Chapter 35

Dean looked up from where he was sprawled out on the motel room bed. He was only dressed in his dark blue boxers and his short hair was disheveled from their previous activities. He smiled as he spotted the camera.

"What are you recording now?" He asked with a chuckle.

"I wanted you to tell me something that I wanted to record," Castiel replied simply off camera.

"Oh yeah? And what's that?"

The camera jostled as Castiel sat down on the bed next to Dean.

"I want you to tell me why you love me," Castiel said somewhat shyly. "Like you made me do the other day."

Dean's smile broadened. "Why I love you, huh?"

He stretched his arms over his head before settling himself into a more comfortable position.

"Well… for starters I have to say I just love that little angel ass of yours. That's just hot as hell, especially when you wear jeans!"

"Dean!" Castiel admonished.

Dean laughed. "OK! OK! I love you because… you're smart… funny… sexy… innocent…"

"How am I innocent?"

Dean smirked. "True. I think after what we did just a little while ago I can toss innocent out the window!"

"Dean!"

"I'm kidding! But seriously, like when I show you something for the first time… the way you get all interested in it like it's the most amazing thing in the world… I dunno… I just like that about you… and how brave you are… I mean… you've had to deal with so much crap, like falling… it just shows how tough you are…"

Dean looked down at the bed sheet and absentmindedly picked at a loose thread.

"And you pulled me from Hell and gave me my life back… and gave up your own for me… how could I not love you?"

The camera jostled again as Castiel dropped it and he leaned into the frame to kiss Dean passionately on the lips. Dean kissed him back while stroking his cheek tenderly. Castiel pulled away and smiled broadly before picking the camera back up and ending the recording.

* * *

Castiel stared at the frozen picture on the phone's screen. Dean's green eyes were lit up and he was smiling, looking so happy and relaxed. Closing his eyes, Castiel flipped the phone closed and wiped away a tear that had escaped.

He missed Dean terribly and instead of getting better with time Castiel felt as though it only hurt worse with each passing day. Despite Dean's harsh words Castiel couldn't help but still love him. He the only way he could explain how he felt about being apart from Dean was that it was just wrong. That they weren't meant to be apart, that they were meant to always be together.

Castiel tossed the phone on the bed and rose to his feet. As he walked to the door he couldn't help but remember the message left on his cell phone by Dean. It was quite clear to him that Dean didn't share his sentiments and wanted things to be over, especially since he hadn't tried to contact him since then.

He was in the hallway and ready to round a corner when he heard Jasper's voice drift towards him followed by another voice. Instinctively, Castiel stopped and pressed himself against the wall to remain out of sight. Despite his love for his brother, Castiel still hated being around his followers, particularly Jasper. He always seemed to look at Castiel with disgust and hatred that made the angel's skin crawl.

"Everything's in place," He heard Jasper say calmly. "The day after tomorrow is the new moon and then the ritual can take place."

"So how'd he get the angel grace he needed?" Castiel heard someone else ask. One of the demons he suspected.

Jasper chuckled. "That Castiel took care of it for him! Before Master rose the angel went after another angel and drained the grace right out of her! Master found it in a vial in the angel's bag the day I brought him to him! After that, it was just a matter of finding four other traitors to use to drain them of their grace."

"So this is really it? Just like the prophecy says? The grace of five traitors on the night of the New Moon shall renew the Fallen. He shall rise with his brother and a new order shall begin. And the Master has all that he needs to do it?"

"He got the grace and the room for the ceremony all set to go. I don't know how it'll all work, but once he gives that angel all the grace, no one will be able to stop him!"

The two continued talking, but Castiel had stopped listening. His heart pounded in his chest and he trembled with horror.

Anna's grace. Lucifer had found Anna's grace. Castiel had kept it with him and had found it in his old trench coat at Bobby's. He had hidden it away in his bag, not knowing what else to do with it. But now he knew. He had been caught up in a prophecy that he hadn't been aware of and now it was coming to fruition.

Castiel turned and made his way to the lobby of the hotel. He had to know if what he heard was true. He had to know if Lucifer really expected him to help take over the world.

He knew Lucifer where Lucifer was as his brother had been spending most of his time hidden away in that room on the first floor. The doors were shut and while one of the demons tried to protest his entering, Castiel ignored him and pushed pass.

What he saw stopped him dead in his tracks.

It was as if he had been picked up and dropped into the very bowels of Hell. He remembered vividly what Hell was like when he had rescued Dean and if he hadn't been so sure he had just been in the elegant lobby of the hotel, Castiel would have been positive he had gone back. The walls and floor were completed painted with blood. To his right he could see a circle had been drawn over the blood and candles spaced out on the circle. When he looked to his left he nearly collapsed with horror. There were the dismembered vessels that had hosted four angels hanging from the ceiling on meat hooks. The first was Zachariah, his eyes wide and staring at nothing. His chest had been sliced opened and his entrails spilled out and onto the floor. The other three had been treated similarly. The stench of decaying flesh filled Castiel's nostrils and he felt his stomach lurch. He covered his mouth and nose with one hand when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He spun around to see Lucifer smiling at him.

"I see you decided to come view my work, my brother," Lucifer said calmly.

Castiel stared at him in shock.

"What is this?" He whispered horrified.

"This?" Lucifer chuckled. "This is where I will restore you, Castiel. I admit, it may appear grotesque to you, but I promise that you will soon understand why it is necessary. Soon, your powers will be restored and you will be more powerful than you were before!"

Castiel pulled away, too shocked and horrified to speak. He turned and stumbled away, his stomach beginning to heave. Lucifer did not try to stop him. He simply shook his head.

"You will thank me, Castiel! You will be grateful in the end!"

Lucifer's words echoed in his head as Castiel ran into his room and slammed the door shut. He then ran into the bathroom and vomited into the toilet. He pressed his forehead against the cool porcelain and trembled with shock.

What do I do? Castiel thought desperately. What am I going to do? I can't escape. He won't let me leave. And there's too many for me to fight them all. I'm alone. If only I could tell Dean Lucifer's plans…

Suddenly, an idea sprang into Castiel's mind. He was afraid that Lucifer could intercept a phone call if he tried to call Dean, but maybe there was another way. Castiel got up off the floor and rushed into the bedroom.

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There ya go, my loyal readers! I gave you TWO chapters tonight! Big stuff is coming! BIG stuff! Stay tuned! : )