Chapter Twenty-Six

I know I should have had this up at least two weeks ago, but it has been crazy. I'm talking flea infestation, car dying and shopping for a new one, family visiting, sick, dating, breaking up, getting new car, job searching, not to mention work. I am TIRED!

Dean stood in the Summers' backyard the next day, grateful the dense trees offered them cover. If this ended up going weird, he didn't want anyone to see.

"Relax, Dean," Castiel told him.

"I am relaxed," Dean gritted out through clenched teeth.

"No, you are not," Castiel replied. "You need to be calm."

"Easy for you to say," Dean bit off. "You're not the one about to be possessed."

"Maybe you should take the medication, then," Castiel suggested.

Dean frowned at him. "What?"

"I believe Xander referred to it as the 'chill pill,'" Castiel went on.

Dean burst out laughing with Sam as Castiel stared at him in confusion.

Sam finally caught his breath. "It's an expression, Cas. When someone says to 'take a chill pill,' they mean 'calm down.'"

Castiel nodded stiffly, frowning in thought. "Oh."

"You're gonna need to know these things for when you're human," Dean told him. He took a deep breath and released it. "Well, let's get this over with."

Dean tried his hardest to calm down and relax, taking several deep breaths. "Okay." He looked up at Castiel. "Yes."

Castiel closed his eyes, raising his head towards the sky slightly. A pure white light burst from him, seeming to come from his very core. Dean and Sam looked away, shielding their eyes as the light filled the entire yard.

The next second, Dean was suddenly filled with such an immense feeling of power and righteousness that it was almost too much to bear. The warmth touched his heart, seeping into every broken crack of his soul and filling it with hope.

Wow… thought Dean as he drank the power in. So, this is what it's like to be touched by an angel.

*************************************SPN/BTVS***** ************************************************** ************

When the light faded, Sam opened his eyes to see Dean standing in the middle of the yard and Castiel's body slumped on the grass.

Sam looked back at Dean. "Dean?"

Dean turned his head towards him, but it was not his brother looking back at him. The blank, intense stare directed at him was all Castiel.

"Cas?" asked Sam.

Castiel gave Dean's head one stiff nod in response before raising a hand and flexing the fingers in curiosity.

Sam looked at the trench-coated man who they had come to know as their angel friend. "What happened to the guy you were possessing?"

Castiel lowered Dean's hand, looking over at the man. "I have put him into a deep sleep."

"Oh," said Sam. He looked back at the angel. "Is Dean in there?"

"Yes," said Castiel.

"Awake?" asked Sam.

The corner of Castiel's mouth twitched upwards. "I see why you are concerned now. I merely put Jimmy to sleep so he would not have to witness any pain or battles I put his body through. Most angels are not so benevolent. Dean is perfectly conscious."

"So, he can't win back control?" asked Sam, concerned that Castiel was still in charge.

"I do not believe he has begun to try yet," said Castiel. His gaze lowered, as though he were trying to look inward. "You may begin, Dean. I assure you it will not harm me."

A moment passed before Castiel seemed to chuckle slightly.

Sam smiled, knowing his brother all too well. "What'd he say?"

Castiel looked up at him. "That he could care less about my safety. He is more worried about his own."

Sam chuckled as Castiel closed his eyes. After a silent minute or so, Castiel suddenly flinched, frowning. The next second, he doubled over, one arm wrapped around him. With a shout, he straightened back up.

"Holy crap, that has some kick to it!" he exclaimed.

"Dean?" asked Sam.

Dean looked at him. "Yeah, it's me." He leaned over, his hands on his knees. "Damn…that was hard."

"You gonna be okay?" asked Sam.

"Well, I'm not gonna keel over, if that's what you mean," Dean told him, straightening back up. He jumped a little before relaxing. "Geez, Cas, I forgot you were there." He waited for a second as though listening to something. "No, Cas, you didn't scare me. It's just a little unsettling to have someone talking in your head." Again, he paused before smiling a little. "No, I haven't. That's Sam's territory."

"What'd he say?" asked Sam.

Dean looked at him. "He asked if I'd ever been possessed."

Sam rolled his eyes as Dean chuckled. "Oh."

"Okay, he wants me to practice as many things as I can before he, you know…doesn't have 'em anymore," said Dean. "Starting with something easy: telekinesis."

Sam watched as Dean turned towards the park bench in front of the bushes, staring intently at it as he focused.

******************************************SPN/BTVS ************************************************** ***************

It comes naturally to all celestial beings,Castiel's voice explained inside Dean's mind. It is an extension of our true form, just as an arm is to a human. Just reach out and push.

Dean stared at the park bench, straining with all his might to get it to move. He didn't understand why it wasn't working. It felt like his brain was gonna jump out of his head at any second.

