The Purgatory was just like Castiel had remembered it being: colorless and un-welcoming. But unlike last time, he now had no Fergus on his side, using his clever tricks to keep them out of harms way; instead, the man in his side was Dean Winchester, and though Castiel would never call that man defenseless, he now had no weapon in his hand. Also, unlike the last time, there was no Reaper waiting to fetch them away from there – unless Fergus would sent one, and Castiel didn't dare to even hope that.

"So this is Purgatory?" Dean said. "I'm not sure what I expected…"

Castiel could sense Leviathans close by. He knew they were after him; would they maybe leave Dean be if he got them to follow himself…?

"…Cass? Cass, are you listening?"

Cass looked back at him. "I'm sorry, Dean, I – I need to go."

He hadn't even ended the sentence before Dean grabbed a strong hold around him. It almost felt like a hug, and Castiel felt great temptation to relax in it, before he remembered where they were.

"What the hell you're talking about? Planning to leave me here?!"

"Dean, the Leviathans are coming… And it's me they're after. I can guide them away from you…"

"Okay, no. We're in this together, we'll survive from this together." Dean had his stubborn expression, and Castiel almost felt like huffing from frustration.

Of course he didn't, but the temptation was great.

"Dean, alone you've better changes to survival."

"That's bullshit, Cass-!"

Right then, Castiel felt his hair rose up and feathers starting to flutter. "They are here", he told to his human companion, who glanced widly around them.

"I don't see…"

"They don't have a physical form here", Castiel answered and unsheathed his angel blade.

Dean's hand took a hold of Castiel's wrist. "That flying thing… You wouldn't be in a enough of mojo to take a passenger with you?"

Castiel frowned. "I could, but it would take almost all my strenght for a some time."

"Well, you should still do it. Like, NOW."

Nodding, Castiel wrapped his arms around Dean and flew to the only place in this realm that he could think about – the valley where he and Fergus had relished Fenrir.

"Wow", Dean said as soon as they landed. Then he promptly threw up.

Castiel helped him to the river bench and Dean washed his mouth and splashed some water over his face.

"Let's never do that again. Oh, man…"

"I'm sorry; I should have warned you that it would be a little rocky fly. My… powers won't work here as well as they could."

"You think so? Because rollercoaster is nothing comparing to that."

"I already said that I was sorry."

"Yeah, whatever… So, where are we?" Dean asked and looked around them.

"This is where I and F- Crowley came when we visited the Purgatory before. This is where Fenrisulfr was chained into a rock for a thousands of years."

"Who-? Oh, the wolf-guy." Dean nodded. "Where there he was chained?"

Castiel tilted his head. "All around as. This valley was carved on the ground by his body."

Dean's eyes widened a bit. "Well, damn. And you thought it was wise to just… let him go? Giant wolf, just like that?"

"I wasn't as if we had any choices in that… Dean, what are we going to do next? I think that here we're safe from werewolves – they seemed to think Fenrir as their god or something – and they probably won't let vampires to enter, either… but it won't be long before leviathans find us again."

"First things first, Cass", Dean said. "Let's see if we can find any kind of weapon for me."

They walked around looking for something useful; the remains of the sword were there, but way too large to hold, and they had no tools to shape them into anything else. Finally Dean picked up one of Fenrir's teeth and started to work it with Castiel's angel blade, till he had something that roughly reminded a knife. "That will do, for now", Dean decided. "So… any idea how we'll get out of here?"

Castiel bite his lip hesitantly before shaking his head. "We… won't, Dean. I've no idea if there are any exit, or where to start looking them; last time, we only got out because Fergus had the reaper helping us –"

"Wait, what? Who is Fergus?"

"I mean Crowley", Castiel muttered, feeling quite stupid for his slip.

"You – are you first name basis with him? The demon? Cass, what the – Are you crazy?"

"Just to differ him from his father", Castiel explained hastily. "And because it irritates him."

"Is that so?" Dean asked doubtfully, but let it rest anyway, for which Castiel was thankful.

They stood a while quietly, before Dean started talking again; "I think that we should follow the river and see where it goes – I mean it has to go somewhere, right?"

"I don't think that place will be any better than this one", Castiel said.

"But we can't just stay here, either! You said it yourself: Leviathans will follow us, no matter what. Besides, maybe we'll find a way out of there, if we start looking."

Apparently Dean still held hope of escaping. "There is no way, Dean –"

"No way that you know about, Cass!" Dean grabbed Castiel's shoulders and shook him a bit. "I know that this situation isn't looking so good right now; but we cannot just lay down and give up! Our friends are waiting us, Cass. We need to at least try!"

Dean's face was so close; the unyielding fire in his eyes, the stern frown of his brows, the stubborn jut of his jaw… he was a very sight of determination, and suddenly Castiel felt a strong temptation to just reach little closer and plant a kiss over his lips. He felt his face starting to heath.

"Cass…? You okay, man?" Dean asked, and now he looked worried. It didn't suit him as well as the earlier look, but as he was looking at Castiel with those caring, pained eyes, it made the angels heart start to flutter with happiness.

