Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural or its characters - these were created by Eric Kripke - I'm just borrowing them. I'm not making any commercial gain. No harm or infringement intended.
Cas is unable to do more than watch the Winchesters self-destruct until an author puts him back on the right path. Spoilers for season 7. Descriptions of Hell. Heavily implied pre-Dean/Cas
This story runs parallel to, and follows the events described in 'No Way Home' and 'The Devil on Your Shoulder' so I'd encourage you to read those first. It's another dark one, I'm afraid, but it's always darkest before the dawn.
~#~
Día de Castiel (Castiel's Day)
The universe is under the control of a loving purpose, and that in the struggle for righteousness man has cosmic companionship (angels). Behind the harsh appearance of the world there is a benign power – Martin Luther King, Jr
~#~
Día de los ñatitas
Cas found himself drifting back over the cabin in Montana, once more with no discernible physical form, although he felt stronger than he had for some time. Meeting Chuck had been unexpected, but talking with him had been both invigorating and inspiring, I wonder if it was a sign?
He saw that Dean was asleep in one of the beds and he offered a prayer of thanks that his friend had made his own way home safely. He was puzzled, but relieved to see that the man seemed unharmed, with none of the minor injuries he'd seen earlier and it occurred to him that he had no idea of how long he'd been floating, Maybe it's been months?
There was something off, but he couldn't put his finger on it. A scent in the air that seemed disturbingly familiar, but he couldn't identify. It's unpleasant... sulfur.
He was struck by an overpowering wave of nausea and so almost missed seeing Sam enter the room and come to a stop by the bed.
"Wake up," Sam called in a loud, harsh voice, slapping Dean across his face.
Dean's eyes flickered open and Cas gasped as they showed as a solid black-in-black. Sam spun around scanning the room as if he'd heard the sound.
"Sam?" Dean asked, he felt...weird and he was confused by his surroundings as well as his brother's actions.
"Guess again," Sam answered in a mocking tone.
Dean slumped, defeated, "Lucifer," he breathed. The sight of his baby brother inhabited by that preening, smug fallen angel was like a skewer through his heart.
"Well, as near as I can get," he cocked his head in a Cas-like way, as if he was listening to an internal voice, he nodded and smiled, "Think of it as multitasking."
Hold on in there Sammy, I'll get you out of this... somehow, Dean vowed. He swallowed convulsively, he felt... odd - cold, but feverish and somehow empty, like he'd been hollowed out. He tried not to think of where he'd been the last time he'd felt just like this, "What have you done to me?"
"Nothing much worse than you've already been doing to yourself. Bit of corrupting, bit of torture, bit of binding you to me, y'know the usual," Lucifer said airily.
Lucifer peered at him, "Hmm, the black-eyes thing usually makes people look creepy, it's partly why I invented it, but on you it actually looks pretty good."
Dean jumped out of bed and ran to the mirror, "My God..." he moaned.
Lucifer snorted, "Not any more he's not, not while you bare my mark, that's for sure."
Dean caught sight of Castiel in the mirror. Whatever he was about to say was forgotten, as his mouth fell open, the shock clear on his face.
Can he see me? thought Cas in excitement. Remembering more pressing problems, he motioned for Dean to keep quiet. Confusion was quickly replaced with understanding as Dean struggled to pull his eyes from Cas and he looked instead at Lucifer.
It seemed like His Satanic Majesty was too busy tormenting Dean to notice anything amiss.
"What do you want?" demanded Dean.
"Oh, restart the Apocalypse, trash the earth, kick Michael's ass, reign over Heaven, all that good-stuff, nothing too unreasonable," Lucifer chuckled at his own joke.
"So what'd you need me for?"
"I need you to say 'Yes'. See, when dear little Sammy jumped us all back into the Pit, I'm afraid your half-brother, being of inferior stock, didn't even make it all the way down," the Devil smirked.
"Adam's dead?" Dean rasped, his sudden pallor emphasizing the black pits that were now his eyes.
"Yes, it seems Sam can also add fratricide to his résumé of sins," he smiled, enjoying the sound of Sam's cries of anguish echoing within him.
Dean stood motionless, considering. He smiled, it was a cold and determined little smile, "So he returned to Heaven then, didn't he? He never actually suffered in Hell after all."
When Lucifer snarled in response and stalked from the room, it was all the answer Dean needed and something in him lightened.
