A/N: Thanks to Youya for the anon review ^_^

Guys, we're getting close...


Chapter 12

"Okay, here goes," Dean said, stopping the car behind an overgrown fence, one street away from Circe's where she hopefully wouldn't see it. Castiel could sense his tension, as well as his control over it. He was impressed, as always; his favorite two humans were always facing down such incredible foes, enemies who should have had them running away in fear, and yet they always managed to surprise him.

Hopefully, this would be another of those cases.

"Just in time, I believe," the angel said, though of course the barking would be unintelligible to Dean. He cast a sidelong look at Sam, who was in the passenger side seat with his head out the window, whining with the hope of another car ride. They were starting to lose him.

Following his gaze, Dean frowned and snapped, "Hey! Sammy! Still with me?"

Sam didn't immediately answer, just kept panting and wagging his tail, until the older hunter yelled, "SAM!"

Castiel frowned, relieved when his young friend finally snapped himself out of the trance as some humanity returned. He hoped Sam wasn't still thinking about the plan to block Lucifer's efforts by becoming completely canine. The human would have to actively resist the spell taking over his mind, but he wouldn't struggle as hard if half of him still thought it would be worth it.

"Keep it together," Dean grumbled, echoing the angel's thoughts. The hunter pushed the door open, leaving it for Sam to follow him out, as he moved to open Castiel's door as well. The Husky stepped into the night, shaking out his thick coat, before silently taking in the quiet neighborhood.

"Hey, man, nice digs around here!" Zorro said with a grin as he hopped out behind the angel and trotted forward a few paces. "A dog could get used to houses like this!"

"Don't get too used to it, Zorro," Sam suggested. "We'll have to do this fast."

"Okay guys, we gotta make this quick," Dean said, squatting down in front of the three dogs with a grim expression. "Everyone remembers the plan?"

"I distract la muchacha," Zorro piped up with a few excited yaps. "She might be a goddess, but she can't tell Zorro el Poderoso what to do!"

"You and I attempt to get close enough to bring her down," Castiel added, lifting his head with a steady gaze. "You won't be under her command anymore either, now that Lucifer has broken the spell over you. We'll try to cut her throat. It won't kill her, but should be able to stop her from ordering Sam away."

"And then I'll come in for the kill," Sam finished. All three of the dogs looked up at Dean in expectation, but he only stared at them before heaving a sigh.

"Yeah, I hope that was a 'yes'," he muttered to himself, getting back up to his feet. "Just hang in there, you two. Once we gank Circe, you'll be back to normal in no time."

Zorro yipped an affirmative, then started wandering off to sniff at everything around them. Castiel watched Dean head for the trunk where the hunters kept all their weapons; with any luck, this would work as smoothly as the plan sounded like it should, but Castiel was a natural cynic. He doubted very highly that this would be accomplished without any setbacks.

"Sam?" the angel asked simply, turning to the younger Winchester. Sam let out a soft whine.

"I feel it trying to change," he explained. "My mind, I mean."

"Well… like Dean said… hang in there." Castiel shifted then looked away, wishing he had some more comforting words, or at least that he didn't sound as awkward as he felt. Without any other ideas, he turned to look down the road that would take them to the goddess's home. This lull before the fight weighed heavily on the angel, a creature of action. Better to just get it over with, to whatever end.

Fortunately, Dean seemed equally ready to be moving on, from the impatient way he slammed the trunk shut and started striding down the asphalt with quick, almost angry steps. The streetlight glinted off the razor sharp edge of his machete. The three dogs bounded forwards to catch up, Zorro scurrying along behind them with the scent of excitement hanging thickly over him.

None of them said anything as they swiftly made their way to the adjoining road, hurrying towards the cul-de-sac at the end. Castiel kept his senses open, ears twitching for even the slightest hint of Circe's voice, nostrils flaring in the hopes of catching her scent before she was an imminent threat.

It was hard to shelve the heaviness weighing on his heart, but the angel managed to shove his feelings into a box and tuck it away deep inside, with all the other feelings that he'd been told for millennia would only make him a liability. Had he been a proper angel still, his friends would have been out of this mess long before.

This was on him for not being strong enough to protect them… Castiel had to keep his mind in the game, to kill the goddess no matter what so that he could see things set right once more.

Until the next time he let the Winchesters down.

Why did it seem to happen so often? Could it be that the problem wasn't with the monsters they faced, but with him?

Beside him, Sam suddenly whined, twisting as they walked so that his quizzical gaze was zeroed on Castiel. The angel met his eyes, then hung his head. Of course Sam's canine senses could feel Castiel's shame.

"Cas… you know you've got nothing to feel guilty about, right?" Sam murmured, voice still low. Castiel swallowed.

"Of course."

"Quiet," Dean whispered, holding out a hand behind him as the group came to a stop at the line of hedges separating Circe's house from her neighbor's. The hunter knelt down as the dogs pressed in tightly along the verge. All eyes turned to the empty driveway. Nothing moved; only now did Castiel register that there were no animals in the immediate vicinity at all, not so much as a field mouse.

It made sense, of course. Animals would be able to detect that there was something off about her, and maintain a distance. But it was unnatural, and eerie even to the angel.

