And the next chapter and again many, many thanks for the kind reviews :)
I appreciate them very, very much.
Chapter 24
Dean's body trembled with seemingly endless fear.
Sweat formed on his forehead, his heartbeat accelerated so much, that he thought it would burst any moment or pierce his ribs and jump out of his chest. The naked fear was to be seen in his eyes and he took a step back...and the angel one forward.
That couldn't be true!
No!
That had to be a nightmare...
"D-don't come closer!"
His voice trembled as strong as his body and he took another step backwards.
And again the angel took one step forward, ignoring his words.
"Damn Castiel! Are you deaf?! I said: Don't come closer!"
The angel in front of him didn't flinch, when he looked him straight in the eyes and this look alone was enough to fill Dean's body with incredible strong fear.
How the hell had Castiel found him here in this wasteland?
That couldn't be true…
"I understand you very well Dean."
The words sounded colder than ice and they gave the hunter a cold shiver down his spine.
In his mind he was already trying to find a way out of this situation, but the fear, that had infected his body like a parasite, made sure that he could no longer think clearly, and he could feel how slowly but surely the panic spread inside his trembling body.
"I will not go..."
The words of the angel didn't make it better for him.
The hunter almost got tears in his eyes.
He had never felt so much fear in his life before.
He didn't want to die.
Not here, not now…not like that!
Killed by the one he once called his best friend...
No!
That would not happen!
Never!
He would fight if he needed to, but he also knew that his chances for a victory in this fight would be zero percent. He wouldn't fight against a demon here. Oh No.
Here he would fight against one of heaven's worst weapons.
In recent weeks, Dean had read anything about angels he could. He knew what Castiel was, knew how dangerous and powerful he could be. Crowley had told him stories about this kind of angels and he had read books about angels and the more he had learned about the Seraphim, the stronger his fear had grown.
Seraphim were standing next to the throne of God and they carried the light of the Lord in their hearts. The hunter could not even imagine what kind of power this angel, who now stood before him, possessed.
"Castiel, please...Leave me alone..."
It was almost a whimper, which crept over Dean's lips.
He could not hide his fear and when the angel took another step toward him, Dean did the only thing that came to his mind in this situation: He drew his pistol and aimed it at the Seraph.
Castiel almost immediately stopped in his movements. His eyes remained cold and almost expressionless as he looked from the gun to Dean. But when Dean looked closer, he could see something in the blue eyes of the angel. What it was, he didn't know.
"You know that this weapon will not help you, Dean."
It was more a statement than a question, and Dean's neck hair rose at the deep sound of his voice.
"It's worth a try, you bastard!"
That one sentence seemed to have done it now, because now Dean could clearly see the change in the face of the Seraphim and again something sparkled in his eyes.
Something that looked like pain to him...
Castiel's gaze softened and emotions were stirring in his face, when he dared to do another step toward Dean. He could see how the human clutched the gun in his hands and put his finger on the trigger, ready to shoot if he should come too close.
"Dean, please...listen to me..."
"Listening to you? Why should I do that you miserable traitor?! Do you remember our last meeting? You almost killed me!"
Dean's fear was transformed slowly but surely into anger and even the angel noticed this.
Shameful the warrior lowered his head toward the ground, when he remembered what was long gone and had apparently ripped deeper wounds than he could have imagined.
He could understand Dean's anger, for it was he who had almost taken his life, just because the hunter had just tried to protect his little brother, his family, from him.
"Please...please Dean...forgive me...for everything I have done."
A scornful laugh broke away from Dean's throat.
"Forgive you? Sorry Castiel, but I can't! You wanted to take my brother from me, you have tried to kill me and Bobby and even your own brother! Do you think with a simple "I'm sorry Dean" all of this would be over and everyone is back to normal?! It will never be the same again, as it was before and that is all your fault!"
Every word hurt more than any sword thrust could have done.
And what made the whole thing so much worse was the fact that all of this was true.
Dean was right. Why should he forgive him, if he had committed so many mistakes?
But he couldn't and wouldn't let go of his best friend.
He had to try.
"At least listen to what I have to say. Please..."
"Why should I do that Castiel? Should I listen to more lies?! You better go back to your beloved brother Lucifer, and leave me alone! I don't know how you found me at all and I don't care! We're done here!"
As soon as Dean was lifted off of his feet and was thrown against the nearest tree, he couldn't look. The weapon was thrown out of his hand as if by magic, before he could use it and the hunter groaned from the pain that spread from his back into the rest of his body and his vision clouded for a short time.
"No Dean. We're not done here."
Castiel's disturbingly quiet voice came to his ears, and when he opened his eyes, he saw how the Seraph approached him slowly.
"Now we will talk to each other. Whether you like it or not! This is no longer in your hands..."