"Cass!" Dean repeated, and Castiel forced himself back to the present.

"I'm fine, Dean, I'm… Just a little bit tired." It wasn't even a lie; Castiel's powers hadn't been great even before entering the Purgatory again, and in here they flowed… differently, weakly. Aziraphale had told him (when they had talked about Purgatory while Castiel had been recovering from the Leviathans), that their grace probably weakened there because of the absence of God existence in that realm.

Dean seemed chastised. "Oh, right… You did tell that flying as here would take a lot of your strenght, didn't you? Man, I'm sorry… Maybe we should sit for a while?" he said, and pointed towards few big rocks, which would offer them a some shelter from a view.

Why does Dean have to be so… Dean, Castiel wondered as they settled themselves to sit, not able to define his companion's virtues further than that. Dean just was Dean, perfectly flawed, stubborn, fierce, loyal, caring, funny, self-sacrificing, rightful man, and Castiel loved him so much that it hurt.

I need to tell him, Castiel thought, or else I feel like I'll explode… But what if he gets angry? What if he doesn't want to be near me anymore? I fear that that would be something I couldn't bear…

Dean was quiet too; probably thinking about Sam, fearing what he would do now, without older brother on his side. Bond between brothers was something that Castiel could almost be envious about, and not only because of his feelings towards Dean; he'd never shared such a bond between any of his siblings, not even those who'd been closest to him. Even Aziraphale felt more like what he always thought that father would be, patient, forgiving and always loving… and a bit dork, like Fergus would have added.

Fergus. Ironically, from all his peers, that one who came closest to feel like a real brother was a demon…

And now he'll never trust me again… But what does that even matter, since it's doubtful that we'll ever meet each other again…?

Dean's hand came to Castiel's shoulder and shook gently. "Cass… I think we're not alone anymore."

Castiel raised his head and and tried to sense any other presences; Dean was right, the Leviathans were closing once again, but this time there was also something else, almost familiar, but hard to identify – and it was close.

"Leviathans are coming, but… I think there's something else near of us, too."

"Dangerous?" Dean asked, and took his new knife in his hand.

"I… assume that everything here could be categorized as dangerous beings. This one… I'm not sure. This place is messing up my senses." He went silent for a moment, and continued then, more quietly, "It's almost here."

Dean nodded, and put a finger over his lips to ask silence before grouched up in to half-standing position; his hand clenching hard around the handle of his knife, and then he jumped out of their hide –

- And Castiel heard screaming: "Don't kill me! Mr. Winchester, I haven't come to cause you any grievances! I was sent to –"

The voice was eerily familiar, and Castiel stood up too and stepped out to see just whom they had caught. He saw Dean holding a man against rocks, with his knife on the mans throat. Castiel recognized the man almost right away.

First, all he could do was blink his eyes. As it didn't change a thing, he blinked some more, until he was sure that he's eyes really were seeing what he thought they were.

The man was Fergus' reaper.

The reaper seemingly recognized him too. "Mr. Castiel!" he exclaimed, clearly relived. "Could you please ask your – em – friend here to stand down? I swear, I have no ill means towards you, I –"

"Dean, let him up", Castiel said, and the hunter, who seemed little suspicious yet mostly bemused. "Why are you here?" he then asked from the reaper.

"To take you back, what else?" the reaper answered. "I certainly didn't anticipate that I would end up being pushed around and have a knife held against my neck!"

"What you mean, to take us home?" Dean questioned, paying no attention to the reaper's whining.

"Exactly what I said! I got paid to come here an take you back! Are we kind of ready to go now, since I sense very hostile beings creeping closer?"

"Who paid you?" Dean asked, just as Castiel said, "How did you know we were right here?"

"Crowley!" the reaper groaned, and Castiel felt a warm wave flashing through himself. "He asked me to bring you back. He said that I should check here first, since this should be the safest place on the whole Purgatory, and that you would know that too! Can we please, please just go now?"

Sensing the Leviathans near by, Castiel nodded and took the reaper's hand while offering the another towards Dean. "Take our hands, Dean, and hold on tight; we're going home."

Dean seemed unsure, but crabbed the offered hands – and once again, the whole world started to vanish… Leviathans screamed out of frustration, but they we're left behind… And then they were standing at the warm sunlight, right outside of the same laboratory where they'd been spirited away to the Purgatory.

"Well, here you are", the reaper said. "And goodbye. Please tell Crowley that I kept my part of the deal, and if he ever lost anyone else in the Purgatory… then he should find someone else to bring them back, since I've gotten enough of your lot!" And before Castiel had time for even say "thank you", the reaper was gone.

Dean looked around, and looked some more – and then he "whooped", throw his arms around Castiel's waist, and whirled them around out of sheer relief. He probably didn't think much about it – to Dean, it was just way to express his overflowing happiness – but for Castiel, it meant so much more. He felt his poor heart pounding against his ribcage, and there was nothing else he could do: he kissed him.