Cas reached out towards Dean in an awkward, abortive attempt to touch him, "You can see me?"
"Yes, so now what? You working for him now?"
"No!" Cas cried, his feelings hurt, "How can you think that?"
"Well, what do you expect me to think? You're the one who pulled down that wall in the first place. Then Lucifer just happens to turn up unannounced."
Cas tried to meet his eyes, but the solid black-in-black seemed to show no emotion. He shuddered to think that he was connected to someone who now numbered among the damned, then felt a stab of guilt at the selfish thought.
"I've made some terrible mistakes, but please believe me when I say that at the time it seemed like the right thing to do. I know now I should have believed in you and I should have tried another way. But back then everything seemed so hopeless. If I'd just reached out to you..."
He looked out at the door, worried in case Lucifer returned. "Like him, I'm guilty of pride and thinking that I know best."
His face twisted in anxiety as he begged, "Please forgive me, Dean. Please allow me to at least attempt to make amends."
"Oh man, we're as bad as each other. I'm officially naming you a Winchester, seeing as you've brought about the end of the world and now you're trying to save it," Dean joked, rather than confronting his true feelings.
Cas smiled, to be granted Winchester status, even in jest, was a great honor. His face darkened, "We have to do something about him," he said nodding in Lucifer's general direction.
"You think? Cause I'm having a little crisis here of my own," said Dean gesturing to his eyes.
"They're a mark of allegiance that he's initiated, probably by giving you his blood. Hell is the absence of faith and having no hope for something better, so it's feeding on those feelings."
Dean made noises as if to deny it, but Cas waved a negating hand at him. "I've been watching you, don't deny how empty you've been feeling."
Dean paused for a moment, pursing his lips in thought, "So now what?"
"Do what you've always done. Get back up again and have faith in yourself that you can get through this. Don't give in to despair, but this time believe that Sam and I can beat this too. I'm not saying that we don't need support, but no matter what, we're all capable of redemption."
He thought for a moment, "Except him, not-Sam," he said motioning with his head, a mix of prudence and superstition making him unwilling to use the fallen angel's name in case it should summon him.
"So, can't he see you?"
"Until a few moments ago you couldn't see me. Unless."
"What?"
"How did it make you feel when you realized your brother was being possessed? Angry yes, determined to save him at any cost? That no matter what, you would save him? That's the kind of faith in ourselves we need to cultivate."
Dean nodded in understanding, "I know I'm not very good at this stuff, but I meant it you know, what I said about you being like a brother to me," he said trying to not to choke on the words.
"Thank-you Dean, that means a lot to me, especially after... everything"
"Well don't get too excited, it just means I'll hold you to a higher standard and rag on you all the time," he quipped with a cheeky-wink, although the effect was slightly lost without the usual sparkling green eyes.
Dean looked stricken when all the talk of family made him realize there was someone important missing, "So, you any idea where Bobby is?"
Cas smiled, happy for once to be the bearer of good news, "I think you'll find he's at the Sheriff's house. Last I saw he was 'helping her with her enquiries'."
Dean looked at the angel in amazement, "Did you just make a joke?"
"Yes," he said, considering, "I think I just did."
"Well isn't this sweet?" smirked Lucifer from the door.
Dean cursed under his breath, he'd always envied Sam's ninja-like ability to walk quietly, all the more impressive for such a big guy, and it seemed that Lucifer had retained that ability.
"Who are you talking to? Have you gone crazy like your brother, Dean? Are you talking to imaginary angels too?"
Lucifer blinked, staring into space, it made him seem so lizard-like that Dean could almost imagine a forked tongue flicking out to taste the air, "No, he's here, isn't he. I thought I sensed something earlier. Well, it seems that everything is going my way."
Dean shifted onto the balls of his feet, readying himself for a fight.
"So have you told him how you really feel yet?" mocked Lucifer.
Dean froze, heat rising in his cheeks, this wasn't the attack he'd been expecting.
"Oh you're blushing, how sweet." laughed Lucifer.
"You shut up," Dean growled.
"Oh, but you were so gushingly heart-felt earlier, if not exactly eloquent."
Cas frowned in confusion, "To what are you referring", he asked in confusion.
"I'll take that as a 'no' then, shall I?"
Dean scowled, he hated chick-flick moments, I'll be damned if I let Lucifer have a hold over me. Okay, poor choice of words...
