Rating: M (Violence)

Summary: When Castiel goes missing, Melissa turns to Sam and Dean to help her find him. Massive Hurt!Castiel

Angel Eyes

No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless

Revelations 14:9

I leaned my head against the wall and sighed. I think tardiness should be a sin, especially for angels. I knew that he was probably busy doing something heroic to stop the apocalypse and it was probably important, but was he allergic to a phone? I glanced at the clock again. Time seemed to move slower when you watched the clock. I think it had it out for me, I think it was moving slower on purpose just to jack with me.

A week had gone by since I had seen him last, and I hadn't heard a word from him. I think most girls would be worried, but, it's not like he's screwing around with someone else. Maybe there's another angel in his life. I shook my head. What a stupid thought.

I glanced at the clock again, angering myself when I saw only two minutes had passed since I last looked.

I leaned my head back and shut my eyes again. Come on Cas, do your little appear out of nowhere Batman thing. Please…I miss you, so much. Please. I opened them again, and saw nothing.

"Damn it." I spat. I shut my eyes again.

When I woke up it was light outside. And I was worried now. No matter how late he was, no matter if dawn was appearing outside he always came to me when he said he would. I stood and grabbed my phone. Castiel had given me Dean's phone number just in case, in case I was in trouble, or in this case, if he was in trouble.

He might not be in trouble, Melissa. He could be fine.

No, no. He would have shown if he was alright.

I dialed the number. It was ten a.m., Dean was bound to be awake, right?

"Hello?" A voice on the other end said.

"Is this Dean Winchester?" I asked.

"Yeah, who is this?"

"I've never met you before, and you've never met me. My name's Melissa Flathers, I'm a friend of Castiel's."

"Cas has friends?" Dean said. "Since when?"

"That's not the point," I said. "I think Castiel might be in trouble, and you're the only person I know that can help me."

"How do you know he's in trouble?" Dean asked. He liked to ask questions.

"Be, because he was supposed to come see me last night and he never showed." I said.

"Maybe he was busy."

"He can't be late because he can't lie," I snapped. "And he's never not come before." There was silence on the other end for a moment.

"Oh, oh you're that kind of friend." He said. I blushed.

"Can you focus for five seconds?"

"Sorry."

"Look, can you help me or not?" I didn't have time to be wasted. Every second I spent grappling with this asshole could be a second longer Castiel had to suffer. Or not. Whichever was going on right now.

"Yes, I can help you," He said. "But I need to know where you are first." I gave him my address.

"Hurry please." I said.

Dean was not what I expected. I thought he might be taller, not like that gigantic younger brother of his, but taller. I also thought he'd be a little less impressive in the handsome department. I guess I'm not that good at reading people.

"Maybe we should file a missing person's report." Sam suggested.

"And what should we put on the flier?" Dean asked. "'Lost Angel. Answers to the name Castiel. Reward: A spot in heaven.'?" Sam rolled his eyes.

"Where was Castiel going the last time you saw him?" Sam asked.

"I'm not really sure," I said. "I think he might've gone to talk to this angel Zachariah," Dean grimaced. "But I don't know where he went after that."

"Great," Dean shook his head. "I really don't want to talk to this guy." He mumbled.

"Talk to who?" Sam asked. Dean looked up.

"Zachariah, can I talk to you for a second?"

"Do you have angels on call all of a sudden?" Sam asked.

"Just trust me, dude." Dean assured.

"Is there something I can help you with?" I jumped back when I saw the man standing next to me.

"I think you already know what I'm going to ask." Dean said. Zachariah nodded.

"Yes, but it is rather amusing to hear humans repeat themselves." He said.

Dean folded his arms and glared at him. The angel's face turned grim.

"I don't think you want to find him right now," He said. "It's not only dangerous for all of you, but for him as well."

"Is he alright?" I asked. Please let him be okay, please let him be okay ple-

"No, he's not." My heart sped, my breath was gone. To hear him say that was worse than a bullet to my chest.

"Can you tell us where he is?" I asked, my voice barely audible. "Please?" The angel smiled lightly.

"Yes, I can."

"You wouldn't tell me, why her?" Dean asked defensively.

"Because she actually asked." I braced myself for what he would tell me, but he merely gave me an address and disappeared.

"I have to go find him." I said once Zachariah was gone. Dean nodded.

"We'll go with you."

I walked into the dank warehouse, wondering why this seemed to be a theme with melicious people. I stopped short when I heard noise. Screams. Agonizing screams that chilled me and made tears well in my eyes at the thought of what could be happening to the person who was emitting them.

Dean nudged my shoulder, signaling for me to keep going. The screams got louder as we crept down dark hallway, making me wince at every sound. Then I heard the harsh snapping sounds that seemed to be the cause of the screaming. We approached a large metal door that was the epicenter of the bone-chilling sounds. And I could make out words now.

