I'm sorry it's taken me so long to update, my muse kind of abandoned me on this one! Thanks for reading, hope you enjoy!

Previously:

"Dean..." he starts, "When Metatron...in order for Metatron to cast the angels out of heaven, in order for him to finish the process...he needed...he needed the grace of an angel. My grace."

It takes a second for the words to click into place, and when it hits, I can't seem to respond. And it seems I don't have to, because Cas says the words for me.

"Dean...I'm human."

Now: Dean's POV

I turn to look at the now sleeping form of the ang...the man in the passenger seat next to me. Cas is completely dead to the world, and I wonder how long it's been since he's felt safe enough to really sleep. After his initial reaction, and after a quick call to Sam, Cas spent the next hour or so explaining how he'd survived the past few weeks, and it was hard to hear. I know a little something about being hungry and homeless, but at least I've always had Sam. Cas had no one.

Thinking of Sam makes me anxious to get home and I step on the gas, watching as the trees on either side of the road fade to tall green blurs.

But then I remember the pit stop I need to make. Shit.

I pull onto the shoulder and exit the car, phone in hand.

"Kevin?" I ask when he picks up. "I need you to check the...yes, again. No, look I'm about an hour out from Lebanon so just find the closest one to...yeah."

I try not to let Kevin's exasperated questions deter me. I know I'm scaring him by not explaining exactly what I'm doing, but right now it's for the best.

"Look Kevin, I just...I can't explain this right now. I just need you to give me an answer. I need you to trust me." Another long pause while I wait. "You sure that's the closest...? Fine, fine...Alright, thanks Kev. Tell Sam me and Cas will be back soon. Yeah. Bye." Shit. I pocket my phone and head back to the car and its sleeping passenger. The rumble of the engine makes Cas shift in his sleep, but he doesn't wake as I turn the Impala in the opposite direction, heading to a small town a couple hours back. The only question now is where the hell do I stow Cas while I do what I have to? I know for a fact he wouldn't approve of this particular errand. Actually, he'd be furious. Livid. Doesn't matter though. Sam needs it.

It doesn't take long to reach the abandoned warehouse that Kevin directed me to. Why is it always a damn abandoned warehouse? I swear, no creativity. Cas has been dozing off and on, but he jolts awake when I shut the engine off.

"Cas, I need you to stay here for a minute," I say before he can speak.

"Dean I..."

"Cas. Stay. Here," I practically growl, wincing internally when Cas flinches. "Look, I got a call about a hunt," I say more softly, "It's an easy one, so I just need you to hang here for a bit."

The outright lie leaves a bitter taste on my tongue, but it doesn't matter, as long as Cas believes it. He seems to, starts to protest before I cut him off again.

"Cas you're human now, okay? You're not...indestructible anymore. I can't be worrying about you. Just let me do this. I'll be back before you know it."

Before Cas can respond, I'm sliding out of the Impala and shuffling towards the darkened building, feeling for the long silver blade hidden beneath my jacket.

The minute I crack open the slated door, I'm assailed with the smell of sewage and rotting flesh and I almost wretch at the long buried memories those particular odors dredge up. It takes me an extra second, but I finally swallow back the bile and slip inside the warehouse, already assessing my surroundings. My steps are slow and measured as I trail silently across the far wall, blade in hand. At first I don't see anything besides the unidentifiable stains on the floor and the occasional cluster of leftover machinery that looks like it would crumble under the slightest touch. The smell intensifies as I move further back into the warehouse, and I finally catch a glimpse of what I'm here for.

She's lying on her side facing away from me. Long brown hair cascades down her back and pools beneath her makeshift pillow. Looks like a sport coat or something. I slow my pace even more. No need to wake her. This can be quick, painless. She shifts slightly in her sleep, as if sensing my presence, and I tense, only a few feet away from her now. I'm about to take the final step, about to plunge my knife into her back when she rolls over with a start, lunging to her feet in one quick motion, catching me off guard.

"Winchester," she spits, and I barely have time to register the fact that she knows who I am before she's flung herself at me, sending us both to the ground, the silver knife clattering uselessly to the floor, out of reach.

I've barely registered the sudden change in position before she's on top of me, hands at my throat. Her small frame is misleading- she's strong as an ox, and she's using every ounce of that strength to steal my air, grip tightening mercilessly. I claw desperately at her hands, her face, anywhere I can reach, but she's not backing down. Dark spots start to blur my vision and I'm losing consciousness fast, wondering how the hell I'm supposed to get out of this one. The answer comes only a moment later in the form of angel turned human. I feel rather than see the blade as it slices through the girl's spinal cord and she shrieks in agony, back arching like she's been shocked with a live wire. I shield my eyes against the pure, white light that emanates from her still struggling body, twisting away as she lands beside me, mouth still open in a silent scream. Castiel stands above me, the angel blade still in his grasp, dripping blood. He's looking at me with a mixture of horror and disbelief and I know there's no way I'm coming up with an explanation for this.

Another moment later, and I know he knows. I know he's connected the dots, found the missing piece of the puzzle. I can tell by the way the shock turns to full on hatred in his eyes.

Slowly, I get to my feet, arms outstretched in a show of surrender, wary of the blade still held tightly in Cas's grip.

"Cas..." I start. But I don't know how to finish that sentence. Nothing I say will make a difference now. I try again anyway. "Cas, I..."

"You..." he interrupts. His eyes have shifted back to the prone form of the angel he just killed, and I'm grateful he's not looking at me. I'm not ready to meet his gaze. "You've been...killing angels?" It comes out as more of a sob than a question, because he already knows the answer. Already sees what's right in front of him.

"Cas, look, I'm doing this for Sam. He was dying and I needed...I needed...he's better now. He's so much better. He would've died without..."

"WITHOUT THE BLOOD OF AN ANGEL?" Cas screams, taking a step towards me. His face is pulled tight with pain, his eyes more empty and terrifying than I've ever seen them, and he's still holding the angel blade, advancing on me as I back away, matching his steps.

"Cas, please..." I beg, hands still held up in surrender, defeat. But Cas is beyond listening. My back hits the wall sooner than I had thought, and I'm left with no escape route. It's just like the crypt except this time I deserve it and I know that. I know I should let him kill me for what I've done, but if I die then there will be no one left to save Sam.

He needs more blood.

One more step and Cas and I are toe to toe, his gaze piercing and unforgiving. I brace myself for the first blow.

I'll try to update soon, thanks for sticking with me! HOLY CRAP SEASON 9 IS SO CLOSE. Anyways, reviews are welcomed and appreciated!