Day 25 – Prompt: Assumed dead

Summary: Set in S15e13. Sam and Dean return from hell to find Cas slumped over and looking all but dead. Dean panics despite Jack's instance that he's only "almost dead".

A/N: A take on that scene in s15e13 if Destiel had already been canon, because I thought that Cas practically dying got brushed off way too easily.

The two brothers stepped through the portal that was going to get them out of hell. When Dean opened his eyes, that he'd had to close against the bright flash of light, he was met with Jack sitting at the table in front of the spell-bowl and with the slumped over form of Cas in a chair next to him.

"Jack, what the hell?!"

In an instant Dean had crossed the room and was kneeling next to his angel. Cas was silent and pale and didn't show any sign of life. Dean frantically shook his arm, but Cas' still form didn't react apart from his head rolling further to the side.

Dean grabbed his wrist in concern. He couldn't see any movement in the angel's chest and panic was starting to spread through him as he failed to find a pulse.

"He's dead," Jack announced, "Kind of."

The words were like a blow to Dean's heart. NO! No, not again. He couldn't survive losing Cas again. He whirled around to the young Nephilim, a snarl already in place on his face. "What the fuck did you do to him!?"

"I killed him," Jack confirmed the dark suspicion hanging over Dean and he felt something in him breaking.

He was on his feet before the words had even fully registered, ready to lash out at the Nephilim. Soulless or not, killing Cas was something Dean would never be able to forgive the kid for.

Out of the corner of his eye he could see Sam stepping up to Jack as well, his face a mask of horror. His lips were moving, but Dean didn't hear what he was saying. The blood was roaring in his ears and despair was curling around his heart. Caught in his inner turmoil, he almost missed Jack's next words, but when they caught up with him he slammed to an abrupt stop.

"He asked me to."

What?

Jack was explaining some plan that had way too many hopefullys, but Dean didn't catch any of it. He was glancing between Cas and the Nephilim, his mind reeling.

How in the actual hell had Cas thought that killing himself would ever be an acceptable prize for anything. (Almost killing himself, the back of his mind whispered, but Dean shut it up. Same thing. It was not okay!)

"Bring him back! Now!" Dean's voice might have been sharper than intended and Jack jumped slightly in his chair.

Luckily, he didn't even try to argue. He picked up an old flask that had been lying on the table in front of him and quickly started to unscrew the cap with slightly shaking fingers. For being soulless, he seemed pretty distraught by the whole situation.

Dean returned to his position by Cas' side. He took his boyfriend's limp hand as he watched Jack put the flask in front of the angel's lips and a swirling bluish-white light, not unlike grace, started to flow from in into Cas' mouth.

"Come on, come on. Wake up," Dean murmured. He didn't dare look away from Cas for a second, didn't even blink.

The stream of energy seemed to take forever and Cas wasn't looking any different. Dean's heartbeat could have sufficed for the both of them with how fast it was. He gently brushed a hand down his angel's cheek, attempting to rouse him. He was getting more desperate with every moment that went by.

"Come on, come on, Cas," Dean chanted quietly as he clasped Cas' hand tightly in his own.

Finally the swirl of blue and white ended. For a moment everyone held their breaths. Cas still wasn't moving and Dean felt like his heart was going to break. What if they had been too late? What if Cas was already gone for good?

Then, suddenly, the angel sucked in a sharp breath and started coughing. Dean could have cried in relief. Jack quickly closed the flask like he feared it would suck Cas' life force right out again. Cas blinked his eyes open and Dean didn't wait a moment longer to surge in and kiss his angel, his alive angel, breathless.

He pulled back and wrapped Cas in a tight hug. "You're an idiot," he rasped when he pulled away again. He could feel the anger coming now that the fear had suddenly evaporated.

"What if this hadn't worked?" Sam cut in, his voice sharp with worry as well.

"But it did," Cas grunted. His voice sounded more raspy than normal.

He tried to get up, but as soon as he moved he folded back into himself with a pained groan. Dean was quick to push him back into his chair. He settled a hand on the angel's shoulder to make sure he'd stay seated.

"What else happened?"

Cas sat up straight and immediately started coughing. Dean gently rubbed his back through it until the fit stopped. "Apparently the Empty doesn't like me just strolling in and out whenever I want."

"It tortured you?" Dean questioned sharply, though he was already fairly certain what the answer was.

Cas gave a clipped nod.

"Are you okay?" Dean pushed his anger at this boyfriend for being stupid to the back of his mind and let the concern take over as he went to check him over.

"I will be in a moment," Cas rumbled. "My vessel didn't take any damage."

Dean took a deep breath. "Never do that again! You scared me."

Cas gently took Dean's roaming hands and clasped them in his own. "I'm sorry, my love. I guess I am a bit of an idiot."

And when he smiled, Dean couldn't help but return the gesture.