Dean awoke early the next morning, becoming aware of the absence of warmth he had grown accustomed to. He sat up quickly with one eye still stuck closed, and his hair piled wildly on his head. He found Cas sitting with his back to Dean, on the end of the bed. His clothes were still scattered on the floor, and the white sheets of the bed were folded tightly over his bare legs. The muscles of his back were tense, and his head bowed slightly in a pensive manner.

"Mornin' sunshine," Dean muttered as he rubbed his hazy eyes.

"Good morning Dean," Cas replied. His voice was monotone and his posture remained the same.

"Everything okay?" Dean asked, shifting his body to sit behind the angle, kissing his shoulder blade softly. Cas' body loosened as he sank into the kiss, cocking his head to one side as he felt the hunter trace his finger down his spine.

"I know where Raphael is." Cas announced plainly.

"Well what are we still doing here? Let's go get Sammy!" Dean exclaimed, rolling off the bed and untangling himself from the mass of sheets. He turned to noticed the angel had not changed positions. The only movement he allowed was his wondering eyes down Dean's naked body. He sighed and bowed his head again.

Dean walked toward him, and set his palms on either side of Cas' thighs, bending down so they were at eye level. "What's bothering you, Cas?" he questioned.

"I'm putting you in danger."

Dean scoffed at the admission. "Yeah, as if I've never been in dangerous situations before. Cas, I've literally been to hell and back. I'm a big boy and I can take care of myself." The hunter shifted his weight to his hands and leaned in to kiss the angel whose brow had furrowed.

"Anyway, so where is this son of a bitch?" Dean interjected.

"An old warehouse, about 10 miles away," Cas replied, his mouth remaining an inexpressive line.

"I'll go wake Sammy, you put some clothes on and grab your angel blade," Dean said, pulling on a shirt and jeans as he walked out the door toward where his younger brother slept.

For the remained of the time spent at the motel room, and the ride over to the warehouse, Castiel remained in an aloof state. While the two brothers chatted nervously from the front seats, the angel just stared out the window with a brooding expression.

They arrived at the warehouse, parking the Impala off slightly to the side beneath the shadows of a tree. The air surrounding the building was quiet and settled. No sounds of movement came from within the walls of the warehouse, and it gave an eerie aura.

Dean climbed out of the driver's seat and shut the door behind him, nodding apprehensively to his brother and the angel. Cas stepped around the car to where Dean was standing, and grabbed his waist. He pulled him in forcefully and smashed their lips together, savoring each moment of tasting Dean's mouth. He pulled his mouth away but kept their foreheads pressed together.

"I love you so much, Dean," he whispered with his eyes closed. The angel put his hand into the pocket of his trench coat and pulled out a peace of folded paper. He placed the item in Dean's hand, and then placed the hunter's hand over his own heart.

"I love you too, Cas." Dean responded. The angel sighed, and smiled sadly, then turned to walked toward the building with Sam. The sound of glass shattering coming from the inside preoccupied Dean, and he stuck the folded paper in his pocket to open later.

The three entered the warehouse, it was almost pitch black and smelled like burning rubber. Dean could barely see his feet as he walked slowly to the center of the massive room. His hand was wrapped around Cas' firmly, keeping each other close in the darkness.

Suddenly, the bright lights overhead flickered on, and standing before them was an African American man, dressed in a navy blue suit, a wicked smirk on his lips. It was Raphael.

"Castiel… I have been waiting for you."

The trio realized their presence was known, their company was expected. They had unintentionally sent themselves into a trap. This eliminated the element of surprise.

"You knew we'd come?" Sam asked standing a few feet away from the hunter and angel who still held hands.

"Who do you think told Castiel I would be in Chicago? That was one of my followers. I wanted you to come, brother. I wanted you to find me here."

"Why would you go through all that trouble to lure us into a trap?" Dean asked, squeezing Cas' fingers slightly.

"Do you not understand?" asked the angel, his eyes set angrily on Cas. "This is about you, Castiel. This is all about you. You and the angels who follow you have stood in the way of my plans for heaven, and you must be dealt with."

At these words, Raphael outstretched his hand, and Cas felt Dean's fingers rip from him. The hunter went flying back into the wall, caught there with his feet hovering inches above the ground. Raphael did the same to Sam, leaving Cas facing the other angel alone.

Castiel reached into this trench coat and pulled out the angel blade, and stepped to the side, keeping his eyes locked on Raphael who followed his movements.

The other angel lunged at Cas, who swung his arm out, punching Raphael in the jaw, and sending him stumbling back. Raphael retaliated, who attempted to strike Castiel with his angel blade, but it was caught by the other. Dean watched from the wall helplessly as the man he loved struggled to keep a step ahead of Raphael's frenzied attacks. Castiel was punched, causing a small red crack in his bottom lips. Then he grabbed Raphael's arm to his surprise, and sent his angel blade rolling across the floor.

Raphael stood, unarmed, with Cas aiming his angel blade directly at his chest.