You need to feel the power deep inside,Castiel told him. Then use the power, Dean.

Dean was really tempted to make a Star Wars joke right there.

I do not recall these Star Wars from human history, Castiel stated.

Dean rolled his eyes, thinking back at the angel. It's a movie, Cas. Star Wars is a movie.

Oh, said Castiel.

"Morning, guys."

Dean jumped and turned towards the house just as the park bench flew back and hit the fence. Dena looked quickly back at it as it fell to the ground.

Very good, Dean, said Castiel.

"Wait, did you just do that?" asked Buffy on the back patio. She frowned as her eyes fell on the unconscious vessel on the lawn. "And why is Castiel on the ground?" Her eyes went back to Dean as her brows rose in understanding. "Oh…You're Castiel?"

"Well, no, I'm Dean right now, but…yeah, we're practicing," he told her.

"Gotcha," nodded Buffy. "I'll leave you to it, but breakfast will be ready in about an hour or so." She pointed an accusing finger at Dean. "Don't break anything."

Dean glanced back at the bench he had sent flying. "Do my best."

With that, Buffy headed back into the house.

Perhaps I should do it for you, Castiel suggested. You will be able to learn from my example.

"Good idea, Cas," Dean responded.

"What is?" asked Sam.

"He's gonna walk me through it," said Dean, releasing his hold on his body.

He felt Castiel immediately surge forward into the driver's seat. Castiel calmly raised Dean's hand towards the fallen bench. Suddenly, an energy surge reached forward toward the fence, seeming to come from his very soul. It wrapped itself around the bench, tilting it to set it upright on its legs once again.

Huh, Dean thought at Castiel. You were right. It does feel just like an arm.

Now, you try, Castiel told him.

Castiel surrendered his hold over Dean's soul and faded into the background of his being. Dean stared hard at the bench, stretching his hand forward and releasing that now familiar "celestial arm." The bench shook slightly before rising off of the lawn and hovering six inches from the ground.

Dean smiled. "Ah, there we go!" He laughed in celebration, which halted as soon as the bench dropped back to the ground.

Sam smirked at him, arms crossed mockingly. "Pull something?"

"Shut up," grumbled Dean, focusing again on the task at hand.

Once again, the bench shakily levitated, rising a foot from the ground and gliding forward over the bushes and flowers before coming to a rest askew on the grass in front of them.

Dean lowered his hand. "Well, that wasn't so hard."

You did very well, Dean, Castiel told him. For a human.

Dean scoffed at the comment. "Wait, was that contempt?"

I merely stated a known fact, Castiel responded. Humans are not as strong nor do they have the same endurance as angels.

Dean smiled fondly. "Yeah, yeah, Brag-y McBrag-erson."

That is not my name, Castiel replied in such a confused tone that Dean could practically feel his confused, head-tilty frown. My name is—

"It's sarcasm, Cas," Dean mumbled. "I know what your name is."

"Guys?" said Sam.

Dean looked over at him. "What?"

"Can we move on?" Sam asked, looking bored.

"Right," Dean nodded. "What's next, Cas?"

****************************************SPN/BTVS** ************************************************** ***********************

Buffy placed the plate of pancakes in the middle of the dining room table among the eggs, bacon and toast. As she turned to head to her seat, Dean, Sam and Castiel—now back in his own vessel—walked into the room.

"Wow," said Buffy as she sat among everyone, taking in Dean's exhausted slouch and dark bags under his eyes. "Someone needs their Wheaties."

Dean exhaled loudly as he fell into an empty seat at the table. "I'm not talking to anyone until after I eat." He immediately began piling his plate with food.

"Yeah, uh, practice kind of took a lot out of him," Sam explained.

"We can tell," said Willow, also piling her plate up.

"How you doing, Willow?" asked Sam.

Willow shrugged as she put her plate back in front of her. "It's, uh…it's hard." She smiled at Tara sitting next to her. "But I know I have people to help me."

"Darn right you do," nodded Tara.

"I can't believe you managed to fit all of us in here," Bobby commented, gesturing around the crowded table.

"Well, it only took one table leaf thingy…" Buffy frowned, glancing over at Giles. "Leaf?"

Giles nodded curtly.

"One leaf and three extra folding chairs," Buffy finished.

Dean moaned suddenly from his seat. "Mm!" He took a second bite from his bacon. "Oh, this is amazing!" He picked up a piece and held it out to the angel sitting next to him. "Oh, Cas, you have got to try this."

Castiel stared blankly at the bacon strip. "I do not require sustenance."

"Oh, come on," said Dean. "It's not like it's gonna kill ya."

Castiel's gaze moved from the proffered food to Dean's face unblinkingly.

Dean's look faltered. "Is it?"

"No, Dean, food would not cause my demise," Castiel told him.

