A/N: So, I was too excited by this night's episode to study because c'mon, Castiel was in it! I've been spazzing about it since last week, thinking that they were going to kill Cas and gah! Anyway so here is the product of all that craziness. I apologize if it's choppy, I've got way too much caffeine in me :D
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Dean knocked on the door to the casino, Bobby standing beside him. When they were greeted by a Demon, Dean smiled. "How's it going?"
"Who the hell are you?" The Demon asked with a blank face.
Dean shook his head, sighing. "We're part of the show, the one Lucifer asked for?" At the doubtful look on the Demon's face, Dean pulled out his gun. Making sure the safety was on, he twirled it around his fingers, throwing it in the air and catching it smoothly before tossing it around a few times, never missing a beat. He held the gun out and grinned, "Ta-da!"
Before the Demon could ask for clearance, Dean grabbed him by the collar, shooting him with the gun. "Well, that's one way to break in," Bobby commented as they stepped over his body.
The two entered the casino through the employee entrance, looking around. When a few employees passed, Dean smiled at them in greeting, "Hello, ladies." They giggled and continued walking their way, whispering and shooting glances over their shoulders.
"We should split up," Dean said as they walked down the hallway.
Bobby frowned, "Why?"
"Because we don't know where he is," Dean said as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"We're in Lucifer's casino and you think splitting up is a wise idea? I don't think so, boy. Let's go," Bobby replied gruffly and stalked forward, Dean groaning and following. The hallways twisted and turned as they continued on, up a flight of stairs or two before Bobby came to a sudden stop. "Does this look like someone's house to you?"
Dean shrugged, looking at the walls. There were pictures hanging, several of two young children. He took a step closer to one, noticing a young, dark haired boy with bright blue eyes. "Cas?" He mumbled in disbelief. He spun around, looking for a door, any door. He found one at the end of the hall and flung it open.
He about fell forward from the momentum, the floor missing. But his eyes widened when he saw Castiel at the other side of the room, staring back in equal surprise. "Dean?" His voice was soft, like he didn't quite believe he was real.
Dean took a cursory glance around the room. Castiel was standing on a couple inches of a wooden plank, all the remained of the floor. His back was pressed solidly against the wall and fear was carved on his face. "Cas, you have to jump."
"No, I can't, I'll fall," was the scared reply, eyes shut tightly, jaw clenched and breathing heavily.
"Look at me, Cas," Dean said in a firm voice, holding out his hand. When those blue eyes finally found his, Dean nodded. "Trust me."
Castiel gulped and after a long moment, he nodded. Taking a deep breath, he lunged, reaching for Dean. They collapsed to the ground, Castiel clutching Dean tightly and whispering words of thanks breathlessly. "It's okay, I've got you."
"H-how did you find me?" Castiel asked when they stood and Dean motioned to Bobby.
"Believe it or not, but we're inside your head, boy," Bobby was tapping along the wall. He looked crazy and both Dean and Castiel raised their eyebrows until a hidden door swung open. They ran from the room then, down another hallway. Dean led the way, down a flight of stairs. They could hear Demons following and they darted into an elevator. The doors closed at the last minute and Dean pressed a button.
"Why up?" Castiel asked, confused. He thought they were escaping, so why were they going further into the casino?
"Do we have a choice?"
"You shouldn't have come," Castiel said after a long moment. "You could get killed."
"Did you give the amulet to them?"
And the anger that Castiel had felt before he left Dean in the wood returned. "Look, I have things under control," he informed tensely, jaw tight.
"You tried to cut a deal with Lucifer, didn't you?"
"I was getting close!" The Angel said quickly, crossing his arms.
"What does that mean? Maybe I'm wrong, but the negotiations didn't appear to be going so well."
Castiel groaned, "I need more time."
"For what? Do you really think Lucifer's just gonna send you and your boyfriend home?"
"No…" Castiel spoke after a long moment, looking forlorn.
"No, of course not!" Dean yelled, cutting Castiel off.
"Because he's his son," Castiel said quietly, not looking at Dean. The sound of their breathing was the only thing they heard for a moment.
"Balthazar's the prince? The Prince is your boyfriend?" Dean questioned in shock. The elevator dinged then and the doors slid open. There were two Demons standing a few paces away, ready to fight. Dean growled in frustration, pulling his gun and shooting them both in quick succession. He felt a bit better after killing the Demons, but only slightly.
"What now?" Castiel asked, looking around. They were on the roof of the casino, with nowhere to go.
Dean looked around, spotting a lone Dragon. "We hijack the Dragon," he said with a grin, ignoring the irritation he felt. He'd always wanted to do that. They climbed aboard and Dean took control, starting the engines. The Dragon roared to life and lifted off the ground and away from the casino.
The sound of guns pierced the air. They didn't make it very far when the entire vehicle shook. "Son of a bitch!" Dean yelled as the engines began failing.
"We have to jump!" Bobby hollered over the noise. He swung the emergency door open and leapt into the lake below.
Dean didn't even give Castiel a chance to refuse. He wrapped an arm around the smaller man's waist and pulled him close. Holding on tightly to the Angel, he jumped into the lake below.
They broke surface not a minute later, coughing and sputtering. Castiel was angry and terrified, but knew that Dean had just saved his life. They swam for shore, looking around for Bobby once they reached the sand.
"There should be tracks," Dean said, searching the ground.
"Bobby!" Castiel called out as they walked down the beach.
