A/N: Finally, the second part. It is way too late at night again. This is becoming a pattern.

SUMMARY: Sam supposedly has faith. Things you learn about a guy. Dean absolutely refuses to believe in angels. Someone has to keep realistic standards about the world. But then an angel believed in him. And that notion is terrifying.

Disclaimer: I do not own Supernatural!

BELIEF IN NON-BELIEVER

Act Two

"Faith is not belief without proof,
but trust without reservation."

- D. Elton Trueblood

Sam nodded his head to a paining on the church's wall. "Father, that's Michael, right?"

Dean wanted to groan, but stopped himself as they had to keep their cover in the presence of the good father.

"That's right. The archangel Michael," father Reynolds seemed glad to explain, "with the flaming sword. The fighter of demons. Holy force against evil."

Yeah, that would come in useful if they were actually real. Instead, good hunters like Dean and Sam had to surrender their lives for that job description.

But no, Sammy was still all warm inside at the thought of the winged people. "So they're not really the Hallmark card version that everybody thinks? They're fierce, right? Vigilant?"

"Well, I like to think of them as more loving than wrathful." Dean won't be able to take this much longer. Was his brother really this naive? "But, uh, yes, a lot of Scripture paints angels as God's warriors. 'An angel of the Lord appeared to them, the glory of the Lord shone down upon them, and they were terrified.'"

Poetic.

"Luke 2:9." Father explained.

Oh, yeah, sure. The Bible.

After they said their goodbyes to the good father, secretly more thankful for the information than an actual tour, the dreaded subject came up again. Thanks to a stubborn brother not giving an inch. "Then again, Father Reynolds started praying for God's help about two months ago, right? Right about the time all this started happening?"

"Aw, come on, man, what's your deal?" The pattern for vengeful spirit was clear as day.

"What do you mean?"

"Look, I'll admit I'm a bit of a skeptic, but since when are you all Mr. 700 Club?"

Sam looked away, clearly not wanting to go there.

Tough luck. He wasn't the only stubborn one. It ran in the family. "No, seriously. From the git-go you've been willing to buy this angel crap, man. I mean, what's next, are you going to start praying every day?"

"I do."

For half a minute, Dean's brain didn't register it. "What?"

"I do pray every day," Sam said slowly and clearly. Making sure he was heard. "I have for a long time."

Startled, Dean chuckled to himself. "The things you learn about a guy." He looked Sammy up and down. Seeing him in new light and trying to not let it effect him.

But if anyone deserved saving … if there was a chance in hell that an angel would descend from Heaven for a Winchester … it was for Sammy.

"It's a pipe dream, Cas." Someone had to say it. Might as well be him.

Except it didn't have the desired outcome. Castiel didn't pause and think about it, seeing past his self-appointed agenda. He got straight into Dean's face, huffing, nostrils flaring in anger. A pissed off angel. And Dean remembered the church three years ago describing the fierceness that terrified the masses.

"I killed two angels this week," Cas declared, voice hushed, but hard and threatening at the same time. "My brothers."

Dean didn't even dare to blink. Didn't dare to look away from that cold inferno flaring in those eyes.

"I'm hunted! I rebelled! And I did it, all of it …"

Dean knew what Cas would say. He didn't want Cas to say it. But he knew better than to interrupt a raging angel. The force that shifted nature, caused thunder and lighting and the earth to shake where it walked, blinding and deafening with its true form.

"… for you."

He didn't want this weight on his shoulders. But Castiel - the angel of the Lord - singled him out. He wasn't speaking to the present in the room at this very moment. He was speaking to Dean. To the man that was raised from hell to play his part.

"And you failed. You and your brother destroyed the world." And those eyes full of freezing flames were still burring into him and him only. Castiel didn't even glance at Sam, because while Sam was the one who broke the final seal, Dean was the horse Castiel bet his whole existence on to stop it.

"And I lost everything. For nothing."

Dean should cower and ask forgiveness. Tell Castiel how he knew it was all his fault. He always messed everything up. They should know that already. And now, the frikin' Apocalypse had started because he wasn't strong and fast enough. His body refused to do as much as breathe or blink.

Cas lowered his voice to even lower tones. Barely audible words, strong enough to brand themselves into Dean's brain for all eternity. "So keep your opinions to yourself."