Disclaimer: Not ours.

Chapter 2

He ignored her, vanishing from sight to land at the very back of the property where he started beating a tree to death. Caleb made his way over eventually. "I thought we taught you that trees don't deserve being beaten to death..." Dean just snarled and the trunk broke, the tree falling over. Caleb winced. "Dean... stop. Calm down."

"She wants to leave!" Dean snapped even as he stopped, unable to disobey his bonded.

"And you want her to stay... correct?" Caleb asked, checking Dean's knuckles. Dean nodded, ignoring his own blood; he healed so fast it didn't matter. "So... you want her to live forever and be miserable?" Caleb asked as he cleaned the blood away.

Dean whined and looked away. "Aren't we good enough?"

Caleb nodded. "We are... that's why she doesn't want any magical fixes. She just wants to spend the remaining time she has with her family. Those she loves."

"But she doesn't have to go! She could stay forever, they all could."

"Some people don't want forever Dean." Caleb whispered. "Sarah's one of them. She's lived with Skynet for so long... that she can't see anything else." Dean just turned away, arms crossed. "You're being pretty selfish Dean."

"She is! She doesn't care about us!"

"She'd be selfish if she was committing suicide." Caleb replied starting to rub his back. "But she's been going to doctors to make sure it didn't come around... regularly." He quirked a brow at Dean. "Cameron told me." Dean shook his head. Leaving them when she didn't have to was selfish. Dean knew Cancer killed people. And even if it didn't she'd still die one day. So if she didn't care enough to stay then fine, he wouldn't care about her anymore either. Caleb pulled Dean to him. "You gonna stay out here all night?" Dean nodded, still too upset to want to see any of them. Caleb snorted. "Stop acting so petulent." Dean growled softly. Caleb growled back. Dean flinched slightly but stubbornly moved to sit under an undamaged tree, curling his wings around himself. "Do I have to order you?" Caleb asked, crossing his arms.

"Let it go Caleb, one night out here won't hurt him." Sam called, walking over.

Caleb looked at Sam and frowned. "What do you think?"

"About Sarah saying no? That she's being silly to turn down healing. As for immortality? Without you and Dean I would never have chosen it." Sam shrugged and reached out to gently stroke Dean's wings.

"Dean wants her to have immortality."

"You think I don't? I never want to have to burying anymore family." Sam told him. "But we can't force her to say yes, just show her that it wouldn't be a bad life. Bobby's already made a deal."

"He did?" Caleb stared at Sam. "For what?"

"Immortality in exchange for his soul. Not like I'm ever gonna call the deal in." Sam shrugged and then pulled a face, sealing the deal had been a bit ick. "Even took a few years off his body."

Caleb nodded and sighed. "Worried about all this."

Sam shrugged. "Bobby's reasoning was someone had to stick around and make sure we don't accidentally end the world." Caleb laughed.

"Bobby's staying forever?" Dean asked hopefully and Sam nodded.

"Yeah Dean. Bobby'll never leave." Caleb sighed and headed inside. Sam kissed the top of Dean's head. "Come in if you want." He whispered before following Caleb. Caleb flopped down on their bed and sighed. This was not gonna end well.

"You alright kid?" Bobby asked.

"Dean's having a tantrum because Sarah wants to stay mortal." Caleb replied.

"If this was a normal nest they'd all be immortal Caleb. It's part instinct and part his inability to deal with people leaving him. He sold his soul to bring Sam back within a day of him dying."

Caleb nodded a bit. "Yeah well... some people can't handle it."

"How are you handling it? It's only been a few years..."

"I got Sam, Dean, and Cameron." Caleb looked at him. "And now you."

Bobby nodded and reached over to ruffle his hair. "Sam's cleaning the kitchen up, get some sleep Caleb." Caleb nodded and crawled under the covers. Bobby dimmed the lights and headed back upstairs. Any other hunter would tell him he'd been an idiot to sell his soul but he knew his boys needed him.

Sarah sighed and sat down on the bed. She'd go to the doctor's tomorrow. She moved to change into her night gown. "Dean destroyed three trees and is sleeping outside because you refused healing." Cas told her softly.

"What... why?" Sarah looked at him weird.

"You are his mother; he does not want you to be ill or to die."

"I don't want to be immortal." Sarah whispered.

Castiel put his hands on her shoulders. "Being healed would not make you immortal but it would give you a natural life span."

"And going to a doctor might do the same thing." Sarah replied. "And might further research on a cure."

He smiled slightly at her. "You are just as stubborn as he is. A doctor cannot repair the damage done by the disease; the treatments themselves are doing even more damage. Is that really worth it? It will be many decades before humanity can cure cancer."

"And if I don't... it might take longer." Sarah replied as she looked at Castiel. "Half the reason we came forward in time was because of my cancer."

"You being healed will not affect humanity finding a cure." he assured her. "Please, I do not like seeing you ill or in pain." Sarah just gave him a look. He stared back at her.

"I'm tired Castiel... and eventually... I'll see Kyle again." She knew about the fact that he couldn't have a relationship with her.

"I see." He looked away, he had hoped...

"Dean shouldn't have killed those trees."

"Better he let his pain and anger out then keep it locked within."

"That's what punching bags are for."

Castiel shrugged slightly. "I think he wanted to be alone. He loves you very much."

"I know he does... but I can't live forever for him."

"It is not just him but others you do not wish you to die."

"I'm human Castiel... and I'm tired. I have lived my life in terror for a majority of it. I've pushed myself past what normal humans can and I deserve to rest!" She paced the floor. "You all are acting like I'm committing suicide! It's so stupid!"

"Considering the cancer will most likely kill you, aren't you?" He asked, reaching out to touch her cheek.

"You're acting like I'm gonna die tomorrow." Sarah replied. "We might have caught it early enough that it won't be life threatening for a good long while."

"The damage from the disease and the treatments will take up to twenty years off your life, do you really want that?" He asked seriously. "And that is if they are successful."

"That... didn't make a whole lot of sense." Sarah frowned. "What do you mean it'll take up to twenty years of my life?"

"You will die twenty years earlier due to the damage." he stated, making sure it was totally clear.

Sarah nodded. "I still want to try."

"I do not understand you." He shook his head and turned to leave. He had tried his best. Why couldn't she see that what she was doing was hurting all of them? Why was it so bad to accept healing?

"Castiel...?"

The angel hesitated in the doorway. "Why must you hurt all of us to do this?" He whispered.

"Will you come with me to the doctor's tomorrow...?" He nodded, back to her. If he looked at her he wasn't sure what he would do. "Thank you." She replied. "I'll see you tomorrow." Sarah went to bed. Castiel leant against the closed door, eyes closed. Cameron stopped her patrol and cocked her head to him. He stared at her and then vanished. Cameron blinked and continued her patrol.

TBC….