Part 2

A week passed and they were still at Bobby's even if Dean wanted to tell Sam that they didn't need to go to him right after Gabriel left, but his younger brother was having none of it. Yeah, he stopped talking for a bit, but he still thought it was too much fuss, he was all better after all.

Dean might've been still less talkative than before, but otherwise he was fine, he really was, or so he told himself over and over again. Then of course he realized how torn he was about all this mess. Sam tried to get him to tell where Gabriel snapped him, but Dean kept his mouth shut. Because there was no way he could explain it to Sam properly how something causing this much damage could've been accidental. But Dean knew it was, what Gabriel did was nothing uncharacteristic from the archangel. Dean was pissed and shouting and he managed to get a rise out of Gabriel and the angel freakin' dropped him in the ocean. And not the palm-trees, white sand, hot chicks kinda ocean, but in the middle of ice-cold, stormy waters. And the way he was suddenly enwrapped by cold and darkness... it felt like falling to Hell.

He didn't know whether Sam experienced it or not, when he jumped into Lucifer's Cage, but even if he did Dean didn't want to scramble up any Hell-related memories in his little brother, minding Death's warning about not scratching it is advisable.

So when Gabriel snapped his fingers it was suddenly cold and dark and his clothes dragged him down into the stormy water and as cold bit into his flesh it felt exactly like being dragged down to Hell again. Because Hell was a cold burn, and Dean was terrified immediately. He wanted to scream but he choked and the pressure increased as he sank. The whole thing couldn't have lasted more than a minute, but he thought that Gabriel threw him down to Hell.

In retrospect it was stupid of course, logically Dean knew that the archangel wouldn't do that, but at that moment he didn't. And the fear petrified him. That one minute and everything just raced through his head, all the pain that was awaiting him and he already felt like he was already on the rack.

First he didn't notice that he was back in the motel room. He expected the pain to start and the first coherent thought that ran through his head was that he finally pushed too much, that he couldn't keep his mouth shut and he angered a being way more capable of tossing him down into the bowels of Hell indeed only with a snap of his fingers.

It was one of those stupid things that even if he knew what Gabriel was he didn't actually realize it. But all in one thought it came crushing down on him and he felt like some stupid kid poking a dragon with toothpicks until the beast got annoyed enough to lift a finger to kill.

Then he realized that he was indeed not in Hell again but the constant low buzz of adrenaline and fear wouldn't let up.

The days after the incident went in a blur and Dean only remembered half the things that happened. But he did remember when Gabriel last visited and that was the exact reason why he was so torn about the whole thing.

Snapping him away in the fight was Gabriel's version of tossing a drink in his face, that he knew. He also knew that he felt guilty about bringing up memories like that, because of what Dean heard of Gabriel's reaction from Sam, he knew that the archangel realized almost immediately why Dean was so badly effected. And Dean knew him enough to know that it was anything but intentional. And from the way he said goodbye now the hunter also knew that the archangel apparently cared a lot more about him that he let on before. On top of everything he left to fight Raphael and Dean did not want to think that he was maybe...

All that and he was still fucking afraid. It was crazy and stupid. His first reaction after hearing the angel say 'Goodbye' like it was fucking final was to give forgiveness, but he only managed to open his mouth after Gabriel was gone. He didn't want him to die, he knew that. But when he thought about what would happen if the archangel returned and whenever he looked at the little silver amulet Gabriel left behind he felt as dread gripped his chest. It was ridiculous and unreasonable and it was like the fucking airplanes all over again.

He didn't get it, since he never feared any of his enemies like this, not even Yellow-Eyes or Lucifer, but maybe just that was it, Gabriel was not an enemy, not anymore and he couldn't just shoot him or stab him - even if he did the latter more than once - to get rid of him and fear along with him. And a little noise in the back of his mind also told him that for some stupid unexplainable reason he really liked having him around until the whole "snapped to the ocean Hell freak out". And that Gabriel kissed him goodbye or something, which was a lot let confusing than it should've been. The little voice also wanted to whisper things about feelings and shit, but Dean strictly told himself that he did not grow a vagina thank you very much.

