The Man Who Would Be King Part 2

"Crowley sent his very best," Castiel said. "I was caught as much by surprise as the rest of them. And it left me with yet another choice. I could reveal myself and smite the demons. Of course, Crowley wouldn't like it. But, on the other hand, they were my friends."

Castiel suddenly appeared and quickly smote the demons that were attacking the four hunters.

"For a brief moment…I was me again." Castiel recalled.

Angela grinned and ran over to hug Castiel tightly. "It is so good to see you, Cas." She murmured into his trench coat before she pulled away.

Castiel looked between the four hunters. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah." Sam nodded. "Perfect timing."

"I'm glad I found you. I come with news." Castiel declared.

"Yeah? What?" Dean asked.

"I firmly believe Crowley is alive." He stated.

Dean chuckled. "Yeah. You think, Kojak?" He smiled slightly. "Well, Bobby, what do we think about Cas saving our asses…Again?"

Bobby sighed. "I think we owe you an apology." He admitted.

Castiel tilted his head in confusion. "Why?"

"We've been hunting Crowley this whole time…And keeping it from you." Sam confessed.

"We thought…You were working with him." Bobby added.

Castiel frowned. "You thought what?"

"I know," Angela replied. "It's crazy, right?"

"It's just that you torched the wrong bones." Bobby sighed. "It doesn't matter. We—we were wrong."

"You know…You could've just asked me." Castiel chided.

"And we should have." Angela agreed. "We never should've doubted you. It's…I just hope you can forgive us, Cas."

"Wonders never cease," Castiel commented. "They trusted me again. But, it was just another lie."

Castiel smiled softly. "It's forgotten."

"Thanks," Dean replied, a small smile gracing his lips.

"Yeah. Thanks, Cas." Sam nodded.

"It is a little absurd, though," Castiel noted.

"I know, I know." Bobby sighed.

"Superman going to the dark side." Castiel joked. "I'm still just Castiel."

Sam and Bobby didn't think anything of the comment at that moment. Dean and Angela however, frowned and tried to hide their betrayal.

"I guess we can put away the Kryptonite, right?" Dean asked, his jaw slightly clenched.

"Exactly." Castiel agreed.

"Of course, I didn't realize it at the time," Castiel explained. "But it was all over. Right then, just like that."

~/~\~

Castiel charged into Crowley's lab. "You sent demons after them?"

"You kill my hunters." Crowley shrugged. "Why can't I kill yours?"

"They're my friends," Castiel growled.

"You can't have friends, not anymore." Crowley lectured. "I mean, my God. You're losing it!"

"I'm fine," Castiel assured.

"Yeah. You're the very picture of mental health." Crowley scoffed. "Come on. You don't think I know what this is all about?"

"Enlighten me." Castiel glared.

"The big lie—Angela and the Winchesters still buy it," Crowley replied. "The good Cas, the righteous Cas. And as long as they still believe it, you get to believe it. Well, I got news for you, kitten. A whore is a whore is a whore."

Castiel violently shoved Crowley against the wall. "I'm only gonna say this once." He warned. "If you touch a hair on their heads, I will tear it all down. Our arrangement—everything. I'm still an Angel, and I will bury you." He added before he disappeared.

"I asked myself, 'what was I doing with this vermin?'" Castiel sighed. "As if I didn't already know the answer. Raphael was stronger than me. I wouldn't survive a straight fight."

~/~\~

Castiel stood and watched Dean and Angela. They were both cleaning up Lisa's yard.

"So, I went to some old friends for help." Castiel continued. "But watching them, I stopped. Everything they had sacrificed, and I was about to ask them for more."

"Ah, Castiel." Crowley greeted suddenly. "Angel of Thursday. Just not your day is it?"

Castiel turned. "What are you doing here?"

"I want to help you help me help ourselves." Crowley shrugged.

Castiel rolled his eyes. "Speak plain."

"I want to discuss a simple business transaction. That's all."

"You want to make a deal? With me?" Castiel frowned. "I'm an Angel, you ass. I don't have a soul to sell."

