Sorry I haven't updated in so long. I've been busy with college and stuff. Anyways, I was going through some of my stuff and while rereading Americana, I thought, well I can't just end it like that. So here's a sequel with a happy ending.
Sam shows up a little later, surprised and relieved to see Dean alive and well. It's short lived, however, when he sees Cas' body lying motionless on his brother's bed. Dean is cradling him close, hand smoothing back dark hair as he whispers endearments to the angel.
"Dean?" he says tentatively.
"Sam, please, help me," Dean says, finally looking up at his brother. His green eyes are shining with tears and Sam realizes what must have happened, what Cas must have done.
He walks over to the bed and sits down, staring at his fallen friend. It's hard to believe he's gone. Cas has been a constant in their lives ever since he brought Dean back from the pit. And his relationship with his older brother hasn't gone unnoticed either. Sam's never said anything before, but he always knew. It was in the way Cas looked at Dean, like he was everything important in the world, in the way Cas sacrificed everything to save Dean. They owe him more than a hunter's funeral and tearful goodbye. There has to be a way to get him back. With how many times they've cheated death, bringing Cas back to them isn't such a daunting task.
"I'll have to look into it, but there might be a way to bring him back," Sam says.
"And without a demon deal," he adds when he sees Dean's questioning face. "We have to get his Grace back. His original Grace."
"But I thought Metatron used it to make the angels fall," Dean says.
"We don't know for sure that there's none left. It's worth a shot," he replies.
It takes a while, but Sam finally confirms his idea in an old book. If they can bring back the Grace to the angel it belongs to, it can revive them. The only problem is they don't know what happened to Metatron. After he killed Dean, he disappeared to Heaven. Cas and Gadreel were supposed to take care of them. With Cas currently out of commission, Gadreel is their only hope to find out what happened.
A knock sounds at the door and the two exchange dubious looks before going out to answer it. Dean has an angel blade at the ready and Sam hides his gun behind his back before answering.
"Hannah?" Sam says once he sees the person standing outside.
"Castiel is dead, "she says. It's not a question. "I felt his Grace pass from this world. I'm here to help."
"And just why the hell would we trust you? You tried to get him to kill me," Dean snaps.
"That was before I knew the truth. Things are different now. Metatron is locked up in Heaven's prison," she says. "And we're pretty sure that he has Castiel's Grace stashed away somewhere."
"How do we know you're telling the truth?" Sam asks.
"You don't, but this is the only way to save Castiel. Trust me or don't, but he was our commander. We all want him back."
Sam glances at Dean, seeking his opinion on the matter. The older hunter nods and tucks his angel blade back into his jacket.
"What do we have to do?" he says.
A few minutes later, they're all loaded into the Impala. Sam drives with Hannah riding shotgun, navigating. Dean sits in the back, Cas' body laid out across the seat. His stillness unsettles Dean and he tries to put it out of his mind. He combs his fingers through Cas' hair and stares out the window, thinking.
Cas, I don't know if your soul or whatever is out there somewhere, if you're hearing me at all. But we're going to save you. I'm not letting you go that easy. I love you and I'm bringing you back to me, no matter what.
"You loved him, didn't you?" Hannah asks suddenly. Her eyes watch Dean in the rearview.
Dean would normally blush at the accusation and stammer out a vehement denial. Now, he only nods, looking down at Cas.
"Dean, we're going to bring him back. You know that, right?" Sam says, glancing at him before returning his eyes to the road.
"I know. And I also know that I'm going to kill that douche for stealing his Grace," he growls, dark anger overtaking him at the notion of finally offing Metatron.
"No," Hannah says, "Castiel didn't want to kill him. He's going to rot in Heaven's jail for eternity."
Dean exhales sharply and goes back to staring out the window. As much as he hates even the idea of letting the bastard live, he agrees that that's a better punishment than death. As long as he can get in a few good punches, he'll be fine.
They finally pull up to a playground of all places. A girl and an older woman stand guard around the sandbox which has an intricate design drawn in the sand.
"Let us through, Azriel," Hannah says.
The little girl looks at the three of them and then at Cas, held carefully in Dean's arms.
"Castiel is dead?" she says. She sounds shocked, almost sad.
"Not for long," Dean grumbles, "let us in and we'll bring him back."
She stares at him for a while, almost enough to be unnerving until she finally nods. She turns to the older woman and they both start muttering a spell in Enochian. The design in the sand lights up and a column of light appears. Hannah walks into it without hesitation and Dean looks at Sam dubiously. His little brother shrugs and follows her, Dean not far behind.
This part of Heaven resembles an office building more than anything. The other angels balk at the sight of Cas as they set him down in a chair, making way for them as Hannah leads them to the dungeons. Metatron is restrained in his cell in a straightjacket, which Dean thinks is appropriate.
"Dean Winchester," Metatron says, "back from the dead. Again. Not surprising, really. Let me guess, Castiel used the last of his Grace to revive you. And now you want to bring him back by taking his old Grace to him. Well guess what, fellas. It's gone. Used up in my spell."
"You're lying," Dean growls. "And you're going to tell me. Or I'll carve you up like a Christmas turkey."
"Oh, I'm so scared. Shaking in my boots, really," Metatron mocks.
"Search his office, Sam," Dean says. His brother and Hannah both glance at him as he pulls out his angel blade.
"Dean-"
"Just go, Sam."
Hannah and Sam glance at each other before they leave, the door to the jail shutting behind them. Dean grabs the keys from the holder on the wall before unlocking the door and cornering Metatron. He twirls his angel blade in his hands, staring down the angel.
"One last chance, Metatron," he says.
Predictably, the angel says nothing, only grinning at him, like nothing Dean does will make him talk. He's about to find out just how wrong he is.
Sam and Hannah tear apart Metatron's office but they can't find anything that might lead to where Cas' Grace is hidden. When Dean walks in, hands spattered with blood, he heads over to the radio they'd used. He's careful not to damage it too much as he tries opening it. Inside, there's a glass vial with blue-white light swirling inside.
"Dean, how did you-" Sam starts.
"Metatron told me," is all the older hunter says. "And no, I didn't kill him. I wanted to, but it's better to let him suffer."
The doors swing open to the other room and he crouches down in front of Cas, opening the vial. It surges out, flowing between Cas' lips. His chest starts glowing and Dean and Sam have to shield their eyes as it works to restore its owner. Hannah taps him on the shoulder when it's safe and when he opens his eyes, Cas is staring around, bewildered. Blue eyes settle on his own and Dean never thought he'd be so happy to see them again.
"Dean, what did you do?" he asks.
"We got your Grace back. Your own Grace, not some other angel's," he says.
"But Metatron-"
"He's been dealt with," Hannah says. She smiles and so do a few of the other angels gathered in the room. "It's good to have you back, Castiel."
"Don't you dare do something that stupid ever again," Dean says sternly, lunging forward and hugging the newly revived angel.
"I had to save you," Cas says, wrapping his arms around Dean. "I couldn't bear to see you like that."
"And you think I did any better?" Dean whispers. He pulls back just enough so he can capture Cas' lips with his own.
"I love you," he says against Cas' lips.
"I love you too, Dean," Cas says.
They stand up and Cas is bit wobbly on his feet. Dean wraps an arm around his waist to steady him and they glance at the other angels.
"I'm going home," he informs them. "But if you need me, then pray to me. For now, I think you can manage on your own."
A few of them nod in agreement and Cas turns his head to kiss Dean on the cheek.
"Come on, Cas," Dean says, "let's go home."