Then Castiel showed up. Dean didn't flinch at the sound of wings, but he couldn't tell whether because he was finally getting over his nonsense fear or that it was his special Cas-focused spidey-sense that told him in an almost totally subconscious level that it was his friend who appeared behind him. He almost couldn't believe that there was a time when he jumped in surprise or reached for a gun when the angel popped in, now not even a muscle tensed in his body.

Bobby was out getting some supplies and to discuss something with Sheriff Mills, Sam of course refused to let his brother out of his sight. Dean would've bitched about it, but he had to give the kid some slack, because the whole thing must've freaked out him a lot. So it was just him and Sam at Bobby's study, doing some half-hearted research about a possible case when the flutter of wings signalled Cas' arrival.

'Hey Cas' he greeted, Sam didn't say a word. And Dean knew - since Sam told him - that his brother was pissed at Cas for letting Gabriel do whatever he wanted, which was unfair in Dean's opinion since what exactly was Cas supposed to do about it?

Castiel was looking at him with his usual intense, soul-deep stare, which Dean was pretty much used to at this point even if he didn't see it all that much even since Cas was always in a hurry due to the war going on in Heaven.

'I'm glad you're feeling better now Dean' the angel said after a few moments of staring, Dean kept eye contact and he didn't have to ask Cas continued. 'Gabriel informed me about your unfortunate argument.' Sam snorted, Cas glanced at him but didn't comment. 'I couldn't come before, my apologizes.'

Dean was almost surprised that he wasn't angry.

'It's okay Cas, I know that the war got really heavy lately' the hunter told him and Sam looked at him in confusion. Dean didn't tell him about Gabriel's last visit. And Dean realized some time after that things must've been very bad if the wayward archangel decided to join the fight. Castiel nodded.

'Things indeed seemed rather ominous' the angel confirmed and Dean looked at him again this time with more focus.

'Cas, what's going on?' he asked, there was something unusual about his behaviour.

'The war ended' the angel answered simply.

'What?' asked Sam in utter surprise. 'How?' Castiel turned his attention at the younger Winchester.

'Raphael is no longer a threat nor do I believe that he will be again' there was a sinking feeling in Dean's stomach, but he couldn't identify it.

'Is...' he started, but couldn't continue. And okay he was definitely not over it. Cas just looked at him and whether he knew Dean enough, read his mind or expected the un-said question was a mystery for the human.

'Gabriel is...' Dean didn't flinch at hearing his name, which the hunter counted as a win, but that pause, while Cas thought about how to phrase what he wanted to say caused him to tense up. And he actually thought (prayed) 'Don't say 'dead'.'

'Recuperating' the angel finished and Dean let out a breath. 'He was injured and he exhausted his powers to a great extent to keep the fight away from the Earthly plane.'

'What do you mean?' Sam asked this time. Dean doubted that Sam actually cared about the archangel's well-being, since he hated him with passion ever since that day.

'Raphael would've battled him here on Earth and I'm sure I don't need to remind you what a fight between two archangels would've done to this planet.' Dean felt a shiver ran down his spine at that, it was a gentle reminder to his brain why exactly he was currently downright scared of the youngest archangel.

'He fought Raphael?' Sam asked in disbelief.

'And won' Castiel finished but he did look at Sam in slight confusion. 'But I thought that he informed you about this.'

'What? No, he didn't!' replied Sam.

'He did' replied Dean a beat later, which caused the younger Winchester to snap his attention at him.

'When the hell did you talk with that bastard?' asked Sam, Dean winced at the sheer anger in his little brother's voice, while Castiel just frowned.

'I didn't' Dean shrugged. 'He just told me... before he left, back in Iowa.' at that Sam seemed to get even more pissed.