At first, for a one, amazing moment, Dean answered his kiss, probably forgotten where he was and with whom; but then, his eyes went wide and he released Castiel and stood a step back as quickly as if Castiel had just burned him. The angel tried to not feel disappointed, but he was sure that his face was showing it all.

"W-what was that, man?" Dean stuttered. "Please tell me that that was just something you do when you feel really happy, okay? An angel thing, right?"

Castiel hesitated; Dean was offering him a way out. If you just said, that the joy had made him loose his senses for a moment, they could continue like the kiss never happened and it would ever to be mentioned again. But that would have been dishonest, and Castiel was tired to try to deny his feelings any longer.

"I… I love you, Dean", he said instead, plain and simply.

Dean gulped. "Y-yeah, uh… Well, you… Do you mean, like a friend or –"

"I mean it in every way possible", Castiel answered. "I… have never felt like this before, towards anyone."

"Uh… Well, I, uh…"

"You don't need to say anything, Dean; I know that you see me as a friend, and nothing else." Castiel looked at him nervously. "You… do still think me as a friend, don't you?"

Dean blinked his eyes repeatedly. "Why, yes, of course!" he said, maybe hastier that should be required. "Like a best pals, you and me… but that, um, other thing…"

"I do understand, Dean. I'm not expecting you to tend my selfish whims. And I apologize about the kiss; I was never meant to do that, nor let you know about my feelings in a situation like this. Yet I am little relieved now that you know. I… don't want to keep secrets from you any more."

"Oh – Um, yeah, it's, it's fine, just… don't sweat it, Cass, okay? You did nothing wrong…"

The silence that fell between them was awkward and uncomfortable; either of them knew what to say next. Then, they could hear someone coughing to catch their attention.

Fergus smirked smugly at them. "So… How was the Purgatory?"

"Damn you little…", Dean started, raising his fists, but Castiel stepped between them.

"I would like to thank you for your assistance", he said, looking hopefully at the demons eyes.

Fergus shrugged nonchalantly, but Castiel could see that he was feeling little uncomfortable. "If you want to thank someone, thank Bobby; he talked me into this", the demon said, but added, little quieter, "And maybe I was worried about Aziraphale's reaction, too. I don't need his talk about how someone just don't abandon their brother into a Purgatory. Featherhead."

Innuendo was so clear that Castiel couldn't hold back his smile. He would had wanted to do all kinds of things – like apologize again, or hug Fergus – but all he did was repeat, "Thank you."

Fergus shrugged again. "You're welcome."

Dean was staring between them. "Hey, hey, hey! What the-?!"

"You should heed at Bobby's, now", Fergus continued, giving him no attention. "He's been worried, you know – about the both of you. He knows to wait you to come, so get moving."

"You talked about Bobby – wait - did he made a deal with you? Again?" Dean shouted.

Fergus rolled his eyes. "No, he didn't. But since you probably won't believe me, why don't you just go and ask? I'm sure that Castiel has no problem to get you there…"

Dean snapped his mouth shut and glanced towards Castiel, blushing a bit. Castiel felt tight knot forming in the bit of his stomach. He doesn't want me to touch him right now…

Fergus apparently noticed their nervousness, and by the sharp look he shot at Castiel, he also knew the source of it. "Of all the-! Fine, I'll do it; Castiel, are you going with him?"

"I –" Castiel hesitated, before shaking his head, "I need to talk with – Aziraphale."

Fergus squinted his eyes unapprovingly, but said nothing to that. "Very well – Squirrel, say "hello" to Bobby for me!"

"Now, hold on a sec", Dean started, but Fergus sent him on his way with a snap of his fingers.

"Fine, then", the demon said as he looked back to Castiel, "what was that? He didn't react well at your confession?"

Castiel frowned. "You knew."

Fergus scoffed. "Please! It was so obvious, that I think that even Aziraphale noticed it – and my father, who hadn't even noticed that he and Az are practically married couple! You need to learn subtlety, feathers. So – how did he react?"

Castiel looked at the ground. "He – I think he's scared", he admitted, and then shot an irritated look at Fergus who started to giggle by that.

"If I had known that that was all that it takes to make him loose his shit – fine, fine, I'll let it be!" Fergus managed to muffle his glee enough to gaze seriously at Castiel's eyes. "You best to not get too bothered by that… There are other men, you know. And women, if gender ain't your issue."

Castiel tilted his head. "What would their gender have to do with anything?" he asked.

"It's a human thing, in most cases", Fergus answered. "Don't bother your head with it too much."

Castiel smiled timidly. "It feels… good. To talk with you again. To have you explain these terms to me…"

"Is that what I am to you? A dictionary?" Fergus whined, but Castiel know that he was pleased, too. "…Whatever. Look, I've got a kingdom to look after. You go to Aziraphale's, and – well, till the next time, I guess?" the demon smirked little anxiously, like he had been going to say something else but caught himself just in time, and in a puff of sulfur, he was gone.

Castiel smiled at the empty spot where he'd stood. "I'll see you soon again, Fergus."

And then he, too, was gone.