Chapter 11
I do not own Supernatural in any way.
A/N-Welcome to the second to last chapter of Angel with a Shotgun. Not looking forward to writing the last chapter. You know...Balthazar...Cass. Also, I've noticed I always mentioned the Castiel doll, but never explained the significance of it.
Don't you know you're everything I have?
(I'm an angel with a shotgun)
..and I, want to live, not just survive, tonight.
(Live, not just survive)
Angel with a Shotgun by The Cab
"I don't know if I can stand by him anymore", Celeste told Gabriel, "I love him, but I can't deal with…ugh. I just love him so much".
"I don't know what to tell you sweetheart", he told her.
"What do I do?" she asked him, "Cass is spiraling out of control".
"You have to trust him", Gabriel said.
"You doubt me", Castiel said appearing.
Celeste stood up. "I'm just questioning your motives", she told him.
"I'm trying to defeat Raphael", Castiel said, "You know that".
"I do", she said placing her hands on his chest, "I know you're just trying to keep us safe and I love you for it. It's just the weight of this is only on your shoulders".
"It doesn't have to be", Gabriel said standing up.
"No Gabriel. You've…we've been thru enough. You shouldn't have to go through any more. You fought Lucifer and nearly died. You don't stand a chance against Raphael", Celeste said trying to reason with him, "Cass can handle it. Please stay out of this daddy. I can't lose you".
Castiel and Celeste were suddenly standing in Crowley's lab.
"Sweetie. You look tense", Crowley said.
Celeste dropped her hands from Castiel's chest sighing.
"You took Ben and Lisa", Castiel said.
Celeste had heard of Ben and Lisa.
"Oh. That", Crowley said.
"I told you…" Castiel said.
"Not to touch Sam and Dean. And I've respected that. I'm merely exploiting the obvious loophole. As long as I have the woman and boy, your fop-coiffed little heroes will be scouring the earth for them, therefore not you, and not me. Everybody wins", Crowley said.
"You should've talked to me first", Castiel said.
"I'd rather ask forgiveness than permission", Crowley said chuckling.
"Where are they, Crowley?" Castiel asked.
Crowley motioned zipping his lips and put the key in his pocket.
"You are not to harm them, do you understand me?" Castiel asked.
"You know what? You're all maxed out on putting humans out of bounds. I'll do with them as I please. Want to stop me? Go find freaking Purgatory!" Crowley yelled.
There was a high pitched sound and Castiel touched his temple.
"Call on the bat-phone? Never call during business hours, do they?" Crowley asked.
"I'll be back", Castiel told him.
Castiel and Celeste stood in a forest.
"Cass, Cass, Cass. So good of you to come", Balthazar said.
"Balthazar. Why'd you summon me here?" Castiel asked.
"Can I ask you a direct question?" Balthazar asked.
"Of course", Castiel said.
"Are you in figrante with the King of Hades?" Balthazar asked him.
"Of course not", Castiel lied.
Balthazar chuckled and said, "Always were such a terrible liar. So it's true. Alright then, why?"
"It's a means to an end. Balthazar, you understand that", Castiel told him.
"Oh, absolutely. But what's the end here exactly? You know, raid Purgatory, snatch up all the souls?" Balthazar asked.
"Win the war", Castiel said.
"And I can only assume that you'd be the vessel, correct? Suck up all those souls into yourself? All that power?" Balthazar asked.
"It's the only way", Castiel said.
"Or too much juice for you, in which case you explode, taking a substantial chunk of the planet along with you", Balthazar said.
Celeste locked eyes with Castiel.
Castiel could see the fear in her eyes. "That won't happen", Castiel said.
"Sure, sure. Of course. Just - just tell me that it's entirely risk-free", Balthazar said.
"I'm sorry that I didn't tell you, but I need to know. Are you with me or not?" Castiel asked.
"Ah. You know, you may be certifiable, but fine. In for a penny, in for a pound", Balthazar said chuckling.
"How'd you hear about this anyway?" Castiel asked.
"Oh, your howler monkeys of course. See they're just a touch worked up about that kidnapping business, you know?" Balthazar told him.
"Cass, can you give me a moment with Balthazar?" Celeste asked.
Castiel disappeared and Celeste started rambling.
"You need to be more careful. I know you're working with the boys behind his back, but Castiel has gone off the deep end. He won't hesitate to kill you", Celeste said, "If he…I don't know if I can handle loosing you too".