'That fucker just waltzed back in when I wasn't there and you didn't even tell me?' he asked in frustration.

'Sam' Castiel interrupted him, before he could continue. 'I understand how Gabriel's actions might've looked like to you. And he was reckless and he did exaggerate, I too was angry when I heard about it, but you must know that he did not intend to hurt your brother.'

'Yeah he just won your war for you, I bet he seems like the best brother in the whole wide world to you.' Sam said annoyed.

'Cas is right' Dean said in a quiet tone.

'What?' Sam looked at him in shock. Dean shrugged. Yeah he was still messed up a little because of everything, but that didn't make it any less true. 'You have got to be fucking kidding me?' Sam asked and his tone was incredulous. Dean just looked at him and Sam stood up from his spot. 'I can't believe you' he said, he pushed his fingers in his hair in a motion that signalled that he was about to get really pissed. 'It's like... you're one of those stupid chicks who always forgive their abusive boyfriends.'

'What the hell? No I'm not' Dean replied immediately. He didn't know which one should anger him more that Sam compared him to a chick or that he called Gabriel his abusive boyfriend.

'You totally are. Don't think I didn't notice, man. You were like freakin' catatonic for hours, you didn't speak for a week and the moment you started talking again you were making excuses for him!'

Dean didn't think he did, he very carefully never mentioned Gabriel's name at all. The moment he opened his mouth to object Sam thew his arms up in frustration.

'Not directly! God... I can't even! I need a drink!' he said and stormed off.

'He's worried about you' Castiel said once the house was silent after Sam stomped off and the Impala roared to life from the outside.

'No shit' Dean answered as he looked at where Sam dissapeared. Then he felt Cas' hand on his shoulder - right on the handprint - it was reassuring, grounding. He was getting over his freak out about Hell, but he relaxed now too, this helped too.

'I was too' the angel told him. And after a beat of silence. 'And I told Gabriel that if something like this ever happened again I would stab him in the face.' Dean felt as his lips curled up in a grin and he started laughing a bit without a conscious thought.

'Did you now?' he asked the angel. Castiel had that almost smile on his face, the one that made him look like a cheeky kid and he seemed rather pleased with himself. Cas nodded.

'I did' Dean chuckled a bit again. 'He told me he'll lend me his blade.' that sobered up Dean after a few seconds. 'I am glad that you are better now' Castiel continued. 'And I'm glad that you seem to have forgiven Gabriel.' Dean just nodded and Castiel let go of his shoulder.

'Hey um...' he reached to his pocket and fished out the silver amulet - almost looked like a coin - and held it in his palm. 'Does this thing work even with your art project on my ribs?' he asked Cas. The angel's eyes narrowed for a second, but then he looked at Dean again.

'The sigils hide you from angels, but they cannot prevent any of us from finding you if you pray, how do you think I found you as of late?' there was that little smile on Cas again.

'So I don't even need this thing?' he asked.

'You do' Castiel told him. 'I am not well-known among humans, no one prays to me but you or Sam. You can imagine how many souls pray to Gabriel even as we speak.'

Now that Cas mentioned it, he could imagine. Michael and Gabriel were the only two angels known by every human, there must be hundreds or thousands of voices.

'He told me that New Age gives him a headache, like the Renaissance did' Castiel informed him and that got Dean to smile. 'I'll return later' the angel said next. 'I still have many things to do.'

'Sure thing. Was good to see you, man' Cas once again nodded at him then he was gone. Dean then flipped the coin-like amulet over in his hand and he felt as his heartbeat fastened, he licked his suddenly dry lips and cleared his throat.

'Gab... Gabriel' and his pulse was beating faster now. And fear was there too, but something else as well and Dean didn't dare to put a label on it. 'Hey... I... um... knew you would kick the ass of that ninja angel... I just... so... rest and I guess I'll... see you around when you're better.' he took a shuddering breath after he managed to choke out the last part.