A/N: My exam is finally over! I think I was going crazy -_- It was relief to come back to writing this. And once again, thank you for all the favs and reviews! Seeing them all make me ridiculously happy :D
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The man sitting behind the worn desk was anything but. He was dressed, Castiel noted, impeccably, with a black suit ensemble. A receding hairline was slicked back, dark eyes glancing over papers. As they approached, the man looked up and smirked when he recognized Dean. "To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit, Dean?" The man's voice had a thick accent, Castiel believed it to be English.
"Oh, just the usual, Crowley," Dean replied with a shrug.
Crowley's gaze slid over Castiel and the man's smile widened, eyes leering. "And who's your friend?" he asked as he stood from his seat, stopping a few paces from the pair. Though he was the shortest in the room (Castiel noted that he was still taller than his brother Gabriel), he had an air about him that commanded attention.
Dean nodded towards the Angel, "This is Cas, he's looking for a friend of his. Balthazar Rocket—"
"Roché," Castiel corrected but Dean continued talking, regardless of the interruption.
"And he needs help. Naturally, I thought of you. You have a certain talent for finding things," Dean finished, hoping to get Crowley in a good mood by complimenting him. The man certainly wasn't above that.
"Really?" Crowley seemed surprised and he stepped forward. "And why would I want to help your Angel, when you know that bringing him here puts us all at risk?" The man countered, reproachful.
Dean scoffed, "Oh, c'mon. I've spent years smuggling more dangerous things than him down here." And it was true. The weapons they currently used were among them. He spared a glance to Rufus, who held his gun firmly pointed at Dean.
The dark-haired man let out a chuckle. "You know what annoys me most about morons like you, Dean?" Crowley began and Dean had to force back a sigh. Once the man got going, he could really let out a rant. "Your insolence. You think you can play both sides of the court and come away with two trophies. I haven't seen daylight for three years."
"You know I'm on your side, Crowley," Dean insisted, staring down the shorter man boldly.
Crowley raised his dark eyebrows, amused, "I'm sure you say that to all your enemies, darling." He turned away from them, facing his desk while toying with a paper weight.
"I do what's necessary," Dean commented, continuing in a harsher tone, "I kiss what ass needs it so your machine stays oiled."
Castiel watched the two bicker for a moment longer before deciding that enough was enough. "If you can't help me, I'll just leave," he spoke when there was a break in conversation and turned to leave. This entire situation seemed fishy and to be honest, he wanted no part of it. He would have to find another way to get to Balthazar.
His exasperation must have sounded louder than he thought because Crowley whipped around to face the leaving Angel. "Headstrong, isn't he?" Crowley laughed, smiling as Castiel froze in his tracks and spun on his heel.
"Can you help me get Balthazar out of the casino?" Castiel was tired, he wanted to go home, wanted to be done with all of this. But he was stuck in this world that was on the brink of some war.
Crowley waved his hand dismissively. "I don't see how, kitten." He shrugged and leaned against his desk, crossing his ankles. The expression he wore dared either of them to question him.
Castiel frowned at the nickname but before he could say anything about it, Dean broke in, "The resistance has contacts inside the casino, right?" He knew Crowley had people everywhere; the man was a slimy bastard.
"That depends," he said, pushing himself forward and getting in Dean's personal space. "I think we've known each other long enough, darling, for you to know I don't do anything that doesn't benefit me."
"He can pay you," Dean offered.
Crowley spared an inquisitive glance to Castiel. The Angel didn't seem to have much on him besides the clothes he wore. "Pay me? With what? The little urchin looks worse off for wear then you do, my dear."
Dean leaned towards Castiel, whispering in the shorter man's ear. "Show him the necklace, Cas."
Castiel blinked. "What?"
"The necklace you're wearing," Dean's gaze shifted towards the golden lump he could see resting against his chest. Gold could fetch quite a bit these days and Crowley was just the type to be won over by it.
But Castiel shook his head, frowning. "No, I'm not selling it," his voice was firm in his decision. It wasn't his to give, it was Balthazar's.
"It's all you've got, Cas," Dean urged, because if Castiel didn't do this, then they would reach a dead end. Dean was reluctant to admit this, even to himself, but Crowley was their best, and most likely only, option.
"No," Castiel raised his voice, staring Dean in the eyes defiantly.
Dean returned the stare, hoping he could convey the importance of the gold with his eyes. But Castiel remained firm in his decision. Damn, but the Angel was determined, he thought. It was a bit of a turn on, really. But now wasn't the time or the place, Dean told himself. Besides, Castiel was too interested in his …friend? …boyfriend? Balthazar, for Dean to make any kind of move on the younger man in good conscience.
