One week passed since Cas showed up.

Dean didn't try to call him again. He knew Cas would come back as soon as he knows something. Sam's state wasn't getting worse now, though he was still coughing blood. Dean was paying more attention to him than before, looking after him as much as he could. Few times, Dean would wake up in the middle of the night just to check up Sammy, making sure he's still breathing. He knew this situation couldn't go like that much longer, but he was patient. Cas promised him to look for something that will help his brother.

On the 8th day, when Sam had gone to buy some food, Cas showed up.

"Hello Dean."

Dean almost jumped.

"Jezz Cas… You'll be death of me!"

Angel smiled.

"My apologies."

"It's okay man… It's been a week. Did you manage to find something?!"

"I had to be very careful cause Naomi is still looking for me, that's why it took me so long…"

Dean nodded and sat next to Cas.

"And? What did you find?"

"I'm afraid I don't have good news, Dean. I couldn't find out what type of disease Sam has - just like I can't tell you what brought him back to life. The only thing I can tell you for sure is that his disease is something no angel and no demon can fix… But, that's what you already know…."

"Damn it. So what are we supposed to do? We can just watch him slowly die or what? That's not gonna happen man. There's gotta be something…"

Angel shook his head.

"As I told you Dean. Sam's disease looks like one of the ancient curses – a lot older curse than angels and demons are. Angels and demons don't have enough power to break it… Unless…"

Dean immediately looked at his angel.

"Unless?"

Cas ran hand though his hair as if he was uncomfortable to talk.

"Cas?"

"It's just something I saw when I searched though prophecies, okay? That's not going to work anyway, Dean…"

"Cas, spill!"

Angel rolled his eyes and took a deep breath.

"It's ancient prophecy about 5th archangel…"

Dean froze.

"What?"

"The 5th archangel, Dean…."

"Weren't there just 4 of them?" asked hunter curiously.

"Yeah. According to first father's plan they were. Michael, Raphael, Gabriel and Lucifer. They were most powerful ones the only ones who actually saw our Father. But, as I said, there's this prophecy. I heard about it long time ago and I almost forgot it exists. This prophecy says that there will be 5th archangel, too. No one knows when or in what form he'll come. He can turn into anything – he can turn into flower, cloud, animal, human – he can turn into angel or demon. It's just up to him, when and how he'll come… That's why I didn't want to tell you about this…"

Dean's brain blocked out.

Great. How the hell are they going to find him?!

"And you're saying he could fix Sam up if he wanted?"

Cas nodded.

"Yeah. He's the most powerful thing you can imagine. The prophecy says he can heal every single disease, he can bring back to life what's already dead… It says he could even fix the angel If he falls – like turn him into angel again, give him his wings back and everything…"

"Wow, that's pretty big…." Dean agreed

"I suppose there's no way how to find him, is it?"

"No, there's not…This prophecy is no use for us since he hadn't show up yet… We can just wait and help Sam to feel little better until…"

Cas cut himself off and remained quiet.

Dean closed his eyes in desperation.

If what Cas is saying is true and this archangel is the only thing what can fix Sam up, they're really fucked up.

"Dean, I'm sorry…"

"No, Cas, don't be. You have nothing to be sorry about... You did everything you could…"

They remained quiet again, just staring at each other, both of them lost in their own thoughts.

"I think I have to go Dean. Someone is getting close to the angel tablet…"

Dean reluctantly nodded. He didn't want his angel leave, but apparently, he has to go.

When angel saw hunter's reaction, his heart broke into million pieces.

If only there was something he could do for Dean.

Slowly, without any word Cas reached and pulled his hunter into hug which Dean didn't fight at all.

He gladly accepted and hugged him back.

"I'll come back soon, Dean. Look after your brother…"

"I will."

They just stood like that for a little bit more until Dean was alone again.

That night Castiel came back.

The only difference was Dean didn't see him because he was sleeping. Angel choose this time on purpose. He didn't want to talk to Dean again, trying to give him false hopes he knew wouldn't work. Instead, he chose time when Dean was asleep.

He did this a lot lately.

It was perfect opportunity to tell Dean what he wanted. He didn't have to worry about what is Dean going to say. He just let his mouth talk exactly what his mind thought.

It was liberating.

While Dean slept, Cas told him about how much he's worried. Worried about lots of things including the fact Naomi is going to find him sooner or later. He told him about how desperate and sad he is lately. He could say his deepest secrets out loud - like how much he misses him and how he wishes he could be with them again and be helpful.

This night was no difference.

"I'm so sorry Dean. I'm so sorry that I'm useless again. Believe me I would do anything just to heal your brother…"

Angel took a deep breath and sat on one side of Dean's bed, careful not to wake him up.

"I don't know what's happening, Dean. How I wish I could provide you more answers…."

Angel remained quiet, just quietly starring at his hunter.

He looked so peaceful. So relaxed. So beautiful.

Cas shook his head.

These types of thoughts Cas had a lot lately.

It concerns him – he knows that he shouldn't be thinking about Dean this way, but he just can't help himself. He can't deny it. Sure, he finds Dean beautiful everytime he sees him, but right now looking at him there, sleeping, angel doesn't believe he had ever seen him look more beautiful.