Dean turned to Cas, not quite managing to make eye contact, "Y'know, what happened when you pulled me from the lake," he mumbled, thinking that if he blushed anymore he was sure to explode.
Cas looked even more confused, "Yes, I was barely able to physically manifest myself to pull you from the water before breaking apart again. Why?"
"Oh, so we didn't..." Dean trailed off in horror, he'd been so sure it'd been Cas who'd initiated the kiss.
"Didn't what?" asked Cas, becoming irritated by these odd tangential conversations.
Lucifer looked on in amusement, "Sounds like there was an imaginary angel after all, eh Dean?"
Dean scowled while his cheeks and ears burned a furious red.
Oh, don't look so embarrassed," taunted Lucifer in a sly voice, "I know you're not really going to open your heart up to that angel."
Dean bristled at the tone that made the word sound like an insult.
"I mean, how's he going to react when he finds out what you're really like inside? I know what's in your heart."
"What would you know about my heart?" spat Dean in a voice dripping with contempt.
"Oh, I'm heartbroken you don't remember!" Lucifer mocked, then turned to Castiel, "Back in the day, everyone talked about Alistair's beautiful, vicious little pet. He was quite the envied in Hell for it, y'know."
The devil smirked at Dean's pale, blank expression, "You don't recall? I'd heard this pet had quite a liking for feasting on the hearts of its victims. Then one day a shy, polite boy came up to the bars of my cage and explained he ate them to make up for how empty the heart in his own chest felt."
"Then to demonstrate his devotion to me, he cut out that heart and fed it to me. One sliver at a time."
Lucifer laughed at the expression on Dean's face, "Y'know what? It even tasted righteous."
"So you see, there's no one that knows what's in your heart better than me, since I'm the only one you've ever given it to," Lucifer said with a wide, crooked grin.
He turned to the angel, "Join me Castiel and I'll share him with you. Serve me well and he's all yours."
Castiel laid a calming hand on Dean's shoulder and looked at the being inhabiting Sam's body. It was a long appraising gaze, he really looked. He cocked his head to one side, "You're not really Lucifer are you?" he said in a thoughtful tone, after a long silence, almost as if he was talking to himself.
Dean and Lucifer both turned to him in surprise.
"What d'you mean?" asked Dean, wondering why Lucifer hadn't answered.
Cas caught Dean's eye, but turned his attention back to the devil.
"It bothered me, what you said before, about being in two places at the same time. Lucifer is still in the cage. He's infected Sam's soul somehow, with you, but you're not him."
"Call me Luce. And I'm a close enough copy," he sneered, taking a mock bow.
"Maybe, in terms of personality and memory, but I somehow doubt you have his power. In fact, other than tormenting Sam and tricking him into allowing you to possess him, I don't think you actually have any influence on the external world at all."
Luce scowled and his lack of an answer was all the answer Castiel needed and he started to recite the exorcism rite from the Rituale Romanum.
Luce hissed at him. "You dare? I know what you did to the Host in Heaven. I merely refused to serve, you placed yourself above Him."
Cas' face twitched, the muscles in his cheek working, but he hunched his shoulders and carried on reciting.
Luce pointed at Dean, "Stop, or I'll rip his soul to shreds," he screeched in frustration, swaying like a tree about to topple.
"Sleep," commanded Castiel, touching two fingers to the tall man's forehead and both of them slumped to the floor. Dean rushed forward to catch them, but only managed to get dragged down too, landing on top of them and finding his face uncomfortably close to Cas'. Dean's mouth was dry and he swallowed audibly when Cas' eyes flicked open.
"You okay?" Dean asked, jumping to his feet.
"Yes, very good. I had thought I might lose physical cohesion again."
"What, you mean disappear?" he asked, helping the angel up to a sitting position.
"Whatever the Leviathans did to me seems to be wearing off, but I'm still very weak," at Dean's look of concern Cas smiled and added, "If it's any consolation, he's weaker."
Cas shuffled forward and started shaking the unconscious man in front of him as if to wake him.
"What you doing, didn't you just knock him out?"
"I'm hoping that we can wake Sam."
As if on cue the larger man started to wake. Groaning and rubbing his head he sat up.
Dean look delighted, before a look of worry crossed his face. He looked at Cas with a querying expression and sighed in relief when Cas nodded confirming that Sam was back.
"Cas," Sam said in a voice choked with emotion, "Something I should've done a long time ago," and he pulled the angel towards him and wrapped him in a long, tight bear-hug.
