.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not of your own doing; it is the gift of God.
Ephesians 2: 8-9
..

The room swam around sickeningly, Castiel feeling heavy as he tried to lift himself up off the floor. Broken wood fell onto him and splinters were buried under his fingers. Shards of glass had slashed at his arms and penetrated his thighs but he couldn't feel anything but the cold rain soaking through his shirt and off his hair.

'Come now Cass, tired already?'
Glaring up at Kamael, Castiel followed a trail of blood from his forehead down to his chin but other than that bump to the head, Kamael was still dominating. A few times he had tried to touch Castiels forehead to do God knows what but he either changed his mind or Castiel broke free.

Kamael could finish him off in a blink of his eyes, remove his lungs or break his spine by simply thinking it but he hadn't and that made Castiel feel worse
In; his mind Castiel could hear voices, some telling him t surrender while others urged him to fight back.
'Getting a headache? I can help.'
He ended up sliding close to the angel blade, but no matter how hard he willed himself, he couldn't take hold of it.

His thoughts were screaming to just stop trying, end all the pain. His body was broken and bleeding and his soul was tired but somewhere in his heart he could feel the strength. Kamael was stalking towards him slowly, speaking of all the wrongs he had done and how he was enjoying himself but it was all a mumble in Castiels ringing ears.
All he had to do was hang onto the fools hope that his Father would help him.
All he had to do was reach and hang onto that strength…

The rain was gone.
The thunder had fallen silent and the howling wind still.

The house and everything around it was also missing, replaced with a glowing white nothingness. All around him the air was thick and he stretched his arms out to try and feel in there was anything there but he felt nothing on his fingertips but something soft. The light was bright, and his pain became more intense and he cried out, sobbing as he fell onto his back. This was torture, he was alive but what was keeping him here?

Red streaked across the white, slowly flowing until it pooled around him. Sitting up, Castiel followed it until he saw the crumpled creature that was lying still ahead of him. Straining his eyes, he saw the soft white fleece of the lamb, blemished only by the blood that seeped from its slit throat. Grimacing, Castiel tried to wipe the blood off his hands, on his shirt on his pants but it only spread and soon he was too weak to even blink.

Collapsing on his side, Castiel watched as the blood became vivid, the metallic sent filling his nose before it reseeded, vanishing back into te lamb.
Breathing became easier and Castiel gasped it in quickly. Before long he could move easier, sitting up without his head spinning violently. Clasping his head in his hands, Castiel groaned, his throat dry and lungs still grating but at least now his ribs were no longer pressing against them and he could see without the light piercing through his skull.

'Castiel.'
It took him a moment to hear the voice, soft as it drifted to his ears.
'I'm so proud of you.'
'Micah?'
The lamb was moving around now, gingerly edging closer to Castiel. A new sorrow kept up on him, destroying the hope that had ignited in his gut.
'Take this…' a haze formed in front of him and Castiel could feel it as though it was someone powerful before him.

Eyes open wide, Castiel shivered as the haze moved towards him, walking smoothly before fusing with Castiel.
It was like fire in his belly and Castiel cried out until the heat was soothed by rain.
The darkness around him was fractured by the lightning.
Be quick Castiel,

Kamael was standing over Castiel, confusion evident in his bright eyes before the fear streaked across them. Rising to his feet, Castiel could feel the strength in his limbs, in his being. The power surged into his blood and the next breath he had was sweet as he remembered what it was like to have this power in his control.
Clenching his fists, he drove it into Kamael who smashed into the opposite wall. Wood rained down as heavy as the rain that became heavier.

Castiel wanted to say something, to tell Kamael that this punch was for Micah, this one for hunting him down and making him suffer but it would seem wrong. Whatever this power was, it wasn't his and it was fading. Kamael groaned beneath him, leaning back on what was left on the wall. Just as Uriel had done to him so long ago, Castiel gripped his shoulder and Kamael laughed.
'So, it is true then.' He laughed and Castiel lifted him off the ground, face to face as he glared. 'You really are daddy's favourite.'

Castiel dropped him to the floor again, bringing the silver angel blade towards him. It nestled neatly in his hand and uncertainty flickered in Kamaels eyes. He licked his lips, the blood still oozing from his lip and he dragged in a breath.
'So, how long have you got this for?'
Castiel didn't want to listen to him and lifted the blade, ready to bring it down but Kamael begged.
'No no wait, please… this power you have, don't you want to do something great with it? Something more important than killing a simple scum like myself?'
'I will not make those mistakes again, Kamael.'

There was a chuckle and Kamael went to stand but Castiel tightened his grip on the tender spot between the shoulder and neck, keeping him still.
'Ha, yes well, who would? That would be stupid…after it landed you in this mess in the first place… and Micah.'
Castiel frowned, eyes dropping away from the coward on his knees before him.
'Just think, before all this power goes again, don't you think it would be worth finding Micah, maybe even restoring her?'
Castiel was torn once again like he had been for so many years with the Winchesters, duty and responsibility over friends, family?

Stepping away, he could feel the strength vanishing slowly with each breath, his ribs again cracking and vision blurring. He could bring Micah back, and return to how things were, but Kamael would still be there, plaguing his thoughts and life.
Spinning around, Castiel was surprised to see Kamael standing, a sick grin on his face before he engage Castiel with a powerful blow. The blade skittered along the ground, the struggle between them both a twisted form of a dance.