"You promised me", Balthazar said.
"People lie", she said, "I don't know if I would be able to let you go…not after everything between you and my mother. You could have been…"
"And you would've been an amazing daughter to care for", Balthazar told her.
Castiel suddenly appeared and grabbed Celeste. "Dean is in trouble", he said.
They appeared in a garage.
Castiel's hand came down on the demon's head.
"I didn't ask for your help", Dean said breathing heavily.
"Well, regardless, you're welcome", Castiel said.
"Why are you here?" Dean asked walking past the couple.
"I had no idea Crowley would take Lisa and Ben", Castiel told Dean.
"Yeah right", Dean said picking up the broken strap.
"You don't believe me", Castiel said turning to face Dean.
"I don't believe a word that's coming out of your mouth", Dean said.
"I thought you said that we were like family. Well I think that too. Shouldn't trust run both ways?" Castiel asked.
"Cass, I just can't..." Dean said.
"Dean, I do everything that you ask. I always come when you call, and I am your friend. Still, despite your lack of faith in me, and now your threats, I just saved you, yet again. Has anyone but your closest kin ever done more for you? All I ask is this one thing", Castiel begged.
"Trust your plan to pop Purgatory?" Dean asked.
"I've earned that, Dean", Castiel said.
Dean scoffed.
"I came to tell you that I will find Lisa and Ben, and I will bring them back. Stand behind me, the one time I ask", Castiel said.
"You're asking me to stand down?" Dean asked.
"Dean", Castiel said.
"That's the same damn ransom note that Crowley handed me. You know that, right? Well no thanks. I'll find 'em myself. In fact, why don't you go back to Crowley and tell him that I said you can both kiss my ass", Dean said.
Castiel disappeared and Celeste ran into Dean's arms.
"I'm so scared Dean. I know Cass would never hurt me, but sometimes…" she said bursting into tears. She pulled back and said, "I know what I have to do". She teleported herself home and called for Castiel.
"Celeste? What is wrong?" he asked taking a step towards her.
"Don't", she said.
Castiel stopped.
She reached up and took off the chain that held her promise ring.
"Celeste…" Castiel begged.
"Please. Don't make this harder than it already is", she said. She placed it in Castiel's hand and said, "I'll always love you, but I can't do this right now". She closed Castiel's hand and kissed him one last time.
When he was gone, she trashed her room.
The one thing she refused to touch, the Castiel doll.
She couldn't bring herself to get rid of it, along with the Irish flowers that Castiel had given to her for her birthday.
Castiel appeared in the hospital room, Celeste's promise ring tucked into his suit jacket, close to his heart.
"What do you want?" Dean asked.
"Dean, listen", Castiel said.
"What do you want me to say? She'll be dead by midnight", Dean said.
"I'm sorry", Castiel said.
"I don't care. It's too little, too late", Dean said.
"Okay. Well, regardless, I didn't come for you", Castiel said.
"Meaning?" Dean asked.
Castiel placed a hand on her forehead, healing her. "She's fine now. She'll wake soon. Dean, I said I'm sorry and I meant it", Castiel said.
"Thank you. I wish this changed anything", Dean said.
"I know. So do I. All else aside, I just wanted to fix what I could", Castiel said. He started to walk away.
Dean stopped him. "There's one more thing you could do for me", Dean said.
After wiping Ben and Lisa's memories, Castiel turned to Dean and said, "Celeste left me".
"What?" Dean asked, "I thought you guys were like…soul mates".
"Not anymore. What I was doing…pushed her away", Castiel said.
"Hey Cass? I'm sorry", Dean said.
"Thank you Dean", Castiel said.
This is the original ending, but I didn't really like it, but here you go anyway.
Castiel appeared in Celeste's bedroom. She could tell he'd been crying. When she moved to the edge of the bed, Castiel collapsed to his knees in front of her. He hid his face her lap as he cried. "I'm so sorry", he cried. Celeste, shocked at the fact that Castiel was at her knees begging for forgiveness, gently ran her fingers through his hair. "I'm just worried. I don't want to lose you", Celeste said. Castiel stood and placed the necklace around her neck. He leaned down to kiss her. She placed a hand on his chest. "Cass…" she said. She took one look at the sadness on Castiel's face and said, "What the hell?" She grabbed his tie and pulled him down for a kiss.