"PLEASE! I beg you, PLEASE! MERCY, have mercy…PLEASE! No, AAAAAGGGGHHHH!" CRACK! CRACK! "Pl-please! Father, HELP ME FATHER, PLEASE!" The person began to sob, and the loudest, most hellacious clap of thunder I had ever heard in my life rumbled outside. I jumped, along with the two men beside me. "Ohuh," The voice whimpered. CRACK!"NUAH! No more, please, I beg you, no more!" I shut my eyes and clapped my hand over my mouth to stifle my own cry. I looked at Sam and Dean imploringly.
"Not until whoever's in there with him leaves." Dean mouthed. I shut my eyes again.

Someone tapped my shoulder. Dean held up his index finger, telling me to hang on. He and Sam disappeared around the corner. I waited, listening to the pain-soaked cries coming from the room next to me.

CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!

"Please, oh please stop!"

CRACK!

"PLEASE!"

And then it stopped. All that was left were the sobs and the storm blasting outside. A door opened and closed and footsteps died far away from me. I waited for a moment and heard nothing. That was when I darted for the door.

He was in the middle of the damp, chilled room, huddled over his knees, crying. His shirt was missing, his feet were bare and his hands were bound behind his back. I walked toward him, biting my lip. I knelt down in front of him; he sensed that I was there and shrunk away from me.

"Cas," I said quietly, lifting his chin. He fought against me weakly. "Castiel, it's alright. Look at me, it's okay, Baby." His crystal blue eyes opened, red-rimmed and overflowing with anguish and tears.
"Me-Melissa?" He whimpered.

"Shh…" I stroked his face; he closed his eyes and leaned into my hand. I hugged him to me, biting my lip when he began to sob. "Shh, it's alright Castiel. It's over. You're safe." He was trembling violently against me. I looked at his back, and instantly wished I hadn't. His flesh was torn in gash after gash. His wrists bled from the rope that bound them together. I looked away to see the bloodied whip just a few feet away.

"I'm gonna untie you, okay?" I said. He nodded, still crying. I don't think he could stop. I started untying the rope, wincing every time he gasped in pain. Once the rope was off he brought his hands around, supporting himself to stay on his knees.

I caught him before he hit the ground after his arms gave out. I laid his head in my lap stroking his damp hair out of his clammy face. His breath was labored and heavy. He was shaking and whimpering and tears were still leaking from his eyes as easily as if it were rain.

"Shh," I soothed. "It'll be okay, Castiel. It's over now." He buried his face in my shirt, clinging to it like I would disappear.

"What is this called?" He whispered.

"What?" I asked.

"This horrible, horrible feeling, what is it?" He cried.

"Pain?" I ventured. "Oh God, Cas, you've never felt pain before, have you?" He shook his head. Tears filled my own eyes and I hugged him closer to me. I tried to ignore the warm blood that touched my hands, and then I realized, he wasn't healing. "Cas, why aren't healing? Why isn't this going away?" I asked. He shook his head. "Please, tell me Angel."

He swallowed hard and lifted a trembling hand to my forehead.

I was watching this happen. I could not speak or move, I could only see whatever this force permitted me to see. I saw Castiel in the middle of the room on his knees, like I had when I first saw him, but his wrists were not bleeding and his back was free of welts. A man was hitting him, punching him in the face over and over. Each time he did, a bruise in another place would disappear. The darker they were, the longer they took to fade. I wanted to look away, or close my eyes, do something to make all of this go away, but it didn't

The man stopped and backed away, out of breath. "I almost forgot," He chuckled. "Angels heal too fast. But I need you to hurt, Castiel. And there's only one way to do that, now isn't there?" Castiel's eyes grew in terror. He shook his head.

"No, you wouldn't. You wouldn't." He said. The man grinned, his eyes turning black as night.

"Oh, I would." He took a knife from his pocket. Castiel's breath was rapid, his eyes trained on the knife. The demon approached him, and I feared he would cut Castiel, instead, he cut himself. The man grabbed Castiel's jaw and forced his head up. Castiel fought against him, turning his head to get out of the man's grip. The man grabbed his throat and squeezed. Tighter, tighter, the angel's face turned redder and redder. Finally Castiel gasped for air. The demon grabbed his jaw once more and forced his mouth to stay open. He held his arm over Castiel's mouth and allowed four drops of blood to fall down his throat. The man backed away from him.

Castiel cried out. Softer at first, then louder, louder, louder. He collapsed on his side, convulsing and screaming. He trembled hard, taking in heaving gasps of air. Fire pulsed through his veins, constricting around his vessel's heart and squeezing with burning wires. His back arced, blood shot to his face and his hands clenched into fists.

"GAAAAHHH!" He shrieked. Pain wracked his body hard, the fire licking at his bones, slowly burning him alive. But this would not kill him. This would go on for hours and not kill him. Then the demon could hurt him like he wanted.

I could feel all of this, see it, almost touch it, but I couldn't stop it.

And then I was back in the present. Castiel's hand fell back to his side. I looked down at him, feeling tears of my own on my face.

"Demon blood?" I said softly. He closed his eyes. "That's why you can't heal?" He nodded. I hugged him tighter, trying to get the horrible images of his screaming face out of my head.