"Look," Dean murmured as he jerked his chin towards the home. "No lights on. She's not home yet. We gotta hurry."

Castiel hurried behind Dean as the hunter led the way up to the porch, standing guard while his friend knelt in front of the door to pick the lock. Sam had told him that Circe was out posting flyers and looking as far as several towns over, but surely she would return home for the night. The angel wondered if Lucifer had caught up with her yet, but quickly decided that he must not have; if the archangel had found Circe, she would be dead and they would be in their natural forms once more.

"Hah, now we're in business," Dean muttered. The lock clicked and he leaned away, giving the door a gentle push so that it swung in with a whisper. Castiel pushed his way past the human, hurrying across the threshold and looking around with suspicion.

"Cas?" Sam called from behind them. The angel shook his head.

"All clear. I don't sense her presence."

"Whatever you said, I'm sure it was helpful," the older Winchester grumbled, ushering the other two dogs in so he could shut the door and lock it again. The group headed towards the living room, Dean stopping as they passed the kitchen so he could grab another knife, sticking it in his belt. Zorro wiggled down under the chair, finally silent but still panting in what Castiel bemusedly identified as excitement. Sam positioned himself in a low crouch by the kennel, while Dean and Castiel took up their posts against the near wall so they would be able to come in from behind once Zorro had the goddess distracted.

Castiel released a short huff, settling in though his jaws were clenched and his eyes narrowed in preparation.

Now they just needed to wait.


Castiel couldn't quite see the clock from his position, but he knew it must have been at least an hour that they had been sitting in utter silence in the darkened living room. While the angel had little concept of time, as it was hardly important for an immortal being, he was getting concerned about how long Sam would hold out.

So far, he'd had to all but shout at Sam to pay attention only once, but he could tell his friend was having a harder and harder time clinging to his human mind. Were it anyone but the intelligent young Winchester, Castiel was certain they would already be lost.

"No offense, amigos, but this is getting kinda boring, know what I'm saying?" Zorro whined, rolling over on his back and wiggling a bit to give it a good scratch. "When's she gonna be here? How do you know she's even coming back? Think she already knows we're here? What about-"

"Quiet," the angel snapped, raising his head and sniffing intently. His eyes narrowed. Zorro instantly fell silent, and Castiel twisted towards Dean to give him a nod.

She was here.

Dean nodded back, fist tightening around the machete he carried, reaching back to make sure the knife from Circe's kitchen was still tucked into his belt. Across the darkened room, Sam growled softly; Castiel could hear a light shuffling of paws on carpet as the younger hunter crouched in preparation.

Outside, a car door slammed, but the rest of the night was absolutely silent. Castiel's frown deepened. This goddess would pay for attempting to harm his friends.

"Ready," Dean whispered, voice barely a breath. For a moment, all of time was poised on an edge, just waiting as almost undetectable footsteps clacked on the pavement outside. There was a metallic jangle of a key turning a lock, then a whoosh of displaced air as the goddess entered the home. Castiel's paws shifted, razor sharp claws ready to do whatever he had to.

From the front hall, they heard a light thump, then finally she was headed their way. Castiel looked to Dean, who gave him another nod.

Then, at last, Circe stepped through the doorway and flicked on the light.

"Gotcha!" Zorro shouted with all his tiny lungs. He shot out from under the chair, yapping and growling at full volume as he dashed for Circe's ankles.

"What the-" Circe ground out, tripping backwards in surprise. "Why, you little…" The goddess danced away, shrieking in fury.

"Fear the mighty hunter! I'll take you down myself for hurting Sam-"

"I'll kill you, you little beast!"

Castiel was already moving when he saw her foot flash out, already leaping for her back as Circe kicked the Chihuahua, hard enough that the little dog was thrown across the room into the wall with an agonized yelp and a sickening thud. The angel couldn't spare a moment to worry for him, as he collided with Circe from behind only a second before Dean had reached them.

The three of them went down, Castiel's weight more than the goddess had been prepared for. She shrieked in rage again, then screamed as the angel's ferocious claws tore through her skin like paper. Metal flashed as Dean wielded the machete with a feral shout.

"Get away from me!" Circe bellowed, wrenching away from Castiel's weight. She was surprisingly strong, more so than the angel had been expecting, and he whined as the command forced him to release the goddess. Circe rolled out of the way just in time, Dean's strike landing harmlessly a few inches from her head.

"Hold her!" Sam yelled. His furious barks added to the confusion, as Castiel snapped and snarled but couldn't get any closer because of her order. The room was thrown into chaos; Dean tried to recover from the missed strike, but Circe kicked out again with an enraged shriek. The machete went flying, and Dean jumped back to avoid her wildly scratching hands.

The hunter cursed, jerking the backup knife free. Castiel fought with everything he had to overcome the spell that forced him to obey her, slashing the carpet to pieces under his paws as he strained to dash forwards.

"Dean!" he shouted. "Dean, I can't get her! Cut her throat, NOW!"

"Oh, I don't think so!" Circe said, nearly crackling with anger as her eyes locked on Dean. "You're in way over your heads, boys."