Castiel smiled gently.

He loves how Dean snores a little bit when his head turns little bit to right… He loves how peaceful Dean looks and he would do anything just to see him that peaceful when he's awake too… He loves how Dean smiles at him when he tells him something about heaven… He loves how Dean's eyes light up when he finally shows up after a while… He loves Dean's crushing hugs… He loves the way Dean laughs when he doesn't get some of references… He loves Dean's 78 freckles.. He loves…

Angel sighted.

He definitely should not be having these thoughts.

It's against rules for angels to fall in love. If somebody noticed they would surely kill him – make him fall.

And what would Dean do, if he knew?

He would surely get mad at him and would never want to see him again. Dean is 100% straight, right?

Castiel couldn't risk it.

Friendship with Dean is everything he has. Everything that keeps him sane.

Angel noticed his eyes feel funny. Is this what people call crying?

He doesn't care.

He dared to reach for Dean's hand and caressed it gently.

Cas held Dean's hand for a while and then placed it back on the bed.

After a while he looked up at hunter again.

His lips were twitched into smile.

Cas found himself staring at them.

Dear God, how many times he imagined to kiss those perfect lips. He doesn't have much experience with kissing, though. Not that it would be unpleasant or something. He heard people say that if you kiss someone you love, kiss is thousands times better. He didn't love Meg, so he didn't get chance to know what it feels like.

Now, he's looking at the human he loved more than anything.

And his beautiful lips seem to be closer and closer.

How is that possible?

Angel's throat and mouth went dry. His breath hitched.

Does he remember that right? One pair of lips catch other one's upper lip, and the pair of other one's lips catch his bottom one. Then lips move together in one, perfect rhythm.

Dean's lips are getting closer and closer. Angel forgets that something like oxygen exists.

Just this one time.

He wants to know how it feels like.

He needs to know how it feels like to kiss someone you love.

Cas finally took a breath.

He was close now.

Very close.

Angel took a minute to brace himself, closed his eyes, and before he could do something stupid, like think, he leaned down and pressed his lips to Dean's.

The world had stopped. There was nothing else but Dean's perfect warm lips on his own. Cas moaned, even if he didn't meant to. This feels way better than he thought it would. Angel noticed the unknown sensation which was suddenly filling him. This feels amazing. This feels right. After few more seconds when he felt his heartbeat's getting impossibly crazy, he pulled away.

"Castiel, Casiel, Castiel… You're impossibly stupid, you know?"

Cas's eyes snapped open.

"Naomi?"

"Do you think I'm that stupid? You really think that Winchesters wouldn't be the first place where I would look for you?" woman stepped closer and let out laugh.

"Naomi, stop.. I- I can explain…"

"Explain what Castiel? That you fell in love with this human even if you're not allowed to?!"

"No, please you need to listen to me… I didn't mean to…"

"I assumed that this would be the case. I just didn't have any proof. It was obvious to me after you refused to kill him…."

Castiel gulped.

"Naomi, please…"

"However, I didn't come here to discuss your feelings... I came here to make you deal…"

"Deal? What deal?" angel breathed.

"Okay… So, You'll give me Angel Tabet right now and you'll never show up to Winchester ever again, and I'll forget I saw something tonight... Sounds pretty good, doesn't it?"

Castiel's mouth opened.

How could he be so stupid and let his feelings win over his brain? He managed to control himself for years, why not tonight? But he can't do this. He would rather die than to never see Dean again.

"I can't Naomi…"

Naomi chucked.

"You know how this is going to end for you when you won't agree. I made you pretty good deal, Castiel. Don't be stupid and give me that tablet…"

"I'm fully aware what you're going to do to me…" angel whispered.

He knows.

And even thinking about it is causing him pain.

But how could he do this? How could he abandon Dean? How when he still feels Dean's lips on his own.

"…but I can't."

Naomi gave Castiel disappointed look.

"I really expected more from you, you know? You sure you're not gonna change your mind?"

Angel nodded. As much as the thought of him falling scared him, he couldn't give Naomi the tablet and forget about Dean. Dean's his everything. He wouldn't be able to live without him. He can't let that happen. He would rather fall than to let her do that.

"As you wish, Castiel"

Fallen angels who Castiel had opportunity to talk to agreed on one term – falling is the most painful thing that ever happened to them.Castiel knew falling consisted from two parts. Ripping out angel's grace and ripping out angel's wings. He also knew that ripping out grace is painful, but it's nothing compared to ripping out wings.

And now, Castiel was about to face that pain on his own. After he refused to give Naomi what she wanted and refused abandon Dean, he was suddenly laying on the cold ground. There were four of angels, his brothers, standing above him, ready to do what Naomi ordered.

As he was looking at his brothers, they were about to do the less painful thing - rip out his grace.

"P- Please… Don't do that… I'm your brother. We're family… Please… AAAAAAAAHHHHH!"

Angel's body trembled at the sudden pain. It hurts like hell. He felt like thousands of knifes inside your his at the same time. He screamed, screamed as loud as he could but nothing helped. With every second he felt his energy fade away in tremendous pain.

How long is this going to take?