But Castiel was getting weaker.
The burning power that had pulsed through him was now as dead as the embers of Micah's funeral. Kamael cracked his shoulder back into place, spitting out blood and Castiel made a feeble stumble towards the blade.
'Foolish brother. We always knew this was how you were going to end.'
He pressed his foot down on Castiels hand, the cool metal of the blade teasing his fingertips. Kicking it away again, Kamael moved is foot to Castiels back, pinning him down.

Castiel squirmed, still some fight left in him but Kamael rolled him over, laughing as Castiel dragged himself to the wall. He tried to stand using the wall but Kamael returned the favour of pinching his shoulder to keep him down.
'I've had enough of you. Enjoy hell.'
Castiel surrendered, relaxing his muscles as he waited for everything to slip away for the final time.

'You first.'
Bright light stabbed through his eyelids and Castiel flinched away as it became more intense, almost singing his skin.
Heart rapid in his chest, he thought he was about to be sick but he pried his eyes open, not knowing what to expect.
He just wanted this to be over!

'Get off your ass Cass, I didn't give you permission to die.'

The first thing he saw was feathers drifting softly to the ground, singed black and Kamael lifeless on the ground. White appeared in his vision and he turned to look at it, following it up from the delicate hand, the perfect arms to the beautiful face.
At first Castiel thought it was a trick, or maybe he was dead but the smile on her face was too good to be true.
'Micah…'

Her smile was large and Castiel could feel himself restored; strength in his limbs and faith in his heart.
'Hi ya stranger.'
Castiel chuckled to himself, looking at the hand to help him up but he leapt up, scooping Micah into his arms. She laughed, music to his ears and blonde hair falling around them as he held her up, her hands gripping his face before she kissed him.

His body was screaming in pain; but he didn't care, it just meant that he really was alive.
Settling Micah down on her feet, he ran his hands through her clean hair, holding her head up to his, green eyes bright and teary.
'Micah.'
'Yes, that's me.' She laughed, playfully punching his shoulder. He groaned and she bit her bottom lip, apologising. Her eyes looked him up and down, settling on the necklace she had given to him.
'You kept it.'
He wrapped his hand around hers as she lifted in gently.

'What do you mean I owe you an apology?'
Both Micah and Castiel turned, Castiel grinning as Alex stood firm, a finger poking Osaels chest.
Osael just rolled his eyes, wings tucked behind him as he turned to address Castiel, who was confused.
Micah noticed and gripped his hand, soothing away the anger.
'No wait, he brought me back, he is actually good.'

Castiel looked at Osael, inclining his head as Osael did the same. Micah rushed over to Alex who wept as he held her tightly to him. He was mumbling soothing things to her as Osael moved to kneel beside Kamael.
Reciting something in enochian, he closed his eyes before he stood and faced Castiel.
'Thank you.'
'Don't thank me, she was the one that killed him. Once a hunter always a hunter I guess.'
Osael chuckled and Castiel smiled, 'no. for bringing her back to me.'
Nodding his head, Osael tried to contain his humour and Castiel raised an eyebrow.
'Hard to keep her still and away from you.'

He lifted Kamaels body, winking at Castiel.
'See you around.'
In a blink of an eye he was gone again and Micah stood before him, Alex gathering the bloodied sword and other equipment that proved useless.

'Is it true Cass?'
He felt nervous all of a sudden, Micah still giving him the same intimidating look whenever she wanted answers, but what was true? She already knew almost everything, what left was there that she could be angry at him? He looked at her, long and hard, drinking her in and thank full that she was here with him now, physical and alive. Her hair was soft against her face, skin still the same pale warmth and eyes a pale green but the dress she was wearing was what Alex had dressed her in, the cream fabric flowing in the wind as she shivered. He had no jacket to warm her, so brought her to him, her head and body fitting perfectly against his chest, his missing piece.

'Was it true that you gave up your grace for me?'
Castiel looked back down at her, confused.
'You asked me not to…'
'I know I know,' she grumbled, wrapping her arms around him tightly 'but I was selfish and dead anyway. If it meant you got to live…'
Castiel just kissed her forehead.

'Micah, I love you. Your my grace and I wouldn't know what to do if I had to live without you any longer than what I did.'
Micah leant back, smiling softly before she grinned.
'Feels like your growing boobs again Cass.'
'Micah,' he groaned, but Micah just chuckled, kissing under his chin before looking him dead in the eye. She was fighting with herself, that was evident but she moistened her lips, not knowing to laugh or cry.
'I love you Castiel, more than I think I should.'

At that very moment, Castiel didn't care if ribs were broken and his flesh torn and bleeding and neither did Micah as she kissed him again. The rain eased slightly and the thunder was not as vicious as it continued to roll away but the sorrow and doubt in Castiel was already gone.
He had Micah back and a peace that Castiel had not felt for so long.

He was forgiven, he could feel that much as his body soothed, his mind at ease from voices and memories. All that was left now was to make new ones with Micah and to learn how to live this new strange life as a human, together.

Therefore, if any man be in Christ Jesus He is a new creature. Old things have passed away and behold, He becomes New.

Yay!
Of course I had to bring her back!
Sorry if it not what you were expecting but I thought this is my first story I have properly finished, so it should be a happy ending. Plus I love Cass too much.

Thanks for reading
Silver-Kirin
xXx