~#~
Cas looked at the sigil carved into Sam's forearm with obvious displeasure, "You did this of your own volition?" he asked, the disbelief plain in his voice.
Sam nodded, the shame clear on his face.
"Can't we burn it like we did to Meg's mark when she possessed Sam," asked Dean, forgetting that Castiel hadn't been around back then.
"No," replied Cas, getting the idea, "It's all the way down to his soul."
"We're going to have to think of something else," said Cas simply.
"So, what if I can't stop him taking over again in the meantime?"
"I have faith in you, Sam," smiled Cas.
Sam looked to his brother in confusion. Dean slapped him on the shoulder and held a firm grip for a moment, nodding his agreement.
"Thanks guys, I won't let you down," said Sam in a voice so low it was almost a whisper, his eyes glistening.
~#~
When Sam next slept, he dreamed he was back in the Cage.
Lucifer, no Luce, walked up all bravado, "Hey, Sammy," he called cheerfully, "How long do you think you can keep me here?"
"Hey, yourself," Sam answered rising to his feet. "How long are you going to make me keep you here?"
Luce frowned, "What do you mean?"
Sam darted forward and wrapped his long arms around the devil pulling him into a vice-like grip.
"Welcome to your new cage," he hissed into Luce's ear.
~#~
At first they thought that Sam was taking a well deserved rest, then Dean wondered aloud if his brother had regressed to his teenage ability for massive amounts of sleep.
Dean joked that someone as good-looking as him didn't need as much beauty sleep as Sam obviously did.
"Yes, you are a very attractive man," a distracted Cas agreed. He stared at Dean with an intense and curious expression, noting the gradual way the hunter's black-in-black eyes had started returning to their normal green.
Dean went bright-red, "Sammy, wake up!" he shouted.
Sam woke and stretched as he climbed out of bed, feeling stronger and better rested than he had in years. He looked around and within, and realized that Luce was... gone.
No, that's not it. I'm not quite Sam, anymore. But, I'm not Luce either. I'm something new, he realized.
This should be interesting, he smirked.
Cas watched Sam with a cautious expression, he could see from Sam's soul what had happened, Full integration. He just didn't know what that meant for Sam, "How do you feel, Sam?" he asked.
Dean froze in alarm at the sound of concern, with maybe just a touch of fear, in the angel's voice.
Sam stopped and considered, "We are one," he said in a voice devoid of expression. He shook his head and grinned, "No, I won! There was no way to get rid of Luce, so I took a leaf out the Leviathans' book and ate him."
Dean look surprised, but still unnerved, Cas laid a reassuring hand on his arm while smiling at Sam, "I think that absorbed is probably a more accurate description."
A shadow passed over Sam's face, "Have I damned myself, Cas?"
Cas shook his head, "There is dark in everyone, just now for you it's quite a bit darker."
Both Sam and Dean relaxed and breathed a little easier.
"The trick is to know that it's there, but not to listen to it," Cas added with a meaningful expression.
"I know that now," Sam agreed.
"I believe in you, Sam. And I'm here for you, both of you," he added looking at Dean, "if you need me. Isn't that what 'brothers' are for, dude?" the word sounded strange in his mouth, but if he was going to be an honorary Winchester he supposed he ought to try to sound like one.
"Dude? You really have changed," laughed Dean, throwing an affectionate arm around the angel's shoulders.
"Yeah? So, you and Dean have talked about things?" asked Sam, getting the wrong end of the stick.
Cas looked mystified, but put it out of his mind as he patted Dean on the back to try and stop him from choking on his coffee.
The End
~#~
A/N
For some reason I don't like the sound of 'Leviathans', I wish the plural was 'Leviathan' – like 'sheep' only without the wool and with more teeth. :€
Conceived on a Halloween my family only grudgingly celebrate, this fic's meant to be set around the Day of the Little Angels (1 Nov), Dead (2 Nov), and Skulls (9 Nov). Since research comprised of five minutes on Wikipedia, apologies for any factual inaccuracies.
Thanks to Tribble Master for the original prompt that led to 'No Way Home' which in turn spawned "Devil on Your Shoulder" and then this fic.
Thanks to OpheliacAngel who suggested a follow-up to 'Baking With God', which inspired the Chuck scene (although the fact he mentions he's going to cookery classes implies this is actually a prequel).
~#~