"Lady, this is just another day," Dean snorted. He held up the knife, but the element of surprise had already been lost. Not looking away from Circe, the hunter yelled, "Sam, now!"

"Sam, stay!"

Damn it. Castiel winced as the Golden Retriever paused halfway through his attack, slinking down to his haunches with a whimper. Now he and Sam were both off the playing field, and Zorro was down for the count, judging by his still form along the wall. It was up to Dean.

The older Winchester narrowed his eyes, spinning the knife around to clutch it in an overhand grip, and gave the goddess a reckless grin. "Just you and me then, blondie," he snapped, before lunging forward.

Circe didn't even twitch. Her cold eyes burned into the hunter as she sidestepped and crossed her arms. There were icicles in her voice as she seethed,

"Sic him, Castiel."

"NO!"

It was too late. The angel was already leaping forward, helpless against the order. There was nothing he could do to stop himself from tackling Dean to the floor, no way of keeping his own teeth from sinking all the way into his friend's leg.

Castiel would never forget Dean's cry of pain as he hit the ground, the knife clattering to the floor and bouncing out of reach. He would never forget the horrifying taste of flesh and blood. He would never forget the expression on his friend's face, the split second of betrayal even though they both knew it was Circe's finger on the trigger; Castiel had just been the bullet she'd used.

Jerking free, the angel backed up several steps, but the damage was done. The hunter lay on the floor, shaky hands reaching to prod at the bloody wound as he groaned.

"Shit…" Dean's face contorted in pain, his head falling back briefly before he tried to lift himself up with another moan. "Ah, shit."

"Dean," Castiel whimpered, taking another step back. "I'm so sorry… I didn't- I mean, I couldn't…"

"It's not your fault, Cas," Sam said in a hoarse whisper, though the angel could sense his own horror and dismay.

"Oh, it is your fault!" Circe snarled with a thunderstorm already brewing in her eyes. "How foolish could you be, trying to attack me in my own home? You thought you could kill me? ME? Sam, Castiel, stay!"

The Husky and the Retriever both froze, though Castiel's gaze flicked back over to Dean with sickened heartbreak. Logic dictated the actions of angels, not emotions; logically, he knew he was not to blame. Emotionally, though, he felt like he was being torn apart, a hole in his chest at the knowledge of what he'd just done. Guilt seeped in, much like the blood seeping from the bite wound on Dean's calf.

Dean was glaring at the goddess, still defiant, still fighting, but Castiel saw the pain as he tried to sit upright. They had lost.

"I have had it," Circe seethed, glaring around at her three captives. "You're far more trouble than you're worth, you filthy Winchesters. And you…"

Castiel growled when her eyes roved over him, but he was frozen in place, unable to attack. He didn't like the baleful way her gaze zeroed in, didn't like the expression promising retribution. More than anything, he didn't like the way he had no way of stopping her.

The infuriated goddess strode over to the Husky, grabbing his muzzle in a bruising grip and jerking his face up to look at her. "You and I are going to have a long chat," she hissed. "I'm done being nice. You're going to tell me everything I want to know… in between screams."

"You aren't gonna touch him!" Dean started to shift upright in Castiel's periphery, but Circe snapped her fingers and pointed at him.

"Sam, if he blinks, rip his throat out!"

The Golden Retriever let out a soft whine as he obediently bounded across the room to loom over Dean, who froze. Castiel couldn't see him, but he sensed the distress from both of his friends. Trying to force his muzzle away from Circe so that he could demand that she release them, the angel only managed to tighten her grip.

"Circe, just stop this," Sam pleaded, one paw on Dean's wounded leg in preparation to strike against his will if necessary. "Listen… you've got me. Lucifer won't get his vessel, and that's all you really want, right? To prevent the Apocalypse? So you only need one of us. Let Dean and Cas walk out of here, PLEASE."

Castiel made a muffled protest, knowing that if Dean could understand what Sam had just said, he'd be equally against the idea. Not that it mattered; he doubted Circe was all that inclined to allow any of them to walk away.

"Shut up, Sam!" the goddess ordered with an expression of rage. "You think any of you are leaving now? Forget it! Neither of the archangels get their vessels, and I'm sure the other gods will be very interested in what Castiel here can tell us. I'm sure he knows plenty of ways to kill the other feathered nuisances. Say goodbye to your brother and your angel, Sam! None of you are seeing each other again!"

"Don't do this," Dean growled. "We're on the same side, I'm telling you, we don't want the A-"

"The same side?! You try to kill me, but we're on the same side?!" Circe laughed with chilling disdain. There was a note of insanity in that laugh, and the air in the room dropped so fast that Castiel shivered. He could feel the gathering storm, as the goddess's fury grew.

The dog's eyes narrowed. She was sincere in her threat of torture, but he wasn't going to give her anything that would help her murder his brothers and sisters. Even if they had cast him out, he couldn't turn on them.

When the second hand fell into his scruff, seizing a fistful so hard that his eyes watered, Castiel knew their time was up. His only consolation was that Dean and Sam were much more clever than Circe gave them credit for. In time, they would probably escape, and hopefully find one another again.

Castiel closed his eyes, and prepared for the worst.