It felt like years for Castiel when the biggest pain and his brothers disappeared. He was suddenly all alone in Dean's room again. He felt impossibly weak. He felt like crying, but he was so weak.

He dared to look at his vessel's body, which was his body, now. When he found out that he's completely covered in blood, he let out scream. He was horrified. He felt so empty.

"Cas?! What the hell?"

Oh, no. He had woken Dean up.

"Dean…" was all that could angel whisper.

Dean jumped from his bed. His eyes widened at the sight.

"Sweet Jesus, Cas, what happened to you?"

Cas couldn't answer. The pain he felt was still pretty big.

"Not what happened, Dean. What's happening…"

Dean froze. They starred at each other for a moment, while Cas was trying to catch his breath. After a while Cas's knees gave up and Dean reacted immediately. He pulled his angel into his arms, preventing him from falling.

It was weird but as soon as was Cas in Dean's arms, pain stopped.

they're getting me ready for way greater pain - he thought

He could catch his breath properly again, so he just breathed there, managing to recover a little.

Cas, please, tell me what's going on…" Hunter whispered.

"Tell me how can I make this stop?"

"D-Dean… There's nothing you could do about this, because I'm falling…"Cas said let himself cry.

Finally. He can't keep it inside anymore.

For Dean, it felt like lightening into heart.

"Sweet Mother of - …Cas!"

Sobbing angel in his arms was still shaking. Naomi must have found him.

Those sons of a bitches are going to deeply regret they had laid their fucking hands on his angel.

Hunter hugged his Cas tighter.

"Is is done yet?"

Angel gasped.

"No. They already ripped my grace out, but the worse part in only yet to come…"

"What is it, Cas?"

"They would rip out my wings too…"

Cas heard Dean curse very badly under his breath.

Dean pulled away and pain overwhelmed Castiel once again.

Is it Dean who's making his pain stop?

"When, Cas?"

"Any time…"

Cas couldn't see though his tears very much, but he could clearly see Dean's tears too.

"Here, buddy. Let me help you stand…"

Dean helped Cas to stand and then gently lay him on his bed.

Cas didn't want to lay down, but Dean made him anyways. When hunter saw how scared his angel was, he couldn't help himself. He kicked his shoes down, lay down beside Cas. Angel seemed to relax a little bit. They lay in the silence for good 5 minutes when Cas started to shake again .

"Cas, what's happening?"

"They're coming again, Dean… To rip out my wings"

"Whe-"

Dean was cut off by Cas's loud scream. Angel was shaking violently, screaming hell out of himself.

What can I do? -Dean thought.

Dean watched his beautiful angel with tears.

When Dean couldn't think of anything else, he leaned forward and pulled his angel in his arms. The second Dean touched him, Cas stopped screaming. Right now, Cas was taking deep breaths, trying to get right amount of oxygen.

"Dean, please, could you please hug me longer? I don't know how are you doing this, but I can't feel any pain when you touch me…"

"Really?"

Angel nodded and buried his face into Dean's neck. Right now, he was so broken, so vulnerable and sore that he didn't think about his boundaries. Why would he? Something inside Dean is easing his pain and he always wanted to cuddle with Dean. So why not now, when he has really good reason?

"Of course I'll hold you, Cas… That's the smallest thing I can do for you…"

Dean pulled him in even tighter. He ran his hand though Cas's sweaty hair and continued down his spine to his shoulder blades. He noticed something wet. Surprised, he looked at his palm to find blood.

God.

Cas's shoulder blades are all covered in blood which doesn't seems to stop.

This was too much for Dean to handle. He felt great anger rising inside of him.

He would find a way how to help Cas. He would revenge Cas - he would find those sons of a bitches and would rip out their beating hearts.

No he has to calm down.

He would have plenty time to be furious when it's over.

Instead, he began to whisper to Cas, gently caressing his shoulder blades, right though blood streams.

"Cas? … My sweet Cas…I'm here, okay? I won't let anybody hurt you ever again, I promise… Believe those shits are dead already, they just don't know yet…"

Dean felt his angel shiver so he covered them both with his blanket. Cas didn't say a word, he just remained silent, shaking inside Dean's protective arms.

"Cas?"

"Yes?"

"Why did they do this to you?"

Cas tensed.

No. He can't tell Dean the whole truth. It would ruin everything.

"Because of angel tablet…. I refused to tell them where it is…"

Angel heard Dean curse and swear again.

"It's gonna be all right, Cas… I'll take care of you.." Hunter whispered again.

Cas buried himself further into hunter's heat. For some reason he doesn't feel any pain when he's in Dean's arms.

How is that possible? Weren't they saying that ripping out wings is the greatest pain angel could ever experience?

No, he is not able to think about that right now.

He's tired and exhausted.

"Thank you Dean…" Cas whispered and felt his hunter smiling.

"Anytime, buddy, anytime…" Dean whispered back and kissed him on the forehead again.

"You need to sleep now, Cas… Just close your eyes and relax… I'm here… Everything is gonna be all right, I promise… "

Cas was more than happy to oblige.

That night, Castiel, the exangel of the lord, fell in Dean Winchester's arms.

TBC