Reality was spinning. Swirling, blinding pain stabbed at Castiel's consciousness. Peaceful darkness slipped away from the assault. The injured man's sweaty palms found purchase on the floor. A weak attempt to ground himself. If existence would stop moving so much, he could try to get up. Pain beat against Castiel's skull. He knew the best way to manage pain was to focus on something else. Like breathing.

Slowly taking in air, feeling his chest expand at a steady pace. He just as slowly released his breath. The spinning weakened after an eternity. With nothing else he could do, he continued his steady gentle inhale and exhale. Castiel became aware of the chill permeating through his body. He must still be in the same concrete room. There was an ache in his lower back, and at his rib cage. He was kicked.. by someone. And his head. 'I am probably concussed.' The fact would naturally panic him; fortunately that very injury assisted in disassociating himself from his concerns.

A warm grip fastened itself onto his shoulder. Nothing hurtful or demanding. It helped. 'Keep breathing. The world is not spinning. Inhale, exhale.' Sometime during this recovery Castiel had managed to finally pull his legs under himself. He is how hunched over on his knees. Palms and forehead resting against the ground. Almost in a mocking position of prayer.

"Castiel.." This time he could recognize the voice. Uriel. He was alive!

"Ahhhh," Escaped his lips. Which was his unfortunate attempt at communicating, though it did perfectly convey what condition his body was in.

"Slowly Castiel. You are injured." The obvious statement flared an annoyance in Castiel. 'Thank you for such a reaffirming grasp on the obvious.' Unable to communicate, he opted instead to slowly push with his arms. His head began the excruciating ascent into a sitting position.

Uriel was trying to sooth his brother. Normally he would heal Castiel, but he didn't feel the stirring of belief in his chest. In order to help, the man had to believe. There was nothing. Perhaps he is too unfocused. May not realize it is Uriel who speaks to him.

Time passed in silence. Occasionally some pained noise would escape from Castiel's lips. Uriel puzzled over why he could not help. He was of blue eyes! That was the point of his abilities. Afterall he was the cause of Castiel's discomfort. At the very least he should be able to alleviate it. Unable to be of any assistance the older man instead observed Castiel closely. Monitoring his recovery.

Now sitting in a chair, Castiel managed to control his pain. Though the florescent lights overhead were piercing through his eye lids. It instigated the migraine that was running freely about his skull. There was a thought lingering at the edge of his awareness.. something that was important. Castiel rubbed his hands along his face vigorously. His finger caught on something plastic by his ear. Of course. The sunglasses.

Eagerly he pulled them down from atop his head. Now protected he gingerly opened his eyes for the first time. Yup. He was in the same room. The door he'd kicked in was still open, and barely hanging. Uriel stood silently before him. Probably trying to be considerate in some way. He slowly looked around the room for his assailant. Instead he found there was another door behind him, that remained closed. Several metal crates that he couldn't see into. More cockroaches. They seemed to be swarming around a lumpy blue mass in the corner. Castiel sniffed and smelled something foul in the air.

"Uriel," He began. With each beat of his heart there was an echoing throb in his brain. Castiel steeled his expression to mask the impact. He needed to recover and lead his subordinate. "What is that?" Instead of moving towards it he stared at the unidentified blue thing.

"That would be the remains of the man who believed in me," Uriel's voice held no remorse. No infliction at all. It was surprising. Castiel was known for his reserved manner. Uriel was more prone to emotional expression. Yet he stands before the remains of one who believed in him, and doesn't even seem to care.

"What lead to his death? And why was I attacked?" Castiel turned to face Uriel. The dark man remained silent. It seemed as though he was deciding on which words would be best. Slowly, ominously Castiel stood to his full height. There was a dead man, and he needed answers.

"I arrived to consult with the man who believed," Uriel lightly gestured to the dead body, "Mark. He assulted me, and I managed to knock him aside. When I demanded an explanation he was evasive. We were out in the larger room, and Mark grabbed ahold of the pipe along the wall. He pulled it free and tried to use it as a weapon. I weathered the attack and finally was able to pull the pipe from his grasp." Uriel shifted on his feet and glanced around the room as though he was anxious to leave.

"He-he came after me again, and I swung the pipe as strongly as I could. It clipped his arm. As I stood over him I tried again to find out why he attacked. It was then I was struck from behind. A second man almost hit me unconcious. The two dragged me to this very room." Uriel paused and finally made eye contact with Castiel. Something was off. Uriel's eyes still didn't hold the emotions Castiel was accustomed to.