"But that's it, isn't it? It's all of it. It's the souls." Crowley smirked. "It all comes down to the souls in the end, doesn't it?"

"What in the hell are you talking about?" Castiel asked.

"I'm talking about Raphael's head on a pike," Crowley explained. "I'm talking about happy endings, for all of us, with all possible entendres intended. Come on. Just a chat."

Castiel scoffed slightly. "I have no interest in talking to you."

Crowley put on a look of mock hurt. "Why not? I'm very interesting." He replied. "Come on. Hear me out. Five minutes. No obligations. I promise I'll make it worth your while."

"I was no fool." Castiel sighed. "I knew who Crowley was and what he did. But, I was smarter than him, stronger. I see now that I was prideful. And in all likelihood, I was a fool."

~/~\~

Countless souls stood in line. The newest arrival took number 6,611,527,124 from the take-a-number dispenser.

Castiel looked around, his brows furrowed. "Where are we?"

"You don't recognize it, do you?" Crowley replied. "It's Hades, new and improved. I did it myself."

"This is Hell?" Castiel inquired.

"Yeah." Crowley nodded. "See, the problem with the old place was most of the inmates were masochists already. A lot of 'Thank you, sir. Can I have another hot spike up the jacksie?' But just look at them. No one likes waiting in line."

"And what happens when they reach the front?" Castiel asked.

"Nothing. They go right back to the end again." Crowley smiled proudly. "That's efficiency."

Castiel rolled his eyes and kept walking. "You have four minutes left."

"What are you planning to do about Raphael?" Crowley asked curiously.

"What can I do besides submit or die?" Castiel retorted.

"Submit or die?" Crowley repeated. "What are you, French? How about resist?"

"I'm not strong enough, and you know it," Castiel replied.

"Ah, not on your own, you're not." Crowley agreed. "But, you're not on your own, are you? There's a lot of angels swooning over you. God's favorite. Buddy boy, you've got what they call sex appeal."

"Thank you," Castiel replied. "Get to the point."

"Angels need leaders, so be one. Gather your army and kick the candy out of each and every Angel that shows up for Raphael."

"Are you proposing that I start a civil war in Heaven?" Castiel's brows shot up.

"Ding! Ding! Ding! Tell him what he's won, Vanna." Crowley smirked.

Castiel narrowed his eyes. "You're asking me to be the next Lucifer!"

"Please." Crowley scoffed. "Lucifer was a petulant child with daddy issues. Cas, you love God. God loves you. He brought you back. Did it occur to you that maybe he did this so you could be the new Sheriff upstairs?"

"This is ridiculous," Castiel replied. "I mean, the amount of power that it would take to mount a war…"

"More than either of us have ever seen, yeah." Crowley nodded. "But, what if I said I knew how to go nuclear?"

"What do you mean?" Castiel frowned.

"Purgatory, my fine feathered friend." Crowley proposed. "Purgatory. Just think about it. An untapped oil well of every fanged, clawed soul. I mean, what's that over the years? 30 million? 40 million? Just sitting there, plump and rich for the taking."

"How would you even find it when no one ever has?" Castiel frowned.

"We'll need expert help."

"From whom?" Castiel sighed.

"From experts, of course," Crowley replied. "I know of a few fashion models with time on their hands."

"No," Castiel replied immediately. "Not Dean and Angela. They're retired, and they have to stay that way."

"Fine." Crowley conceded. "Then I know of a certain big, bald patriarch I can take off the bench. The point is…They can get us to the monsters. The monsters can get us to Purgatory. I know it."

"And what's your price in all of this?" Castiel asked.

"Just half."

"Half?" Castiel repeated.

"My position isn't all that stable, ducky," Crowley replied. "Those souls would help, just like they'd help you. Besides, wouldn't you rather have me in charge down here? The devil you know…"

Castiel paused. "This is pointless. Your plan would take months, and I need help now."

"Granted, yes." Crowley agreed. "But, just to show you how serious I am about this scheme…How about I float you a little loan?" He offered. "Say, 50 large? 50,000 souls from the pit. You can take them up to Heaven. Make quite a showing. It's either this or the Apocalypse all over again. Everything you've worked for—everything Sam, Dean, and Angela have worked for—gone. You can save us, Castiel. God chose you to save us. And I think…Deep down…You know that."

