Dean's POV
Dean slowly opened his eyes. His head was pounding and the room was spinning uncontrollably. Ugh. How was he supposed to live without Cas? Last night was bad enough, and tonight? He felt that it would be much worse.
After getting the news Cas' death, he had drank an entire case of beer, and multiple shots of whiskey. Around midnight, he had fallen asleep. Now, he was paying the price. Nothing would get done today, and tomorrow would most definitely be worse. Last night he had cried himself to sleep, but he was dry today. Somehow, he found the energy to stand and walk to the bathroom to take a shower. God, how he hated this empty feeling in his stomach. He felt all alone. Bobby and Sam would always be there, but without Cas...
Castiel's POV (;P)
Where am I? He looked around, but it was pitch black. He furrowed his brow in confusion and started walking, not exactly knowing where he intended on going.
"Castiel!" a powerful voice boomed.
He stopped and looked around, vaguely seeing the outline of a large man in the sky.
"Father?" he asked, confused.
The shadow nodded.
"Where am I, Father?"
"You are dead. Michael killed you. I built a place for all angels who die. It is not here, but it is close. You may go there if you wish."
He bowed his head, "I understand what I did was wrong, but I cannot help it Father. I love that man," he changed the subject and his eyes welled with tears at the thought Dean.
He detected a smile on God's face.
"There is nothing to be sorry for, Castiel. It was meant to be. Michael on the other hand, he did what he thought I would have wanted. I did not want this."
"You… you don't?"
"No, of course not. You made your own decisions. Not every angel is capable of that. Soon, the other angels will know that what Michael did was wrong. You are the beginning of a great change, but it will take some time. It is time to go home now, Castiel."
"Father, my home is on Earth."
"Is that so?"
"May...may I go back to live on Earth?"
"I am afraid that you cannot be an angel again. Michael burned your grace, it is gone. Although I am powerful, your grace is irreplaceable, yours is gone forever."
"That is not what I asked, Father."
The shadow tilted his head, "You wish to be a human?"
"Yes, Father. I do," He pleaded.
God sighed, "I have to say, I truly did not expect this. But, if it is what you wish, I assume I could."
"Thank you, Father," his voice full of gratitude, "What about the other angels, and Gabriel?"
"They will not harm you and Gabriel will be safe. I promise."
"Thank you, Father," he repeated.
"It is time for you to go now. I am able to put you outside of Bobby Singer's house, but you will be hurt from the trip."
He nodded his understanding and smiled as his Father's hand came down on his head.
Dean's POV
He had taken some aspirin and ate a donut that Bobby had so graciously bought for them, but his headache just wouldn't go away. Becoming nauseous, he slumped onto the couch. This was probably one of the worst hangovers he had ever had.
The knock on the door startled them all. Sam got up and went to answer the door. There was another knock before Sam got there. Dean watched him slowly open the door and then shove it open. Someone in a trench coat fell into Sam's arms. Dean bolted upright, forgetting about how nauseous he was. It didn't matter right now. Sam dragged the thing that looked Cas into the living room. He carefully set him on the couch where Dean had once been laying. He rushed to get silver and holy water.
"Dean! Get towels!" Sam shouted.
"No!" he splashed the thing that looked Cas with holy water and then cut him with the silver knife.
It did nothing. Bobby came up behind Dean and handed Sam the rags. Sam applied pressure to the slashes on Cas' torso. All Dean could do was sink to the floor and cry. It was Cas, it was really him! But how? He felt a hard slap on his shoulder, looking up to see Bobby scowling at him.
"Get water, aspirin, and more towels, you idjit," Bobby commanded.
Dean stood up and pushed his hangover aside, he needed to help.
He grabbed a glass of water, aspirin from the bathroom cabinet, and towels from the closet. By the time he got back to the living room, Cas was unconscious. He dabbed the cloth into the water and started cleaning Cas' wounds. There were 2 slashes on his right side, his nose was bleeding, and deep scratches on his back. Sam had already gotten the angels shirt off and had run off to get bandages.
Dean took control, carefully cleaning each wound and managing to get the nosebleed to stop. Afterward, Sam bandaged the cuts, making sure the bleeding had stopped. Bobby went to get more beer.
What the hell happened? He still wasn't completely convinced that it was Cas, but it had to be, right? He sighed and sat at the dining room table. They would just have to wait and see.
§•◇§
He watched Cas slowly blinked his eyes open. Then rushed to his side.
"Cas! Are you ok?"
Cas smiled brightly, "Yes, I am fine."
He was afraid to ask, "What...what happened?"
"Michael killed me. Where are the others?"
"Sam is upstairs and Bobby is out. Wha? How are you here if Michael killed you?"
He smiled again, "Why don't we wait until everyone is here. Then I will tell my story."
"Do you have enough juice to heal yourself?" Dean asked worried.
"I am afraid that I do not have any "juice"."
Dean's worried expression grew. He pulled himself up and sat beside Cas. Cas crawled on top of him, sitting in his lap. Dean pulled him in, softly kissing the top of his forehead. Cas leaned is head on Dean's shoulder, sighing.
