Phew, another chapter already! I just can't seem to stop!

As you probably realise, I changed the title, because I have a new idea for later chapters and thought that this title would be more appropriate :P

What do you think?

This chapter is dedicated to bani86 because my reviewers are very limited :P

Disclaimer as usual, blah, blah

Enjoy ^.^

'What took you so long?!' Sam yelled as soon as the angel appeared. Castiel was taken aback, not expecting this furious reaction.

'I was about to complete the first angel trial. But you needed me more.' he looked around the room 'Where's Dean?'

Sam let out a hollow laugh, void of humour and dropped into a chair . He looked terrible. He was pale and had dark circles under his eyes, which were tinged with red; his hair was tangled as if he had run his hands through it a few too many times.

'Are you all right Sam?' Castiel asked

'I'm fine' he insisted, in the mechanical way the Winchesters always did.

'Tell me what happened.' Sam took in a shaky breath and another tear dropped down his cheek. Castiel was alarmed, it made him think that maybe the worst had happened. Was Dean. . .?

'He's been taken' Sam said 'by Crowley'

'Taken where?' Sam let out a choked noise in the back of his throat before clearing it and replying with an answer that made Castiel's blood run cold

'Hell'

Castiel stepped forward

'Tell me what happened' he demanded, urgently, slapping the table in front of Sam.

So Sam did, he told him everything, trying unsuccessfully to hold back his tears as he remembered the sound of his brothers pain. As he listened, Castiel's face grew tighter, more concerned, and by the end of the tale his jaw was clenched tight.

He too recalled Dean the first time he had raised him from Hell. The effort it had taken, because Dean's soul had resisted, he hadn't believed that he deserved to be saved, hadn't wanted to face the world again, knowing what he had done. That plus his soul had been so broken and damaged that it had been hard to keep hold of, it had felt like holding onto wet soap that was cracked and flayed so badly that it had almost come apart in his hands. How much harder would he be to raise this time, not just his soul but his body too. The risk would increase exponentially, but Castiel knew that he didn't care. He would go down there and he would save Dean from Hell's jaws once again, or he wouldn't re-emerge at all.

'How long has he been captured?'

'Um …' Sam checked his watch 'It's been over six hours now.' Castiel flinched. Seven and a half months of non-stop torture. Dean didn't deserve that, he wasn't even dead yet, Hell had no lawful claim to his soul let alone his body. But Crowley was paying him special attention this time, he would be constantly watching. 'Can you get him out?' Sam looked up at Castiel, the younger Winchester's eyes were full of self-loathing and fear.

Aside from admiring Sam's strength and resolve to do the right thing and leave Dean to Crowley so that Sam could complete the demon trials and rid the world of Crowley and his ilk forever, he was irrationally angry at him for doing so. Had the roles been reversed, Dean would have delivered the tablet and signed the contract within ten minutes of returning to Earth, physically unable to leave his brother in Hell for even a few hours. Castiel berated himself for this ill feeling, after all, he could see how unhappy Sam was. But had it been him … Well... Castiel would have given Crowley everything to keep Dean out of the pit.

At which he hung his head in shame.

It was no wonder that angels scorned humans for their emotions, even the way that he had come to feel emotions at the hands of time with the Winchesters, their lives were too full of loss, anger and constant stimulation for him to remain unaffected. But it wasn't just that. It was the Winchesters themselves. He had come to care for them, not out of a sense of duty but because he enjoyed their company, Dean's especially, with his confusing references and obsession with his car and his rather unhealthy love for pie, mixed with the razor wit and fierce loyalty and defiance in the face of impossible odds as only one who had endured great personal suffering could possess. And Castiel had made himself a friend. No, more than that, more than even a brother, best friend? Perhaps that was the term.

Whatever it was, Castiel was not prepared to lose it.

'I will try' he replied. There was no point in false comfort. It would be a true miracle if he could even enter Hell again, let alone steal it's most valuable prisoner right from under the kings nose. He placed his hand on Sam's shoulder, meeting the watery brown eyes with his own. 'If necessary I will die trying' he continued 'If I make it into the pit, then you have my word as an angel that I will not leave it without your brother'.

Sam nodded, knowing that the oath was true. He placed his hand on top of Castiel's for a second and then stood, face to face.

'Thank you' he said seriously 'If I could go, I would, but...'

'But Crowley will have people watching you and would immediately hear of any rescue attempt by you and would execute Dean without a thought' Castiel finished 'I understand'

'Good luck, Cas' Sam swallowed the lump in his throat 'I'll pray for you'

'As will I' Castiel replied with a quirk of his lip. Sam let out a sound that was almost laughter and managed a fleeting smile. Then, without warning, he pulled the angel into a tight hug. Castiel understood. Whatever it was, he was feeling it too. That he may not return, that this may be the last time he ever saw Sam. He returned the hug and then pulled away after a few seconds, unaware of how long protocol dictated that hugs between a man and an angel who are friends but are mainly connected through a third whom the angel had to rescue from Hell.

Maybe there was no protocol.

After a last nod and one of his peaceful smiles that Bobby had once told him could calm a room, which he used because he had never been more certain that he was doing the right thing.

He disappeared.

Sam watched him go and shed a few more tears. He had a sinking feeling that he had just sent Castiel to his death.

Castiel arrived at one of the portals to Hell, the one that he had used last time. He knew of several others but for some reason, using this one felt right. Although security must have tightened for this portal directly after his last trip, there had been enough confusion and changing in command and ranks in the pit that it was unlikely anyone remembered.

Crowley was not stupid though. He may have heard that he and Dean were no longer acquaintances but he knew that fights hadn't stopped them from helping each other in the past. He only hoped that he would have neglected to ward against angels. After all, what angel would be so exceptionally unintelligent as to attempt to free the most valuable prisoner in Hell from the pit itself? The answer was Castiel, and Castiel alone.

He was fearful, he realised. Beyond those doors was a place that an angel should never be. His last visit had been unpleasant to say the least. So much suffering, many souls there were innocent, trapped there by a deal they had not realised they were making. It was unbelievably difficult to walk past them, knowing the pain that was to come to them.

'Well' Castiel said aloud 'Dean is down there'

That single thought strengthened his resolve and he walked towards the door.

He wouldn't go because of a command from God

He wouldn't go because Sam had asked him to

He wouldn't even go because it was the right thing to do

But he would go for Dean.

So what do you think? I'm trying to integrate a little more Destiel into this one :P I tried to make it cute!

Please give me your thoughts and opinions because I feed on them, and I'm hungry :(

I warn you again, there may be a short break between this and the next chapter, my life is interfering with my fandoms again D:

Love Tibbins xx