"I am impressed brother. Your time with humans has not rendered you weak." Raphael spoke, his nostrils bloody from where he had been struck. "You are a good soldier, but you underestimate me."

"Cas, kill him!" Sam yelled from the wall. The other angel lifted a hand to silence him, and Sam fell the ground unconscious.

"What did you do to my brother you son of a bitch?" Dean screamed, struggling against his inability to move.

"Your brother is alive, human."

Dean grunted in fury as he tried to break from the bond, but was unsuccessful. Cas set his eyes on Dean, apologetic and loving. He hated Dean being trapped in that way, but it was a relief to see him uninvolved in the fight.

"Your sympathies for these creatures continue to amaze me, Castiel," Raphael spoke again, his eyes sparkling with arrogance. "If I cannot defeat you myself, I will do the next best thing."

"What's the next best thing?" Cas asked, his jaw clenching as he spoke.

"I will take away your reason to live."

At these words, Raphael snapped his fingers, and reappeared in front of Dean, a shiny silver knife in his hand. Dean continued to fight against his frozen body, but wouldn't budge. Cas froze as Raphael sent him a wicked smile, and then sunk the blade into Dean's stomach, forcing the human to whimper in pain. Then the other angel vanished.

"Dean!" Castiel screamed as his hunter fell to the floor, his hand grasping the bloodied hole in his stomach. The angel ran over, and knelt to his side. Dean's back was leaning against the wall but his body went slack and quivered at the pain. The angel grasped his hand, and held it up to his mouth, kissing his knuckles gently.

He put a hand over his stomach to heal it, but it did nothing. He looked around and noticed sigils written high on the walls that prevented him from using this power. He cupped Dean's jaw with his hand and rubbed it gently with his thumb.

"Dean, don't let go. You have to hold on. You can't leave me… Dean, I need you… Don't leave me…" The tears started dripping from the angel's eyes, falling on Dean's bloodied hand, as the hunter's eyes started to droop closed.

"Dean Winchester…" spoke a cold voice from behind Castiel. The angel turned to see a frail old man, with greasy black hair sleeked back, and an angular face.

It was Death.

"N-no… no… You can't take him!" Castiel weeped as he rocked back and forth with Dean's fingers pressed to his lips.

"It is his time to go, Castiel. You know that." Dean responded cooly.

The angel looked down at the hunter, his body was shaking slightly, as the life began to fade from his eyes. His fingers began to go limp in Castiel's hands. He remembered his vow to himself.

He would keep him safe until his last breath.

"Take me instead," Castiel whispered, not moving his eyes from the hunter's.

"What was that?" Death asked.

"Take me instead!" This time, the angel yelled it, turning his face to look Death directly in his black eyes. Then his eyes softened and he gazed back a Dean. "Please…"

Death contemplated this idea. Dean Winchester was a novelty, but an angel was a fair trade, he decided.

"As you wish…" Dean agreed, stretching out a pale and thin finger toward the angel.

"W-wait, give me a minute with him."

Death dropped his hand and nodded solemnly, taking a small step back.

"Dean, baby, I have to go now, okay? I have to keep you safe." Dean's eyes fluttered open momentarily when he heard Castiel's voice looming in his ear. "I promised myself I'd keep you safe, and I will not break that promise. I love you Dean, I love you so much. You are so strong and you have to keep fighting for me, okay?" The angel's tears began to fall in constant streams as he held the hunters hand tight. Cas leaned down and planted a warm kiss on the hunter's forehead. "I will always love you."

The angel nodded at the horseman, and Death lifted the finger once again, placing it on Cas' forehead. His body went limp at the touch, and he laid back on the cold floor. Dean gasped as the life reentered him, and looked horrified as his angel lay on the floor, heaving as he smiled at the hunter for the last time.

"Cas? Cas?! What's going on?" Dean screamed as he crawled to the angel, lifting his head onto his lap. He brushed the hair from his face, and began to cry as the blue in his eyes faded away.

The angel reached forward shakily and grasped the hunter's hand once again.

"Dean… Thank you…"

"For what Cas?" the hunter asked panicked, the tears escaping from his eyes as he blinked.

"For teaching me how to love…"

The angel's hand went limp. The life vacated from his ocean blue eyes, leaving the glassy look of nothingness. His body shuddered at his last breath, and then ceased to move. His mouth which has been stretched into a slight smile, relaxed.

Castiel was gone.

Sam was awake now, slowly approaching his brother, as he rocked Cas' empty vessel and softly sang their song.

"Love of mine… Some day you will die…"

"Dean…"

"But I'll be close behind…"

"Dean, you have to let go of him. He's gone."

"I'll follow you into the dark…"

"Come on, I'll help you carry him to the car."

Dean stopped rocking. "No, I'll do it myself." He heaved himself up, keeping one arm under the angel's neck, and the other under his back. His knees buckled under the weight but he continued to walk forward.

"He died for me."

A/N: Two more chapters!