So I've been meaning to update this for a while now but so much revision has just got in the way, I know sucks right. I also want to thank all the lovely people who have reviewed this story so far, it means the world and It really does put a smile on my face so thankyou!
It had been almost three weeks since Dean had last seen Castiel awake, well barely but he did feel small amounts of comfort in hearing his deep signs that escalated from him. Now however you could hardly remember that this being used to blink, breathe or even move at all. It had been three weeks since the unlikely happened, good and bad, and Dean and Sam found themselves from the clutches of Raphael thanks to a certain arch angel and demon. Yes it amazed him to repeat that in his head, he remembers how empty and defeated he felt as soon as he saw that his best friend was no longer present. His vessel was still there of course, whether it was still described as a vessel, Dean didn't know, he remembers Cas mentioning how he sent Jimmy to heaven before all of this started. You could say the body was now officially his but to this day it was empty. Well so Dean and Sam first believed it to be.
"Purgatory.." Dean repeated after Crowley, mainly meant as a whisper as he tried to progress what the hell had just happened. He was in complete shock, he knew something bad was happening to Cas but he never would have believed it to be this bad. Whatever happens, he always believed Cas would never actually go, go anywhere, but Purgatory? This was unbelievable.
He walked over to Castiel's body, treading his footsteps very slowly as if his body was moving on its own, whilst his mind told him other wise. Castiel's eyes were shut tight and there was blood escaping his mouth, nose and ears. Dean put his hand over Castiels mouth and layed his ear against his chest. He wasn't really sure why he was doing this, there was little hope that he would find a pulse and Dean knew this but he felt he couldn't just immediately give up on Cas. It amazed Dean how peaceful Cas's features now looked. He had gotten so used to seeing the permantly pained expression on Castiel's face, that he couldn't even picture his famous confused frown anymore. The frown Dean had gotten so used to and actually started to love about Cas. He loved how different and childlike he was, it give him almost a sense of innocence thinking how little he actually understood about life on Earth. Yet this little understandment also turned out to be the death of Cas. Of course a part of Dean questions whether he should have had more faith in Cas, he showed to the brothers how much stronger and better he could be than the other angels, so maybe they should have trusted him to make the right decisions, hell he would pick Cas being God over Raphael anyday, but at this moment his friend seemed to have been lost forever.
Dean wished he could tell Castiel how much he actually meant to him. They had both said some bad things over the past couple of months. Things Dean now regretted and he wanted to show Castiel how he didn't mean them, he loved Castiel as a brother and it angered him how Cas didn't listen to Dean.
"You son of a bitch" Dean whispered softly whilst trying to hold back tears that were forming in his eyes. "You should have..." Dean couldn't say it, he couldn't control himself and he just let himself go, he buried his head into Castiel's chest whilst he gripped his shoulder tightly and he felt the tears fall down his face. He could still smell that familar sense of pureness from Castiel. He'd never admit how he came to recognise his scent but whenever he heard the fluttering of wings approach, he would always get a snuff of the fresh breeze that followed with it, the smell of heaven he assumed. It was a good smell, a sense of hope, happiness and even power. It was the sense of Castiel.
Sam could only remember a couple of times he had seen his brother looking so vulnerable. It was out of place and Sam hated how much weaker it made Dean look. He was always so used to Dean being the stronger one, he was the one that always showed faith in situations even when there was little reason to see it, this always made Sam feel better because Dean was his big brother and he made things better. But now Dean looked anything but that strong more powerful brother that Sam had once knew. The thing he hated most about this situation was that Crowley could also see the weakness in his brother and this allowed all strength Sam once had to fall down completely too.
However Crowley shocked Sam, he didn't have the smug face he normally carries but a more almost sympathetic face. He wasn't looking at Dean, he was looking into thin air, almost as if this was effecting him in ways Sam wouldn't even be able to begin to think how. But he looked so .. human? As if emotions previously hidden were beginning to surface. He looked as if this was upsetting him, or making him feel uncomfortable maybe, but this sure wasn't the stuck up demon they had come to know.
Dean had only let go of Cas after he heard the door of the chamber slam open, but he didn't turn around to see who it was because he had a very clear guess of who it would be. Sam turned around to see the appearance of Raphael, he was looking at Castiel with a smirked expression, an expression that could only be described as someone who had just accomplished something. He showed Castiel what was for and the example was now set, he had nobody to get in his way of being the new God.
"Well this truly is a tragedy, I never would have wanted this to end in such a horrific way" Raphael spoke in a patronizing way.