"Does this mean that you are. That you are...human?"
Cas nodded.
"I am just glad you made it back to me. I missed you so much," Dean tenderly kissed his lips.
"Get a room, you two," Bobby said before Cas could say anything else.
Dean just winked. Bobby handed him a beer, but Dean turned him down. Bobby raised an eyebrow. Dean shrugged, he didn't want it. He heard the stairs creak as Sam came down.
"Good you are all here," Cas said.
They all came closer.
"Just talk when you are ready," Dean said.
"Well," Cas took a deep breath and began his long story, "Zachariah showed up at the motel room. I killed two of the assistants he had with him, but he still managed to drag me to Heaven. I am not sure whose it was, but it doesn't matter. They strung me up and tortured me, Zachariah and Michael did. Each time they healed me before they left, but it still hurt, more than anything," tears came to his eyes at the thought and Dean stroked his arm comfortingly, "After a week, every angel came. They watched as Michael ripped my grace from my body. Then, he burned it and it...it died. He threatened Gabriel and Sam and Dean. After that he slit my throat and I died. God came to me. He resurrected me. Said I was the start of something great."
Dean rubbed his temple, trying to understand, "But he couldn't make you an angel again?"
"No, my grace is gone," Cas simply answered.
"I'm just happy, you're back," Sam said gratefully.
Bobby nodded his agreement.
"One thing, where do we go from here?" Dean asked.
"Back to hunting I suppose. There's not much else to do," Sam replied matter-of-factly.
"And I want to help. I still remember how to fight," Cas said.
"You can help. After you are healed," Dean was worried.
"Well, there is a job I found that is only five and a half hours away in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin," Sam supplied.
Dean nodded, "We will leave tomorrow morning. You," he pointed at Cas, "can come, but you'll hang out at the hotel."
"Agreed," Cas sighed.
Sam opened his computer at the table and got to work, finding as much information as he could about their hunt. Bobby sat down at his desk and was reading one of the books he kept downstairs. Dean carried Cas upstairs to the guest bedroom that he and Sam shared. He softly set Cas down on the bed, pulling the bed sheet over his body, he climbed in next to him. It was late november and a cold breeze was blowing through the house. Cas curled up beside him, his breath ghosting Dean's neck. He shivered, pulling Cas closer.
"I love you," Dean whispered.
"I love you too."
Cas' breathing slowed and became deeper. Dean closed his eyes, breathing in Cas. He could get used to this. With that last thought, he fell into a deep, dreamless sleep, for the first time in a week.
Cas' POV
He awoke to cold and emptiness. He felt around the bed. Where is Dean? He sat up, the smell of bacon wafting through the house. Dragging himself out of bed, he couldn't believe he had slept a whole 24 hours. He ran a hand through his hair. It would take some time to get used to being a human. Straightening his trench coat, he headed down the stairs, his stomach grumbling hungrily.
"Hey there sleeping beauty," Dean greeted, a smile spreading on his face at the sight of Castiel.
Dean flipped the bacon that was cooking on the stove and walked over to Castiel, planting a quick kiss on his lips.
"Good morning, Dean," he answered, a smile forming on his face.
"We leave in an hour. Sam is outside packing the Impala. Do you want something to eat?"
At the mention of food his stomach rumbled.
"I'll take that as a yes," Dean chuckled.
He nodded eagerly, sitting down at the table. Dean placed a plate covered in bacon in front of him. He had seen plenty of people eat before, and it was nothing new to him, but he had never done it before. Using his fingers, he picked up one piece of the bacon and brought it to his mouth, taking a cautious bite. Without realizing it, he let out a sigh of contentment. It was delicious! Perfectly cooked and everything. He had never imagined food being this good!
Dean curiously looked at him.
"What! It's just, this is delicious, Dean. Thank you," he said between bites.
He quickly finished the rest, appeasing his appetite, he thought of a problem.
"Dean," Dean met his gaze, "I only have one pair of clothes."
"I have some you can have, but it's nothing like tha-" Dean was cut off my someone yelling.
"CASSIE!" Gabriel came up Castiel, wrapping him in a bear hug.
He flinched.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I just came to see how you were doing."
Castiel lifted his shirt up, revealing the large bandage.
"I am fine, thank you. Just a little damaged."
Dean glanced between the two of them, remaining silent.
"Good. I am sorry I was not there for you, I should have stayed," Gabriel's voice broke at the end.
"It's ok, Gabe. I asked you to leave."
The angel shook his head, furrowing his brow, "Something is different about you Cassie. Where are your wings?" realization dawned on him, "Are you... a human?"
He gave a slight nod. Gabriel frowned, "Well if you need anything, I'm always here," he bent down so only Castiel could hear, "I know what Michael did to you. Don't think that he will get away with this."
"Just don't do anything stupid."
Gabriel nodded, preparing to depart.
"Wait." Castiel stopped him, "There is one thing you could do. I need more clothes. Like this," he motioned at the clothes he was currently wearing.
"You always did have a weird sense of fashion, but I suppose I could," he flicked his wrist.