"We have to keep going. We're sitting ducks on the beach," Dean said when they received no responding shout. "Is the amulet safe?"
Castiel growled in frustration, "Is that all you think about? Yes, it's safe." He stopped in his tracks, facing Dean.
Dean looked just as angry, "What, you don't trust me? After I just risked my life to save you?"
"Why did you?" Castiel countered hotly, narrowing his eyes, staring up at the taller man.
Dean frowned, "You're really ungrateful, you know that?"
The Angel sighed, but didn't lose the anger in his voice. "Look, I know you're trying to save your people and the amulet might make all the difference."
"Is that why you think I did this? So I could get my hands on the amulet?" Dean said with disgust.
"I respect that, it shows that you're a righteous man, after all. But first, I need to use it to get my father out," Castiel finished quietly, glancing away.
Dean paused. He remembered the Angel telling him about how his father had gone missing years ago. It was possible that the man had been taken from their world, but it seemed quite a stretch that he would still be alive after all this time, especially with how Lucifer was. "You're father?"
"He's here. Balthazar slipped me his watch," he pulled the silver watch from his pocket and showed Dean. He glanced at it, turned it over. Engraved on the back were the letters C.S. "Charles Shurley. He's in the casino somewhere," Castiel smiled hopefully.
"He's lying," Dean said after a long moment. "Lucifer and his people lie, Cas. How can you believe Balthazar? He's lied to you about who he is."
"He had his reasons," Castiel returned quickly. Dean's words hurt; of course he knew Balthazar was lying about many things. But the watch, his father, that couldn't be a lie. He had to believe the man about that.
"Why are you even defending him?" Dean stalked away in anger and Castiel followed quickly to catch up.
"He's trying to help me," he said insistently, mostly trying to assure himself.
"Really? Because from my standpoint, he's made you a target, Cas. He took the amulet from his father and gave it to you."
"H-he wasn't expecting me to follow. I screwed up by bringing the amulet here," Castiel informed weakly. But it was true. If he hadn't followed, then Lucifer wouldn't ever have the amulet and then the resistance would have been able to fight back.
"And he blames you for that?" Dean scoffed. It wasn't the Angel's fault that he was trying to help his boyfriend. The Prince lied to him, led him on. To Dean, it was clear whose fault it was.
"No. I don't think so," Castiel said with uncertainty.
"Why would he go around pretending to be someone else?"
"He's hiding from them."
"Why?"
"I don't know!" Castiel screamed, at his wits end. Dean looked away for a moment. Castiel continued in a soft voice, "He's engaged." He wasn't sure why he said it. But he had to get it off his chest.
"So he's two-timing you?" Dean huffed in annoyance.
"I… I don't think..."
"And now, all of a sudden, he tells you that your father has been in the casino all this time? Doesn't that seem a bit fishy?" Dean pressed and Castiel frowned, tilting his head. "It's not a coincidence, Cas."
"Would you idjits keep it down? I'm trying to sleep!" Came a voice.
They both smiled, "He's alive," Dean said with shock.
They found Bobby a few yards away, basking in the sun. "Thank goodness," Castiel breathed with relief. "Are you okay?"
"Of course I am," was his gruff reply. "I'm a Hunter."
"Well, good," Dean said. "Now that we've found you, it's time to get off this beach."
"No," Castiel said. "I'm grateful for what you guys did, getting me out of the casino. But I have to go back."
"Why are you so hooked on Balthazar?" Dean asked, desperation breaking through.
"Because he's trying to help me."
"Don't you realize he's using you?"
"And you're not?" Castiel argued, anger and sadness in his eyes.
Dean was shocked, by the look in the Angel's eyes and his words. "Don't you care what's happening here? Those people in the resistance, being controlled by Lucifer?"
"Of course I do. I'm one of them," Castiel relented.
"Then give the resistance a chance," Dean pleaded, hoping he would see sense.
Castiel shook his thought at the memory of Crowley, "I've met those guys and I don't want anything to do with them."
"That was one branch, Cas. If we get to the top man, he'll help us."
"You know him?"
"No, not exactly. Nobody knows his true identity, but he goes by a code name, Gardener. Give me a few hours and I'll slip back into the city and I'll make contact. You can stay with Bobby, in the Hunter's city. You'll be safe there."
Bobby nodded in agreement and Dean continued, a strange look on his face that Castiel couldn't identify, "If I'm not back by nightfall, do it your way."
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Alistair sauntered into Lucifer's study. He had a wide grin on his face. "I've discovered the location of the amulet," he announced and Lucifer stood.
"Oh? Well, where is it?" He demanded impatiently.
"It is in locker 263 of the University Hall Building, on the campus of—"
"So you mean to tell me he's left it in his world?" Lucifer cut the man off angrily. "Bring him to me!" Alistair faltered and Lilith tensed. Noticing this, Lucifer narrowed his eyes and stormed towards them. "What have you done?" He questioned in a low tone.
"He sort of escaped," Lilith replied quietly. "There was a team that broke through our forces, overwhelming the Demons. They fled in the old Dragon from the roof."
Lucifer took a deep breath, "Find him. Bring him back if he's still alive. In the meantime, summon Balthazar so I can ask him about this University." At the look on Lilith's face, Lucifer groaned, "What now?"
Another Demon spoke, "Um, well, you see, Balthazar appears to have disappeared."
"Is everyone here incompetent?" Lucifer bellowed. "Get him out of here! And Alistair, I want you to find them."
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