Dean could feel his blood boiling, it took all the little strength he had left to not go over there and punch Raphael in the face, even though he knew it was pointless and would just cause even more trouble for him and Sam. He couldn't do that to Sam, he wasn't completely sure how his brother was coping now that his wall had be broken, hell they never had the chance to explore it, everything just happened so fast and now Dean knew he just needed to focus on getting him and Sam away from there, if that was even possible. Dean stepped backwards and made his way to Sam's side again, he needed to protect his little brother even though it meant leaving Cas open to Raphael.
Raphael gradually began to make his way over to Castiel but he stopped as soon as he reached Sam and Dean.
"Now what am I expose to do with you two?" he questioned to himself.
Dean could feel Sam moving awkwardly next to him and he wanted to just reach out to his brother to tell him things will be okay, hell he wasn't losing two brothers today!
"Well my first mission of the new God was to eliminate all possible threats to my new position, I guess thats one down and that just leaves you too."
"If there was any other, but theres not. I know you too. I know you'll do anything you possible could to destroy me and I don't blame you. I mean come on I killed your little angel friend right, whats stopping me from killing you two. I cannot have disbelievers in my world. I'm the new God and I saw more chance in Castiel bowing down to me then you, so I guess that leaves me with one choice, don't you agree?"
Dean raised his head from the ground and looked Raphael in the eyes, he saw so much power now, that he felt intimidated by him, but he didn't show the weakness, he had shown so much already tonight, he wasn't going to show anymore.
"Listen to me you sick son of a bitch, you will not lay a finger on my brother, you hear me! You can do whatever you want to me, see if I care but you will let Sam go!" Dean finally found words to say and the sudden power in his voice suprised Sam, that was the brother he knew.
Sam looked at Dean, with a typical Sam expression that read Hell no! But Dean didn't take his eyes off of Raphael.
The corners of Raphaels mouth began to move upwards, he let out a pityful laugh and it reminded Dean of when Castiel was being tortued and the sick chuckle the demons were making showing how much they were enjoying it.
Raphael straightened up again and his expression turned serious and sour. " Who do you think you are speaking to! I do not take orders from useless little human beings! I am God and nobody tells me what to do."
Raphael was suddenley looking bigger and bigger with every word he spoke, he seemed to be looking down at the brothers and this made Dean feel smaller then hes ever felt before. Suddenley Raphael's vessle was surrounded by a pure white bright light and his hands seemed to be sparking as if he was full of waves of electricity. This wasn't a God this was a creation that never else could compare to, the white light seemed to get brighter and bigger and there they were, hidden behind the vessel of Raphael, inside it, the millions and millions of souls he had absorbed. They were each zooming past each other inside the vessel and it reminded Dean of shooting stars, the stars that you really did believe held some sort of power and even the least faithful human would be quick to make a wish. Dean felt this hope and even though it seemed useless, he wished this wasn't going to be the way it all ended, and with that he finally looked at Sam and smiled. He nodded at Sam and mouthed "its all going to be okay Sammy" and for the first time in a while Sam smiled back, his brother always had the effect of making things better. With that Dean was ready for the end, he was ready to be absorb into the light and he put his arm around Sam's neck and closed his eyes.
What happened next, Dean even after three weeks still couldn't quite understand it. He remembers it exactly to this day, the moment everything seemed to turn out okay, the moment his wishes were answered for.
" Wow, well this is impressive" Came a voice from behind, a voice Dean and Sam recognized so well.
Suddenley the bright light was gone and Raphael turned his attention to the intruder behind him.
" Hey Bro" replied Gabriel seeing that he had his brothers full attention.
" Well I know we all admired Daddy a lot, but this is just too far don't you think?" continued Gabriel was a smirk, he always seemed to be laughing at his own sense of sarcasm.
"Gabriel?" Raphael said with a shocked expression, " But... It can't be... your dead." This was the first time Raphael seemed to lose some of the power he once had. He looked shocked, weakened almost.
" Raphy! Well yes I guess you could say I was dead, but well dad's really persuasive on giving these second chances to the ones who help these unfortunate beings." He looked over at Sam and Dean at this. Dean who was still overcoming his shock pulled a pouty expression, showing how he found the statement rather offensive.
Raphael began to walk over to Gabriel.
"Uhh, not so fast bro." said Gabriel and with that he pulled out a charm on a chain and dropped it into a pot of fire that was suddenley there to the Winchesters amazement.
And with that Raphael suddenley disappeared into a bright light and the room began to shake heavily.