A duffel bag, identical to the ones Sam and Dean owned, appeared on the floor, stuffed full of the clothes Castiel had asked for.
"Thank you, Gabriel."
"I can still hear your prayers. Let me know if there is anything else I can do for you."
Castiel nodded his understanding and Gabriel left.
"Well, that saves one trip," Dean added as Castiel sat back down.
Dean's POV
Sam came back inside moments after Gabriel left.
"The Impala is packed. You guys ready to go?" Sam asked.
Dean shoved the last piece of bacon in his mouth and checked the time. Damn, it's already almost 11. He grabbed his duffel off the counter. Castiel also grabbed his from the floor, following Dean and Sam out the door. He threw his bag into the backseat, Cas followed suit.
"I'll sit in the back," Cas offered, climbing into the backseat with the bags.
Dean shrugged and started the engine. Sam got in the passenger seat. Turning on the radio, the music blared. He only turned it down slightly. It was just in time, the song changed as he got on the road. The Led Zeppelin song, Ramble On, started playing. The Impala was silent except Dean's constant humming to the music. It was not an uncomfortable silence, but peaceful.
§•◇•§
Around 4:30 PM, he pulled the Impala into a shabby motel at the edge of town, Trails End Motel. He let Sam out to check them in and get a room. Cas was asleep in the backseat. Smiling at his...boyfriend? They hadn't really talked about it, but they really didn't need to, they just knew. Soon enough, Sam was back with their room key. He directed them to the end of the parking lot. Their room was on the end, nearest to the woods (just in case).
Sam grabbed all three bags, careful not to disturb Cas. God, he's so cute when he is asleep. Dean gathered Cas in his arms, but no matter how hard he tried, Cas stirred awake. The former angel demanded he be put down, "I am not disabled!" he protested.
Halfway there, he gave in, "Ok! Fine. There you go," he said setting Cas gently down.
Cas nodded, "Thank you."
Their hands naturally found each other's as they followed Sam to their room.
Sam gave them an excited smile, pushing the door open. Dean went in first.
"What the hell! There's only one freaking bed!" he shouted at Sam.
"No there's not," Sam walked further into the room, a sarcastic smile on his face as he dumped his bag on the bed.
Sam opened a door that was next to the mini fridge. He motioned for Dean and Cas to look. Inside there was another bed. They had their own room! At least Sam had given them privacy.
"Thanks Sammy," he smiled, winking at him, "Now you won't have to hear when we-"
"Nope. I don't want to know," Sam shut his eyes and walked away.
Dean chuckled, "Hey, Sammy! Would you mind going to get us something to eat?"
Sam gave his bitch face.
"Pleaaasse. You can take the Impala," he winked and gave a devious grin.
"Ughh, fine," Sam sighed, then muttered, "I saw a Culvers downtown, I will take 30 minutes. Just, don't take too long."
"Great," Dean's smile grew and he tossed the keys to Sam, "Don't you dare hurt Baby."
Sam rolled his eye, walking out of the room. Cas came out of the bathroom, his hair a mess from sleeping in the Impala. They both went into the bedroom, Dean set their bags in the corner, and Cas collapsed on the bed.
"Why am I so freaking tired?" Cas sighed.
"Well, umm. Maybe because you haven't slept for what? Like a billion years?"
"More than that. Yes, maybe that is it."
Dean ran a hand through Cas' hair, snuggling up next to him. Cas rested his head on Dean's chest. Leaning down, Dean placed a gentle kiss on Cas' forehead.
Sam's POV
He didn't even want to know what they were doing back at the hotel room. Shaking the imagine out of his mind, he rumbled down Broadway. It was obvious that these people didn't see many older cars, whenever he passed someone, they always stared. He didn't mind, it wasn't all the time that they worked a job in such a touristy city.
He knew just where to go, they had passed a Culvers on the way to the motel. It looked like a nice place and, they had burgers.
It turned out he was right. He had ordered a Cheddar Butterburger with fries and a coke. The signs were right, they had delicious burgers.
After he finished, he ordered two of the Culver's Bacon Deluxe for Dean and Cas. Honestly, he had no idea if Cas would like it, but he had a feeling he would. Filling two cups with coke, he headed towards the Impala with the bag full of food. He hoped to God that he wouldn't see his brother and Cas having sex when he got back.
When he entered the motel room, it was eerily silent. Their bedroom door was open so he dropped the food on the table and peeked inside.
They were both fast asleep. Of course. Cas had been sleeping a lot lately, and so had Dean. I guess when you don't sleep for a week, you have to make it up somehow. Well, whatever, he had research of his own to do.
AN: I just want to give a big thanks to anyone following or anyone who made this story one of their favorites. It really means a lot to me! Please review and let me know what I can improve on.
I had a lot of fun writing this chapter. Btw, everything I wrote about Wisconsin Dells is true. There really is a motel called Trails End Motel and there really is a Culvers downtown. I used to live there.
AGirlIntheGalaxy: A very special thanks to you. Your reviews basically made my day when I read them. Thank you for your continued support. It has not gone unnoticed.
Sincerely,
TeamFreeWill2.0