"Mark began to interrogate me. Asking me what we were after. I said we are trying to locate our lost sister Anna. It wasn't what he wanted to hear. Mark kept insisting there was another motive. That I was a threat. It was around that time you kicked in the door. The other man quickly knocked you out." Uriel looked away again. He strode across the room to the spot where Castiel had fallen. The silence was contemplative. "I used the distraction you provided to grab Mark's gun and shoot him. He was closer to me. The other man fled. I saw his face but never knew who he was. While they-

"They interrogated me Mark said that Anna was 'doing good' in the ghetto. She's at Diocesan Boys' School." Uriel's face finally held a true emotion as he spoke his next words, "It's in the heart of dangerous land. There's a cult that's been growing in the city. That school is in it's territory."

From that entire story Castiel only trusted the idea that Anna was working at that school. There was no way Uriel was the victim of an attack. Castiel spotted blood splatter across the tailored suit, and he didn't even have a limp. No awkwardness to his movements. Nothing to indicate he was assaulted by two men, and then interrogated. There are no other blue eyes here who could have healed him. It just didn't add up.

Still, their next action had to be decided. "Where are we?"

"Don't know. We should leave." Uriel seemed content with the change in subject. Castiel mentally checked on his body. His back and ribs will be tender but easily managed. His migraine was fading but still very present. He was grateful to his past self for acquiring the sunglasses.

"Once we have Anna in our custody, you will make a police report regarding this incident. For now Mark's remains will stay until our mission is complete." Castiel did not enjoy his own decision. There was a man in that corner. A man who deserved to have his final rites, and to be buried in a proper grave. 'It will happen. Just not now.' He tried to assuage his guilt.

Uriel didn't question. Immediately he departed back through the broken door, easily maneuvering in the darkness. Quickly he located the exit and the two blue eyes emerged into the early evening. Uriel's second nature ability to navigate the place did not pass by unnoticed. Castiel was resolved in his concern. There absolutely was more going on. The man's head throbbed at the added responsibility. Now he had to monitor Uriel's actions as well complete is orders.

Uriel pulled out his smart phone and searched the Diocesan Boys' School. It was 5 miles away. It was a manageable task to reach their destination. This city did provide public transportation, yet Uriel was not anxious to place himself in close contact with this city's residents. He passed the information to Castiel.

Without a word the younger man turned and flagged down a taxi. The driver pulled over for the two immediately. Money's money, even if one of the men had blood splattered on his clothes, and the other had blood on the side of his face. Uriel was pleased with the decision. At least they were not going to walk. The two men entered the cab.

"Diocesan Boys' School, on Wittager Street." Uriel stated the directions. His voice slightly haughty. Afterall he was speaking to a lowly taxi driver. It's not as though he was going to concern himself with manners.

Fortunately the driver exercised manners of his own. "Yes sir. Your friend there seems injured." The driver rummaged around the front seat and produced a few clean napkins and a bottle of water. "Here, use this to clean up a little. You okay sir?"

Castiel was surprised to say the least. There were a few moment where he stared at the driver, taking in his appearance for the first time. The man was aged. Gay hairs sprinkles his hair and full beard. There were lines across his face, radiating from the corners of his brown eyes. "Happy lines" his younger brother Samandiriel calls them. "Thank you," Castiel was humbled by the small act of kindness, "I am fine."

His answer seemed to suffice the old man's concerns, and the car pulled back on to the road. The ride over to the school was slowed by evening traffic. It gave Uriel time to sort his prayers. The older man sat with blood across his expensive suit, unconcerned of the appearance he gave off. Castiel stemmed the blood flow from the gash in his skull. The remaining time he tried to feel out Anna. If they truly were 5 miles away from her, then the two men should have easily flashed to her location. Yet it didn't happen. He could feel her. Almost like another presence in the same large room. It was the same as last time he attempted, it was almost as though she was fuzzy. Barely out of his reach. 'What am I getting myself into?'

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So I stole the name Diocesan Boys' School. No idea what that place is but I enjoyed the way it sounded too much to pass it up. I have no association with them, and imply no association with them through this fiction. I am not attempting to slander or insinuate anything about their institution.

I am also sure there are millions of things wrong with this grammatically. If there are please PM me anything glaringly wrong. Hope you enjoy the story so far!