Dean and Sam looked amazed but they were quickly interrupted by Gabriel, " Look I have no time to explain but we need to get out of here, we haven't got long before Raphael comes back and man will he be pissed!"
Sam looked at Gabriel questionly. Gabriel saw this and signed " I promise I will explain everything once we are somewhere else but you must listen to me."
Sam nodded and saw that Dean was no longer by his side, he was over at the now burnt out pot of fire. He saw Dean pick up the charm and thats when he realized it was the same charm Sam had given to Dean for a Christmas present when they were younger. The same charm Castiel had asked to borrow to aid him in his search for God. Thats when it all made sense, of course this charm would have some sort of power over Raphael, now that he was the new God.
Dean picked the charm up, the one he regretted letting go of in the first place and placed it into his pocket, he turned back around and realized Crowley was no longer there, well it made sense for him to flee after Raphael went. He turned to Gabriel and Sam who were untying the bonds holding Castiel up. Once he was untied his body weight took over and Dean stepped forward to catch him in his arms. It was the first time Cas had been let down since they were brought here.
"Come on help me get him out of here." said Gabriel with a rushed tone, making it clear that they needed to be quick.
Sam seeing this tone understood the rush they were now in and even though it pained him to say it, even think it he had to ask. " If we are in such a rush to get out of here, I mean shouldn't we just leave Castiel here for now?" he hated himself for suggesting it, but didn't it make sense, Cas was dead?
Dean shot a glare at Sam, how could he even say that, but then he realised where his brother was coming from and turned to Gabriel.
Gabriel who was still holding onto Castiel with Dean, looked at both brothers from one to the other. A confused expression came onto his face and then it was replaced by a softer one.
" Castiel isn't gone guys... there's a way to bring him back but like I said I will explain everything later, lets just get out of here first."
Dean almost dropped Castiel after hearing this and realising this his grip on him became tighter. He looked at Gabriel " What the hell do you mean hes not gone?" Dean asked.
" Look I mean, most of Cas's grace was burnt away and vanished to Purgatory but like for example when a human is in a coma, their spirit is released to walk places between this world and the next. A fraction of Castiel's grace remains inside him, have you ever wondered why his eyes are ridiculously blue? The mind of his grace is stored in there and I promise you we will get my brother back! Now lets go!"
Dean for the first time in a while felt his heart lighten, he felt hope restore in there and he assumed this wasn't the best time to correct Gabriel and say we will get "our" brother back.
The Car ride to Bobby's had been such a comfort for the Winchesters, after being locked in that warehouse for so long, for too long and now with Sam in the drivers seat driving Dean's baby to his delight and Dean in the backseat with Castiel's head buried into his chest, they felt slightly more at ease. Gabriel was off preparing more charms and spells to insure Raphael couldn't find them. Its a difficult thing to do especially since God can see everything, but having a trickster on your side is always beneficial.
So this was exactly how Dean still remembers it, remembers how his one wish was answered for by a very unlikely arch angel, he felt even though he laughed at himself for thinking it, well that maybe Castiel was still answering his prayers even if he wasn't there in physical form. Yes Dean knew it was ridiculous, It was clearly just luck right?
But three weeks since they escaped and returned to the comforts of Bobbys. Three weeks of drinking, sleeping and eating and having the company of their now favourite arch angel, who they felt they could definatly grow to like.
Three weeks of Dean not leaving Castiel's side, he was in the bedroom Dean normally slept in at Bobby's occupying Dean's bed. Bobby had been quick to move another spare bed into the room so Dean could sleep too. Dean couldn't find it in him to leave Castiel alone, something bothered him when Cas was alone, he felt Cas hated being lonely and he found it comforting to watch the angel now and then. He'd helped clean Cas up as soon as they got back. He'd washed the trench coat, where most of the blood was now out and he'd just loved how peaceful Castiel looked, as if he was in a deep sleep, dreaming. And then Dean wondered about what Gabriel had said, about how some of the grace in Cas's eyes still remained there. How this was the grace of his mind and Dean truly believed that one day they would get Castiel back, his comrade, his friend, his brother. He wondered every day what was going on with Cas and now and then he would peel back the eyelid covering the big blue orbs and he would look closely in there and strangely he sometimes felt that sense that somebody else was looking back at him..
I really hope this chapter allows some of you to still be interested in this! I had this feeling that I hadn't really included Sam and Dean a lot in the other chapters, so I felt this was kind of necessary and I love Gabriel! So I had to bring him back. So I hope you guys enjoyed it, like I said, reviews really mean the world to me! ;D So please leave one, thanks again.