"Cas," said Sam, waiting until Castiel looked over at him. "He knows angels don't need to eat to live. He means that he just wants you to try it."

"Oh," stated Castiel, accepting the piece of bacon and slowly putting it in his mouth.

Sam chuckled and leaned over towards Buffy sitting next to him. "I swear, it's like watching Spock and Captain Kirk try to have a conversation."

Buffy laughed into her plate.

Dean waited a moment as Castiel chewed. "Well?"

Castiel pondered it for a moment. "It is not unpleasant."

"You know, it is okay to admit something is good," Dean told him.

Dawn giggled as the front door suddenly burst open.

"Fire!" a figure with a blanket thrown over him yelled as he slammed the door, smoke curling from under the garment. The blanket was dropped on the foyer floor, and Spike straightened his hair, sighing. "Morning, all."

"Spike, when are you going to get it through your skull that you're a vampire?" Xander said. "You're probably more suited to night visits."

"What, sneak into command central in the middle of the night and get staked for my troubles?" said Spike. "I don't think so." He walked over to the china cabinet and leaned against it. "So, what's the word?"

"Haven't seen you around lately," said Buffy. "Where you been?"

"Wanted to lay low until I was sure the new Slayer wasn't gonna stake me," Spike answered with a pointed look at Dean.

Dean swallowed most of his mouthful. "Don't get too comfortable. I haven't made up my mind yet." He shoveled the next bite of eggs into his mouth.

"I'll take my chances," said Spike. "So, how 'bout it? Fill a fella in?"

Buffy sighed. "Why not?"

*********************************************SPN/B TVS*********************************************** *********

That night, the entire gang gathered in the Summers' living room to hash out the new plan.

"Alright, so, basically, Dean and Castiel are gonna practice their angel thing, Sam's gonna keep track of Gabriel collecting the Horsemen rings for back-up, and then Dean's gonna use Michael to kill the devil?"

Dean looked over at him. "Why? You got a problem with that?"

"Well, it's just that—" began Xander, frowning. "What are you guys still doing here, then?"

Dean frowned, caught off guard. "Excuse me?"

"We're not really doing anything to help," Xander shrugged. "You guys could save the world from anywhere. Why hang around us?"

"What do you want us to say?" said Dean. "This is the plan. We settled on it."

"You know, he does bring up a good point," said Buffy, narrowing her eyes in contemplation at Xander.

"He does?" asked Dean in surprise.

"Yeah," said Buffy, looking over at the hunter gang. "I mean, Lucifer's the devil, right? The ultimate trickster. Who's to say he's gonna fight fair?"

Dean had to admit: she did have a point. "What are you thinking?"

"What if he shows up to the final battle with an army of demons?" said Buffy.

"Demons are more like Lucifer's lackeys," Sam explained. "He hates them. He's not gonna want them around for the end. It's between him and his brother."

"But what about when he realizes that Michael's not the one behind the wheel?" Tara pointed out.

"He's gonna call on as many reinforcements as he can," Willow nodded.

The doorbell rang suddenly.

Willow stood from her seat. "I'll get it."

"Thanks, Will," said Buffy.

"I'm guessing you have a plan, then," said Bobby.

"Another plan," whined Anya. "Sheesh! Just settle on one, people!"

They all spared a second of attention for her before moving on with the conversation.

"Well, you have Sam and Bobby to fight the demons, but you'll be outnumbered," said Buffy. "We could train on how to fight these kinds of demons. Not to mention, there'll probably be our kind there as well."

"Nobody knows how to fight demons like us," said Spike with a smug grin.

Dean looked over at Sam and Bobby, thinking it over as they communicated silently. "Sounds like a plan. We'll start training sessions tomorrow."

"Great," Buffy nodded, looking over at her sister. "Dawn, I think it's time to forget about school until this all blows over."

"Alright!" exclaimed Dawn with a fist pump.

"That goes for everyone," said Buffy.

"Buff, we haven't been in school for a while now," said Xander.

"You know what I mean," smiled Buffy. "Forget about our jobs. We can go back to them after the apocalypse…if they're even still there."

"Buffy."

Buffy glanced over at Willow in the foyer, freezing as she spotted the people standing behind her.

Dean looked over at the nine people gathered in the foyer behind the witch. There was a middle-aged guy that looked like he had a dark past, a young African-American man who was bald, a mousy young woman with brown hair, a stunningly beautiful young woman with short brown hair, three young girls who looked like they were extremely uneasy about where they were, and a young man with brown hair who looked even more dark than the middle-aged guy.

But the one that drew Dean's attention was the tall, dark and brooding man all in black at the front of the group, the one who had about as much emotion in his face that Castiel did, the one who looked Buffy straight in the eye as he spoke.

"Hi, Buffy," said Angel.