"I wish I could say I was clean of pride at that moment…" Castiel trailed off.

~/~\~

"Or the next." Castiel continued.

Castiel used the power of the souls to remove Raphael from the room. "There will be no Apocalypse." Castiel declared. "And let it be known, you're either with Raphael, or you're with me."

"And so went the long road of good intentions…The road that brought me here."

~/~\~

Angela closed her eyes and bowed her head. "Castiel, uh…We need you for a little powwow down here, so come on down." She prayed.

There was a familiar flutter of wings. "Hello." Castiel greeted.

Bobby looked over. "Oh, Johnny on the spot."

Castiel looked at the four hunters. "You're still here."

"Yeah, we had to bury the bodies," Sam replied.

"And we found a little whiskey." Dean forced a smile as he held up his glass. "Thanks for coming."

"How can I help?" Castiel asked.

"Uh, look." Sam opened up the book that was in his hands. "We, um, we have a new plan. We think we've finally figured out a way to track down Crowley."

Castiel walked towards them, brows furrowed. "What is it?"

Bobby lit a match and dropped it on the floor by Castiel's feet, trapping him in a ring of holy fire. "It's you."

~/~\~

Castiel frowned in confusion. "What are you doing."

Angela walked up to the ring of fire. "We have to talk."

"About what?" Castiel's brows furrowed. "Let me go!"

Angela clenched her jaw. "About Superman. And Kryptonite."

Castiel's face fell when he realized that he had slipped up.

"How'd you know what I said?" Bobby questioned.

"How long have you been watching us?" Sam added.

"You know who spies on people, Cas?" Dean asked. "Spies!"

"Okay, just wait." Castiel pleaded. "I don't even know what you mean."

Sam scoffed. "What about this demon craphole?" He asked, looking around. "How is it so, uh…Next to Godliness clean in here?"

"And how exactly did Crowley trick you with the wrong bones?" Bobby asked.

"It's hard to understand," Castiel replied. "It's hard to explain. Let me out and I can—

"You have to look at me, Cas." Angela pleaded. "You have to level with me and me what's going on. Look me in the eye and tell me you're not working with Crowley." She added, her voice cracking ever so slightly. Castiel looked at Angela but then looked away. Angela shook her head in disbelief. "You son of a bitch."

Angela turned her back and briskly walked over to Sam, who hugged her tightly—almost protectively.

"Let me explain." Castiel tried.

"You're in it with him?" Dean glared. "You and Crowley have been going after Purgatory together? You have, huh? This whole time."

"I did it to protect you." Castiel justified. "I did it to protect all of you!"

"Protect us how?" Sam questioned. "By opening a hole into monsterland?!"

"He's right, Cas." Bobby agreed. "One drop got through, and it was Eve. And you want to break down the entire dam?"

"To get the souls," Castiel replied. "I can stop Raphael! Please, you have to trust me."

"Trust you?!" Sam scoffed. "How in the hell are we supposed to trust you now?"

"I'm still me. I'm still your friend." Castiel assured. He turned to face Sam. "Sam…I'm the one who raised you from Perdition."

When Angela heard those words, she pulled away from Sam's grasp and turned to face Castiel. "You did a pretty crappy job of it!" Angela yelled, tears in her eyes. She was so angry that she was shaking. "He came back without his soul, Cas!"

Sam tensed up slightly. "Wait." He cut in. "Cas, did you bring me back soulless…On purpose?"

Castiel looked hurt. "How could you think that?"

Sam scoffed and shook his head. "Well, I'm thinking a lot of things right now, Cas."

"Listen," Castiel said firmly. "Raphael will kill us all. He'll turn the world into a graveyard. I had no choice."

"No, you had a choice." Dean snapped. "You just made the wrong one."

"You don't understand." Castiel sighed. "It's complicated."

