The Man Who Knew Too Little
Chapter 8 by: Clubs
After all the archangel fighting crap had happened, Dean decided it would be a good time to slip away from everyone else. Gabriel and Lucifer seemed to be at ease for the most part, hopeful and confident that they might just be able to get through to their brothers. Though this would not take away the threat of their dick father, it would make it significantly easier to defeat Him. They weren't going after Michael and Raphael, instead deciding to let them cool off and think. That, and Bobby's house was the one place where they didn't feel completely exposed. Yes, all of the enemies they currently cared about knew that they were there, but they liked to maintain the illusion of security as long as they could so they wouldn't go completely mad (or in Lucifer's case, completely mad again).
So, while the former Trickster, Morningstar, and other two hunters were busy doing whatever it was they were doing—Dean didn't really know or care—the older Winchester had excused himself from Bobby's living room to go upstairs, beer in hand. He would have gone to the Panic Room, but, considering the last occupant of that area, he preferred not to. Just because he had to work with the guy didn't mean he had to like him, and. iIt didn't help that he had only recently gotten used to the idea that the archangel was to be thought of as an ally instead of an enemy.
He sat on the guest bed upstairs, ignoring the groan of protest the frame made to the addition of weight.
With all the worrying and planning and considering they had done about God and Michael and Raphael, the fact that Cas was the one being possessed by God had almost been completely overlooked by the others. Not Dean, though. He may have been focused on the archangels for a while, but he was still being crushed by the painful reality that it would have been at this point—probably sooner, actually—that he would have called Cas. Even knowing that there was probably nothing that the angel could do, Castiel was one of the only constant, reliable people in his life, and he really was just fond of his company. He may get frustrated sometimes, but he was willing to admit that that was most likely just because he was a general asshole about a lot of things.
Like getting them into this whole mess.
Okay, so it wasn't entirely his fault, he hadn't been the one to open purgatory and get his ass possessed by God, but if he hadn't been such of an asshole to Cas all the time, maybe he would have been able to help him before it was too late. Because that's what it was now. Too late. Dean fucking Winchester was too fucking late.
Dean ran a hand through his hair, taking a deep breath. He wasn't going to cry. Seriously. He wasn't that much of a girl. He wasn't dancing a jig or anything, but he wasn't just gonna break down.
"Damn it..." he whispered, pinching the bridge of his nose and squeezing his eyes shut against the world. After a stretch of silence, he stood suddenly. The bed creaked in relief.
"Damn it, Cas!" he said, voice raising from a cracked whisper to an exclamation, loud but not a shout. Yet. His breathing was rough, chest heaving with stress and pent-up aggression. As was usual for him. Unfortunately, he selected to deal with his aggression by slamming his clenched fist into the nearest wall.
He let out a shout of pain, holding his hand and swearing.
"OW, FUCK!" not his best idea. He didn't hear anyone approach until someone spoke from the doorway.
"What the hell you doin' up here, idgit?"
Three guesses who that was.
Dean spun around to see Bobby standing there, looking at him with concern and irritation.
"Boy, I leave you alone for two minutes and you try to break my house. No wonder you two keep dyin'. Idjits, the both of ya." The older hunter said, shaking his head.
"Sorry Bobby." Dean muttered, still shaking out his throbbing hand. "I guess I'll just go downstairs again..." He attempted to slip past Bobby through the doorway, but the bearded man rolled his eyes and stopped him.
"For God's sake, do I have to be the heart and soul for everyone and their emotional problems? Even the damn archangels of heaven can't get their words out straight."
Dean didn't respond, making Bobby sigh.
"Look. I don't want to be the feelings vent any more than you want me to be. But if it means you'll stop trying to destroy the not-at-all-safe safehouse we have, then I don't really have a choice."
"Bobby, listen..." Dean started, but was cut off.
"No Dean, you listen. You don't think I know what this is about. But I don't think you know what this is about. I know you miss him. Don't even try to deny it; I see it in your face. And so does Sam. Hell, the only reason the holy dynamic duo hasn't called you out on it is because they're justonly slightly more messed up than you are. So if you just suck it up and admit that even the great Dean Winchester feels feelings sometimes, this will all go a lot faster."
Dean didn't say anything. To be honest he was speechless. Bobby just continued.
"I'm not gonna get all touchy-feely, but for the sake of your mind and my house, I think you've got some soul-searching to do about what you really feel. Preferably not as violent as it usually is for you. We can't afford another one on our team who's liable to go apeshit any second."
Dean opened his mouth, but once again Bobby cut him off.
"Don't even say it. Don't even say 'I'm fine.' Because you ain't, boy. You ain't."
There was a long silence before the old hunter turned to leave.
"I'm going back down. Don't come back until you can be of some use." As he left, Dean could have sworn he heard the manhim mutter "idjit" before disappearing down the stairs. He was left there, standing awkwardly, hand dangling pitifully from his wrist, and mouth slightly open from the speech he had just received.
Damn it, Cas!
Castiel, or rather his consciousness, fluttered into awareness at the sound of Dean's voice. Actually, it wasn't really his voice. It was the sound of his soul, calling out in what seemed to be an unconscious prayer toward the angel.
Dean... He tried to answer. He was weak. So weak and he couldn't see or feel or hear anything beyond Dean. Dean...