Crowley grew impatient and stepped close to Castiel, taking the pendant in his hands. He gazed at it for a long moment, turning it this way and that. He narrowed his eyes, suspicion creeping in as he glared at the Angel, "It's not possible. Where did you get it?" His tone was accusing and Castiel flinched back.
"It's not of import. I'm not selling it," he placed a hand on his chest, shielding the pendant from scrutiny.
His face flushed in anger as he stepped forward. "Where did you get it?" Crowley all but yelled.
Dean moved in front of Castiel, stepping between the two. "What is it?"
Taking a deep breath, Crowley calmed himself before speaking again. His voice was strained when he finally continued, "Your Angel is wearing the Amulet of Purgatory."
Dean's mouth dropped open as he shot a questioning glance to Castiel, "That's impossible."
"I'm never wrong, mate," Crowley responded smugly.
Dean blinked and stared at Castiel, eyes searching. "Where did you get it, Cas?"
The severe tone in Dean's voice surprised Castiel, and he stepped back nervously. It suddenly felt like the two men were ganging up on him. Dean must have noticed the anxious look on his face because he looked guilty before he took a step back. "Balthazar gave it to me. The man we're looking for," he added quickly before either could question who Balthazar was.
Crowley's anger was rising again and he demanded, "Where did he get it?"
"I don't know," Castiel said weakly, clutching the amulet.
"Give it to me!" Crowley snarled, red-faced and breathing heavily.
"No!" Castiel yelled back, standing his ground.
Crowley spun around and moved towards Rufus. "Take him out," he growled with frustration. Rufus cocked his gun, aiming at Castiel with an apologetic look on his face.
"Are you crazy?" Castiel gasped, eyes wide with fright as the barrel of the gun stared him down. Fear seized him and his heart pounded in his chest. His body was rigid and tense and he found it difficult to breathe.
Dean pulled Castiel behind him, but when Crowley pulled out his own gun, he held up his hands in defense, "Stop, just wait."
"Sweetie, you're in over your head," Crowley said, voiced raised in anger, as he clicked the safety off.
"Calm down, put the damn gun away. I'm sure we can all get what we want here," Dean tried to reason, staring Crowley in the eye and daring him to shoot.
Crowley groaned, running a hand over his face in frustration. His voice was low, dark, when he began, "We've been waiting for years for a break like this, and now it falls into our laps."
Dean nodded along, "I get what you're saying, man. But just put the gun away."
"If we can return the Angels back to their world, well then maybe we can save ours," Crowley continued walking closer towards Dean and Castiel, who took a few steps back.
"Just put the gun down!"
"Think about it, Lucifer reduced to filth," Crowley grinned at the thought. "It'll be just like the old days! Justice, reason, and the rule of law."
When Crowley was close enough, Dean surged forward as he tried to knock the gun from the other man's hands. But Crowley's finger slipped, the gun firing and Dean fell to the ground with a grunt of pain.
"No, Dean!" Castiel screamed, wanting to run to him, but Rufus still had his gun trained on him.
"We don't need him anymore," Crowley commented to Rufus, his own gun still aimed at the fallen man. "The amulet is our ticket out of here."
It was pure luck, what happened next. A rush of adrenaline ran through Castiel and he lunged towards Crowley, kneeing him in the groin. Rufus fired his own gun, but it jammed. Castiel took that chance to flee the room, while the dark-skinned man cursed his weapon and tried to fix it.
Dean managed to stand, pulling the gun he kept hidden in the holster around his hips. He aimed at Crowley, who had lost his own when he Castiel knocked him down. "Leave him alone, or this bullet's going between the eyes." Dean groaned, clutching at the wound on his abdomen.
"Look, Dean, this is a game changer, don't you get it?" Crowley tried to reason as he stood slowly.
"Back the fuck off!"
"If you let him leave with that necklace, I'll have every member of the resistance hunting you down. You'll be dead before breakfast!"
"And that's the thanks I get for keeping you assholes fed over the years?"
It happened fast. Crowley grabbed Dean by the arm, twisting it so that Dean kneeled before him and giving him a hard shove. The man took that opportunity to run after the Angel.
Castiel ran down the hallway they had come in, past the library and to the strange bus. Once he got there, though, he had no idea how to work it. There were a dozen different levers and buttons. He pulled one, then pushed a button, then pulled another lever but nothing worked. Glancing up, he saw Crowley running towards him and his eyes widened in fear.