His body quivered underneath my arms. I took off my jacket and draped it over him. He touched my face. "God, your hands are so cold." I said. He pulled my face closer to his, gently pressing trembling lips to mine.

"I d-don-don't want t-to be here." He whispered. I brushed his hair from his face once more.

"I know, I know, shh…" I said calmly. "We have to wait for Sam and Dean." He whimpered and closed his eyes. I touched his forehead, grimacing when I felt the magnitude of the heat coming from it.

I kissed him again. And again. I wanted him to be okay. I wanted to take time back and make sure I stopped this before it happened. But I couldn't. I was only human.

"I'm s-sorry I was-wasn't there l-last night." He said. I felt my heart twist. He was apologizing. After all that he had been through he was saying he was sorry for not being with me.

"Melissa?" A voice said behind me. Castiel jumped and hid his face in my shirt.

"Shh, it's just Dean."

I saw worry in the hunter's eyes as he looked at his guardian angel, well, our guardian angel.

"Is he okay?" He asked. I shook my head. "The asshole that did this is dead." He said. I sighed, assured.

"We should get him out of here." Sam said. Dean nodded. I let Castiel go slowly as Dean lifted him by the arm. Sam grabbed his other arm to support his weight. And Castiel was screaming again. I smelled something burning, and I realized quickly that it was human flesh. Castiel was trying weakly to pull away from Sam, who was hanging on tighter in confusion.

"SAM LET HIM GO!" Dean bellowed. Sam dropped Castiel's arm and backed away. Castiel shrunk into Dean's side, sobbing. I rushed over, ducking under his arm and hoisting it over my shoulder.

"I can-can't take any-anymore." He choked. I touched his face and gave him a painful smile.

"I know, we're leaving, okay?" I glanced briefly at the burned handprint on his arm before starting for the door.

We laid him down as carefully as we could on my bed. He didn't let go of my hand. I saw the fear and desperation in his eyes to keep me with him. A painful pang hit my heart again.

"I'm staying right here," I said, sitting next to him on the bed. "But I have to clean up your back alright?" He swallowed hard and nodded.

"Where's your first aid kit?" Dean asked.

"Uh, bathroom." I said. I turned my attention back to Castiel. I didn't know how long Castiel had lived, but in all that time he had, he had never, ever felt an ounce of pain. Not one. And now he had been tortured since God knows when. He had no idea what to do. How to fight it, how to endure it. He didn't have that knowledge that most of us do.

I looked up at Sam.

"Do you have some clothes he could use?" I asked. Sam nodded and walked out of sight. I stroked his forehead, trying to offer what little comfort I could.

He sighed and leaned into my hand, wincing and inhaling sharply seconds later.

"It hurts." He gulped. I bit my lip.

"I know, it'll be alright. Shh…" He coughed, cringing and moaning once he did. Dean walked up behind me and handed me the first-aid kit. "Thanks," I looked at the jaded angel, wanting to cry again. But I couldn't. I had to be strong, for him. "Okay, Castiel, I have to roll you over." He nodded slowly. I did as gently as I could. He cried out once, and breathed deep into the pillow under his head, holding tears at bay.

I hated doing this. I knew the alcohol on the rag would burn and sting, causing him more pain than he had already endured, and it wasn't fair.

"Ahhuhh!" He sobbed. I stroked his sweat soaked hair, tears in my own eyes.

"God, I'm sorry, Angel. I'm so sorry. It'll help, it'll help." I said softly.

"P-promise?" He whispered shakily. I bit my lip.

"Yes, I promise." He gripped the pillow tighter and whimpered when the rag touched another gash. I apologized every time I knew I hurt him. I felt so terrible. I felt like I was only torturing him more, and in a way, I was.

When I was done and had rolled him back over I kissed him.

"I'm so sorry." I said. He shook his head.

"You wou-wouldn't hurt m-me." He said in a low voice. I kissed him again.

"It's almost over okay?" I assured. He nodded. He trusted me with all of his heart. He was innocent, in every way, and the man that did this had taken advantage of that.

They say that when you go through extreme amounts of torture it brings out your bare essence, who you really are. And Castiel had revealed who he was, innocent, naïve, and pure, the way an angel should be.

I wrapped the burn on his arm carefully, but the pain made him cry again. I didn't hold that against him, none of it was his fault. His temperature was 101.5. I put a cold rag on his head, making him whimper again. I gently dabbed his face. I doubted that any medicine would work and this was the only way I knew how to fix this. I stopped after a moment, trying to give him just a little relief. I put the clothes that Sam had set next to me on him, his hot skin erupting in goosebumps when the cold material touched him.

"Are you alright?" I asked. He shook his head.

"It hurts." He breathed. I hugged him close to me, running my hands through his hair, kissing his cheek every so often.

"What do you want me to do?" I asked. He looked at me with those pain-soaked eyes, so much need and fear in them.

"Hold me, please." I nodded and caressed his face, pushing his hair from his eyes. And as he fell asleep in my arms, I knew this wasn't over.