go of Castiel's face like he'd bitten him.

"-but I promise it's not DiGiorno."

"Shut it, chuckles."

"Whatever you say, Jack Twist."

"Can it."

Castiel remained where he stood while Dean snatched one bag from Gabriel and tossed it to him.

"Get dressed."

He did not need to be told twice, shivering lightly at the chill of the room as he left it. He was surprised to find his clerical suit along with a white button up for Dean – wing holes included. He had been expecting one of Gabriel's pranks; sending a silent apology through prayer, he slipped quickly into the outfit before returning to the main room and holding Dean's shirt out to him.

"Get dressed, Dean, we have much to discuss."

"Aw man, can it wait? I'm starv-"

"Please. This is very important."

Silently, Castiel added the part where he wasn't sure if he could mentally prepare himself for this again. He wasn't sure if Dean noticed the resolve in his eyes or the quiet desperation, but the winged man seemed resigned to whatever was about to happen.

"Alright."

Dean set down his half demolished burger before turning his back to him.

"Uh, you mind…?"

"You two are precious, really!"

"Shut up!"

Castiel did as he always had, ignored Gabriel's rude comments and removed the coat in one fluid movement. The change was immediate, Dean letting out a content sigh and rolling his shoulders.

"I had forgotten about the discomfort in your wings that you experience when you wear this, my apologies."

"Eh, don't worry, Cass. I'll live."

The winged man turned to face him then, a small wink that only Castiel could see and one of Dean's most genuine smiles as he took the offered shirt at last.

"Later."

"Agreed."

In the end, Castiel had to help Dean once again with getting into his shirt, much to Gabriel's endless amusement.

"Sucks to be you, pal!"

"Shaddup!"

Castiel was grateful for Gabriel, for the way he could make everything seem so light hearted despite the looming darkness on the horizon. If Dean decided that he did not want Castiel to continue on this journey with him, his only hope was that Gabriel would watch over him. Gabriel, grabbing his shoulder, pulled him from his thoughts and forced him to look the shorter man in the eyes.

"Are you sure you're ready?"

"As ready as I will ever be."

"Sorry I kind of sucked as far as brothers go."

"You have done alright."

"Is this chick flick moment over, ladies?"

Castiel chuckled softly at Dean doing what he did best.

"I believe so."

"Alright, let's get this show on the road."

He rubbed his hands together while looking eager, his wings betraying his façade again as they twitched in an agitated nervousness. Turning back to Gabriel, he gave him the go ahead.

"So, how long do you want this little talk to last?"

"One hour should be more than adequate. If we are not completed by then, I can easily have you wait outside."

"Whatever, bro."

Gabriel didn't touch them, simply snapped his fingers and they both found themselves in a church that had sunlight filtering through the stained glass. Castiel took in a surprised breath, looking around once and yet already recognizing the location.

"Oh Gabriel…"

It must have been his tone, Dean clutching his elbow with a tenacity of a worried mother hen.

"What's wrong? What did he do?"

"Nothing, nothing. I just…this church holds significance for me is all."

"What d'ya mean?"

"Not now. Please, have a seat. We have much to discuss."

Castiel walked to the front of the pews, leaning against the organ near the podium so that he could face Dean as he spoke while the winged man sat in the front most of the pews. Despite sunset painting the room in rose colored hues the atmosphere was grave.

"We have been through much together, you and I."

"Don't start with that."

"Dean-"

"No, you don't start a story with a goodbye. You just don't."

Exasperated, Castiel obliged.

"Very well."

He crossed his arms in an attempt to seem more serious and only managing to make himself feel that much smaller. This was proving to be harder than he had anticipated.

"The memory you had, what happened?"

"You told me you'd always be with me."

A sad smile graced Castiel's lips as he recalled that day in Heaven.

"That was three days before you were to be born."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Do not interrupt me."

His eyes grew stern and he got a clenched jaw and a curt nod for his efforts.

"The day before you were to be born into this world I was called on by my superior, Zachariah. Michael had warned me against letting any other Angel know of your whereabouts and at the time I was too inexperienced to question my orders. Blindly, I listened and left Zachariah in the dark about having ever been given you."

"Why would your superior give two fucks about me?"

"Dean, you are…special."

"Damn straight."

Affection swelled in his chest and not wanting to allow it to deter him, Castiel gave a half hearted scowl before continuing.

"Your soul is special, Dean. Your birth ushered the beginning of the end."

Castiel allowed that to sink in for a moment.

"Your family is part of a long standing bloodline, Dean. You were born to take on the legacy; you were born to be a vessel for the Archangel Michael himself."

Dean raised his hand like a petulant child.

"Yes, Dean?"

"What's a vessel?"

"Do you remember that Demon from the other day?"

"Uh…yeah?"

"Demons, as most media suggests, can possess any human they want. Angels...are similar in that aspect but are harder to contain. Their true visage can burn the eyes out of any onlooker; if they take a vessel that is not their own they can possibly destroy them completely. There are certain people, special people, who can see the Angels as there are –"

"So, am I-?"

"I doubt it, but I could be wrong. I believe that you can currently spy on our true visages due to the Grace that is slowly bonding with your soul. It would explain the slow growing abilities and the reason why you materialized wings of your own."

"Awesome."

"I believe that the reason that same Grace has not destroyed you may in part be due to your being Michael's vessel, his sword. You were made to contain him, it is logical to assume you are capable of utilizing his Grace."

"Wait, in part? What's that supposed to mean? And what the Hell does any of this have to do with the time I spent with you in Heaven?"

"There…is much more to speak of. The night that Zachariah called on me, I had to leave you behind. You were tucked away in my favorite Heaven, supposedly safe and unknown. I stupidly thought that it would be enough, the fact that I kept you to myself."

Chocked by emotions, Castiel cleared his throat before he went on as Dean took the opportunity to interject again.

"What are you talking about, Cass? What-"

"Something unprecedented happened that night. Demons breached Heaven for the first time in history. While I was being commended for my performance in a battle that had occurred over a fortnight previous they tore apart that Heaven and dragged you to Hell."

"…what?"

"I later learned that it had been orchestrated by Zachariah, a means to break the first seal."

"What are you talking about? The first seal? Hell? What the fuck, Cass?"

"Dean, please let me finish."

Silently fuming, from as far as Castiel could tell, he did not interrupt for the moment.

"It is foretold that the world will end when Lucifer rises from his cage and fights Michael on the mortal plane."

"Lucifer?"

"Yes. The seals keep his cage shut, prevent him from leaving Hell."

"Wait, so what does it have to do with me?"