"No, actually, it's not, and you know that." Dean retorted. "Why else would you keep this whole thing a secret, huh, unless you knew it was wrong? When crap like this comes around, we deal with it…Like we always have. What we don't do is we don't go out and make another deal with the devil!"

"It sounds so simple when you say it like that." Castiel murmured. "Where were you when I needed to hear it?"

"I was there," Dean replied. "Where were you?"

"You should've come to us for help, Cas." Angela chided.

"Maybe." Castiel nodded. Suddenly there was a loud sound of wind. "It's too late now. I can't turn back now. I can't."

"It's not too late," Dean assured. "Dammit, Cas! We can fix this!"

"Dean, it's not broken!" Castiel snapped. "Run. You have to run now! Run!"

Sam grabbed Angela's hand and they ran out the door, Bobby, and Dean following behind them.

~/~\~

Crowley entered the house and stared at the ring of fire. "My, my. Playing with fire again?" He asked, snapping his fingers, causing the fire to disappear.

"If you touch them…" Castiel warned.

"Please. I heard you the first time." Crowley replied. "I promise, nary a hair on their artfully tousled heads. Besides, I think they've proven my point for me. It's always your friends, isn't it, in the end?" He raised a brow. "We try to change. We try to improve ourselves. It's always our friends who got to claw into our sides and hold us back. But you know what I see here? The new God," He pointed at Castiel. "And the new Devil. Working together."

Castiel walked up to Crowley. "Enough. Stop talking. And get out of my sight." He snarled.

"Well…Glad I came. You're welcome, by the way." Crowley replied before he walked towards the door. He paused. "You know the difference between you and me? I know what I am. What are you, Castiel? What exactly are you willing to do?"

~/~\~

Dean woke up suddenly and rubbed his eyes. He sat up and frowned when he saw Castiel appear.

"Hello, Dean." Castiel greeted.

Dean tensed up. "How'd you get in here?"

"The angel proofing Bobby put up on the house, he got a few things wrong," Castiel explained.

"Well, it's too bad we got to angel proof in the first place, isn't it?" Dean asked as he stood up. "Why are you here?"

"I want you to understand."

"Oh, believe me, I get it," Dean replied. "Blah, blah, Raphael, right?"

"I'm doing this for you, Dean. I'm doing this because of you." Castiel replied.

Dean snorted slightly. "Because of me. Yeah. You got to kidding me."

"You're the one who taught me that freedom and free will—

"You're a freaking child, you know that?" Dean snapped, cutting Castiel off. "Just because you can do what you want doesn't mean that you get to do whatever you want!"

"I know what I'm doing, Dean," Castiel assured.

Dean sighed. "I'm not gonna logic you, okay? I'm saying don't…just 'cause. I'm asking you not to. That's it."

Castiel frowned. "I don't understand."

"Look, next to Sam, you, Angie, and Bobby are the closest things I have to family—that you are like a brother to me," Dean explained. "So, if I'm asking you not to do something…You got to trust me, man."

"Or what?" Castiel challenged.

Dean frowned. "Or I'll have to do what I have to do to stop you."

"You can't, Dean," Castiel replied. "You're just a man. I'm an angel."

"I don't know," Dean muttered. "I've taken on some pretty big fish."

"I'm sorry, Dean," Castiel replied.

Dean nodded. "Well, I'm sorry, too, then."

~/~\~

Castiel sat on the bench. "So, that's everything. I believe it's what you call a…Tragedy from the human perspective." He noted. "But, maybe the human perspective is…Limited. I don't know. That's why I'm asking you, Father. One last time. Am I doing the right thing?" He asked. "Am I on the right path? You have to tell me. You have to give me…A sign. Give me a sign." He begged. "Because if you don't…I'm gonna…I'm gonna do whatever I…Whatever I must."

Castiel waited for a moment and blinked back tears when there was no response.

A/N: Hey guys! I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I can't believe there are only four more chapters of this installment, it's crazy. I have loved writing this story and your support has been amazing :) Currently, I'm mapping out 7x14 and since school's out I should be able to start writing fairly quickly. I can't wait to reveal the title! Love y'all.

~Emily