I can't even begin to tell you how awful I feel for this unexpected hiatus. As you guys probably know, I'm a little mentally and emotionally screwy. It got really bad over the summer and stuff, and I ended up in a really bad place. It took forever, but I'm back in the saddle if you'll have me.

Even after I felt up to writing again, I had to take a break from the angst. I started a new, lighter story, if you guys are interested, just to get me back in the game. But I think I'm ready to ease my way back into this little world I've created with the 'Hallelujah' series.

Sorry if its a little short, this is set some feelers out to see if I still even have my readers. So it's really important that you review- let me know what you think after you read, so I know you're still liking the story.

Enjoy.

Dean woke with a blurred film of his surroundings and a dull ache spreading up and down his ribs and spine. His head throbbed and pulsed and he could somewhat feel the warm liquid caked on the side of his ear.

He couldn't move his hands.

He tugged. They didn't move again.

His vision started clearing til he could see a... Basement?

"I really couldn't be sorrier, boys." Came a voice that echoed in the space "I need ya here, though. See, Harkness has my daughter. Hand in you and your angels, and I just might get her back."

The bunker.

The resistance.

Rick.

Dean growled in the back of his throat and tried to propel himself forward, only to hear the scrape of another chair. They were back to back.

"SAm?!"

"Huh- yeah, yeah it's me." He sounded... Okay. Alive and kickin'. They were back to back, tied to a couple of straight backed chairs with some really heavy duty rope.

"Where's Cas, you son of a bitch?!" His vision swirled and turned in a way that made him feel sick before he landed on the stocky man in the stuffy basement. He heard Sam call out to Gabriel in the darkness. He knew there'd be no answer, though; poor thing was probably scared shitless. There was no light in the long, low space, except for the lone battery powered lantern hung up by Rick. He really did look sorry, but Dean but couldn't bring himself to care: Cas was in danger. Cas was in trouble. And that was all that mattered. Dean's heart jumped up and down in his chest, and he pulled against the ropes, ignoring the pain in his ribs, in his head, and the clammy sweat on his palms.

"My little girl is the important thing to me right now. Maybe, after Gracie's home, we can get your angels back to ya. But that's only if you boys cooperate."

"Cooperate?" Sam scoffed, but Dean could tell he was distraught "cooperate with what?!"

"With us. No escape attempts, no genius plans, no nothing. You can swear at me all you like, but those birdies aren't goin' anywhere."

"YOU SICK BASTARD-"

"Let us see them." Dean cut off his brothers tirade. He was sick of all the crazy bullshit, he just needed to know Castiel was alive. Rick didn't seem to have thought of this, raising his eyebrow and fixing Dean with a look.

"No trying anything."

"I'm not 'trying anything'! I want to see them, I need to know they're alive."

Rick didn't look like he really believed him, and Dean held his breath for the reply. The stocky man sighed, raising the walkie talkie to his lips like it was painful. A few minutes later the clunk of feet and swish of wings were heard, and Dean looked wildly around to find their angels.

Surprisingly, Gabriel was holding himself together almost as much as Cas. Both angels were shaken and drained, dressed in rusted collars and roped up around the wrists and wings.

"Y'okay, Cas?"

He gave nothing but a curt nod, trying to cling to consciousness through the collar and his vessels blood loss.

"Gabe?" Sam was craning his neck to see the archangel, and Gabriel gaped like a fish with the effort of trying to respond.

"He's here. It's okay." Dean gruffly took a moment to reassure his brother.

"Please say something, Gabriel..."

There was a long beat of silence as he determinedly found his voice, taking a deep breath.

"I-I'm alright, Sammy."

Dean could feel his brothers shoulders relax against his back. Cas was looking at him like he was trying to say something-

"Alright, nice chat. You two need to leave- the Winchesters and I need to have a little bonding time. I'm sure they have more expletives for me, and Harkness arrives tomorrow morning."

Rick ushered the angels to the door, making Gabriel stumble and whimper, and Cas glare like he could smite him with his eyes. A lump choked up in Dean's throat, but he wasn't sure if it was anger or fear.

"Let us go right now!"

"Can't do that."

Harkness was coming tomorrow. Here. Dean hated that he was thinking about it, but if they played this right, they wouldn't even have to go to headquarters to get the bastard. That would make Cas and Gabe bait though, and without their grace, it was a dangerous plan.

He forced his muscles to slacken, and hung his head. Rope burn was etched into his wrists and the vague sting echoed up his body.

"There's no point, is there?" His voice was exhausted and heavy in his mouth, and he could feel Sam tensing up further. He didn't understand.

"No. No, I'm sorry, there's not." Rick frowned in a sympathetic way that made dean feel sick.

"I... Sammy, were not gonna get outta this one..."

"Dean? What're you talking about, man?! Stop it!" His little brother's fists clenched beside his, and Dean had to force himself not to scream his plan. Cas and Gabe depended on this. Sam could be in the dark just a little while longer- he'd catch on soon anyway. The kid was damn smart.

"No Sam! It's over... Besides, some poor girl needs to get back to her father..."

"Gabriel and Castiel need to get home in one piece- that what needs to happen-"

"SAMMY." It was his 'John voice'. He hated yelling at his brother. It had happened all too often with this apocalypse shit, and now with the angels... He could hear the tiny breath catch in Sam's throat. At least he shut up. He took just a second in silence, hoping he wasn't milking the act too much, but if Rick's expression was anything to go by, Dean could win an Oscar. "So... That it, then?" He mumbled defeatedly to the older man.

He nodded sadly "I'll leave you boys to it, then."

Dean released a breath he hadn't know he was holding when the door bolted shut.

"What's the plan, Dean?" He let out a little chuckle at that- that's Sammy, quick as a whip.

"We gotta wait til morning."