Frantically, he pulled every lever he could reach, "Please, just…" his voice trailed off when Crowley groaned in pain. He looked up to see that Dean had tackled the man to the ground. "Dean!" A wave of relief flew through him at the sight of the other man. He was alive!
"The blue button!" Dean pointed in the general direction, struggling to keep Crowley down.
Castiel found the button and was about to push it, but he watched as Dean and Crowley grappled on the ground. When Crowley seemed to get the upper hand, Dean yelled out, "Go, Cas! Hurry up!" The two struggled for dominance before Castiel made up his mind.
He rushed forward, pinching the pressure point in the back of Crowley's neck, who had been ready to punch Dean into the floor. The man slumped over, passed out beside Dean. Dean stared up at Castiel, as the Angel helped him to his feet. "How'd you do that?" The awe was clear in his voice as they rushed towards the bus.
"My brother taught me," Castiel murmured as he pushed the blue button and turned to help Dean, who had sprawled out on the floor. He didn't know what he could do with a gunshot wound, but knew that the wound needed pressure to slow the bleeding.
"I'm okay," Dean insisted when Castiel began searching for the bullet wound. The Angel turned confused blue eyes at him. Dean pulled down the collar of his shirt, revealing dark clothing beneath it. "Body armor."
Castiel stared at the material doubtfully. Biting his lip, he pushed Dean's shirt up, revealing the deformed bullet that was embedded in the dark material. Carefully, he brought a finger up to touch the metal. He sighed when the metal fell away easily, leaving not even a mark in the material. Relief poured through him at the discovery. He wasn't completely sure why, but he didn't want Dean hurt.
Dean groaned at the sight of the Angel above him, practically straddling his hips. Those blue eyes were concentrated on him and that bottom lip was worried enticingly by white teeth. He was sure that Castiel had no idea what effect he was having on Dean, and that made it even worse. Heat pooled in his groin and he quickly slid out from under the Angel, sitting up and leaning against the seat. At his questioning gaze, Dean responded with a smirk, "You should buy a guy dinner, first."
Castiel blinked and then felt his face heat up at the other man's words. He had been straddling the guy! "I apologize, I hadn't…"
"S'okay, Cas, I was kidding," Dean interrupted. Well, he had been mostly kidding. And with the Angel's flushed appearance, he couldn't help but wonder what the man looked like during sex. He felt himself go hard at the thought and he frowned, Think of Crowley, think of Rufus, think of Crowley and Rufus together and ewww… Problem solved, he noted with relief.
Castiel quickly changed the subject, "Tell me the truth," he said in a voice that was still shaky. "What is the Amulet of Purgatory?"
Dean groaned as he stood. He might not have a hole in his gut, but there was sure to be a bruise. "It's the key to the Gate, the doorway that connects our worlds together. Lucifer stole it from Michael and his Hunters hundreds of years ago and killed them all, so he would be the sole keeper of the Gate. How did Balthazar get a hold of it?" Dean asked.
Castiel stared at the necklace in wonder, oblivious of Dean's question. This little thing held that much power? It seemed impossible, but then again, this entire day had been full of impossibilities turned possible. His thoughts turned to the last few moments, where he had almost been shot at, Dean had almost been killed, the adrenaline and the fear and the attraction towards the taller man.
When the bus finally stopped, Castiel stormed out and onto one of the dirt pathways. He almost stepped too far, but caught himself, taking several steps back. He bumped into Dean, who had been following closely.
"Where do you think you're going?" Dean questioned, resting his hands on Castiel's shoulders. Castiel pulled himself from the taller man's grip, stepping away.
"Anywhere but here," he responded testily, storming down another path. He heard Dean's footsteps close behind him as the other man trailed. "I can't believe this is happening. I mean, this place, you people… They almost shot me! And you, you could have died!"
"Cas, listen. Just calm down," Dean reached for Castiel's arm, pulling the shorter man to him and holding him still. "I'm going to try and get you home."
Doubtful blue eyes stared up at Dean and he was lost. In all of Purgatory, he had never seen such blue eyes. "And what's in it for you? Because it seems like everyone here is out for themselves. Gordon, Crowley," Castiel named angrily.
"I don't blame you for being angry. But Cas, you gotta understand. This world is different than yours. Watching out for yourself, it's how you stay alive here." Castiel stared up at Dean, who sighed after a long moment, "Cas, this is a dangerous place. Trust me, you're gonna need my help. So please, just let me help you."
After a long moment, the Angel nodded.
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A/N: Comments, questions, and concerns are most welcome! *hint hint* :D