As he became more aware, the angel felt a cold, steely, unbelievably powerful force near him. But it wasn't just near him. It was everywhere around him. He was surrounded by it, drowning in the force, in the aura.
How sweet. Castiel felt rather than heard the words, in the language he was born in. It was coming from the aura, all around him and echoing off of the nothing. Your pet is crying for you.
Dean. It was all he could manage.
My poor corrupted child. You poor wisp of Grace. This is what he has done to you. Castiel recognized the force now, though he had no idea how. He had never been spoken directly to by God before.
Father?
I am so sorry that it had to come to this.
Even in his dreary, half-conscious state, Castiel couldn't stop the tingle of displeasure in reaction to the honey smooth tone of God's words, a. All too much like the low, cold sound of the villains in human movies and TV shows. The ones with slick-backed hair and a perpetual smirk of satisfaction on their faces. Every instinct he had in him was telling him that this being was wrong. Dangerous. Not to be trusted.
It's going to take some effort to break you, I can see that already. But don't fret, my child. I will make you pure and whole again.
What do you mean? Castiel asked. He was feeling a sense of panic well up in him.
You have been tricked, contaminated by human thoughts and feelings and ideals. You have been corrupted by the Winchesters. I had hoped that bringing you back as many times as I did, by saving your precious so-called "friends", that you would see the light, that you would make the right decision and serve me once again. Unfortunately I put my faith in the wrong angel.
What... Castiel didn't know what to say. "See the light"? "Serve me once again"? What...what was He saying?
I like you, Castiel. I always have. Ever since I created you. You're different from the other angels. Different from the others who have fallen. You never lose faith. Even when you are weakened, even when you supposedly turn your back on me, you are simply confused. You don't know what to think. You get angry. But you never, ever lose your faith. So I want to help you.
How? Where am I?
You are still in your vessel. I took the liberty of removing all traces of human soul from it. This body, when you choose to use it, it your own.
Why can't I see anything? Why can't I move?
Because I am in your vessel as well.
Castiel didn't respond to that. His head was spinning.
Castiel, why did you stop the Apocalypse?
...what?
Why did you ally yourself with the Winchesters against the Will of Heaven and stop the Apocalypse?
I...It seemed to be the right thing to do.
Why?
People were dying. Humans were dying. Where were you, Father? Where were you when your world was dying?
Castiel, what if they were meant to die?
This was met with a long silence. Meant to die? What was that supposed to mean? Apparently sensing Castiel's uneasiness and confusion, God continued.
My child, the Apocalypse was just like any other show of Divine Wrath. It had to happen. You cannot stop the Will of God. There would be no point to having a God if He was not all-powerful.
But Father...
You know just as well as I do how far my power stretches.
But Father, why? Why must it come to pass? You created these people, the people who are my friends. What is the point to destroy them?
I am not destroying them. Castiel, this is why I must help you. This is human thinking, human logic, human emotion and attachment.
They are my friends.
They are my enemies. And the enemies to all who stand with me. I am so sorry this had to happen Castiel. I truly am. Once I have rid the earth of them, you will be able to see why this must happen.
The panic suddenly rose up like a wave in Castiel. Rid the earth of them. His friends. Sam, Bobby, Dean. Dean.
No.
No?
No, Father. You can't. You can't kill my friends. You can't kill Dean. No. Just like that, God's tone was icy and foreboding, promising death and destruction.
I am God. I am the creator of all. I can do anything I please. You are a fallen angel who must learn his place.
The power behind the words ricocheted through Cas like thunder.
Why are you possessing my body?
So you cannot get in my way again. You will learn eventually, Castiel. Or I will have to bring my Wrath down upon you as well.
Cas wanted to fight back, but there was literally nothing he could do. Not a damn thing. He didn't even know where his body was, how to find it, let alone regain control over it. When he remained silent, God spoke again, quietly.
Good. And if you're a good little angel and don't try to fight me, I might even let you watch when I slaughter the man you love...
A/N: I REALLY hate God right now for this.
So basically, by thinking about Cas and wishing that he was there with them, Dean inadvertently was praying for him. Which Cas heard. And so did God. The only reason God didn't go is because he already knew that Dean was there with all the others and he had no reason to go and confront him. Just to clarify, all Cas really remembers is opening the door to Purgatory, and then that's it. So he wakes up and can't see or feel or hear anything (except Dean's prayer), and has no idea what has been going on. I'm only saying this because I'm not sure that I was entirely clear in the actual chapter. Either way, hope you enjoy this gratuitously Destiel chapter which is full of angst and Bobby being everyone's therapist. If you are not a destiel shipper, then you can do 1 of two things here: you can take the destiel references and interpret them as just meaning that Dean and Cas have that whole profound bond thing instead of being in love (which is what I was kinda going for here), or you can stop reading. I would not suggest the second option, as I'm already probably in a lot of trouble with Jokers for even suggesting that
(Jokers: Well, I suppose you could stop reading, but there wouldn't be much point. I mean, there won't be any on screen sexytimes. Probably).
...Don't count on that, Jokers.
But we like readers. And reviewers. So please don't leave.
Thanks for reading and everything! Next chapter by Jokers and will have a familiar face reappearing to explain some shit! YAY PLOT DEVELOPMENT!