Cas was left in charge of carrying the bags of things that he and Sam purchased, he was stronger so it made sense. However he was severely tempted to just start eating from their items, he was pretty hungry and it was right there. "Don't," Sam said as Cas reached into one.

"How did you know?"

"Dean is my brother and my boyfriend is Jet, I'm well versed in food thieves," Sam smirked and Cas believed him.

"Can I have one? I'm hungry,"

Sam looked at him and Cas did his best to look cute. "Alright," it took about a second to accomplish.

"Thank you!" He beamed and suddenly realized he had to decide which thing he wanted most. Cas looked at the different items with utmost seriousness while Sam checked his phone. "Hmm," he reached in and stopped, thinking, then removing his hand to stare at the contents again.

"Oh shit," Sam interrupted his decision making, "C'mon Cas, we gotta get back to the mansion."

"What?" Cas looked up and saw the worry on Sam's face, "What happened?"

"Jet messaged me a while ago," Sam was hurrying out of the crowd looking for Dean and Charlie, "Why didn't I check sooner? Goddamn it."

"What did he say?" Cas trotted up to keep pace with Sam, he could feel his chest getting heavier. Sam looked so worried. "What happened?"

"He said there are clones all over the basement, why is he even in the basement!?"

Cas' mouth went dry, Sam was frazzled and once they found the others they'd head back home. When they got back home Dean would be in danger. He opened his mouth but stopped, there was no way they'd listen to him when he told them to stay away from the house. "What do you plan on doing?" He asked, hoping to sound more curious than anything else.

"Jet's in trouble, I'm going to go home and help him with whatever stupid plan he's got going." Sam sounded so concerned it hurt a little, and Cas understood why. If Dean was back in the house and gave Cas that kind of news he wasn't sure what he'd do with himself.

But it wasn't just comparing Sam's feelings for Jet to his own feelings for Dean, it was about a friend too. Cas appreciated Jet and liked him, it scared him to know that Jet was facing clones on his own. He needed help and considering Sam said the message was sent a while ago, Jet probably needed help fast. So he needed a plan, he needed to get to Jet fast but he also needed to keep Dean from getting there and getting hurt.

"Dean!" Sam shouted and waved, Cas looked up with a sick stomach to see Dean was pretty close by. "Charlie, did you guys get any messages?"

"Depends on who from, I talked to Garth."

"No, from Jet."

"No… why?" Charlie glanced at Dean who shrugged and they both stared at Sam.

"Jet texted me a while ago," Sam explained and lifted his phone up, "He said that the basement is crawling with clones and he needs us back as soon as possible."

"What!?" Dean jumped to his feet, anger and worry etched into his face. "Shit, you serious? We gotta get moving."

"My thoughts exactly," Sam hurried to the street with the rest of them right on his heels. Cas followed them the few blocks all the way to the Impala, his heart in his throat. What could he do? How could he stop them?

Then he saw Dean pull out the keys to the car and he knew he had to move. Cas threw himself at Dean and tackled him to the ground as he shouted "DEE!"

Dean was shocked to the say least, but he stared up at Cas with more surprise than enraged confusion. Castiel was perched on top of his boyfriend, legs on either side of Dean's waist and he was leaned in extremely close. Their noses touched and he smiled sadly, his hand reaching up to hold Dean's hand, "I love you," he whispered and kissed Dean sweetly.

"Cas," Dean was still confused, a little distracted and he didn't notice until it was too late that Castiel had the car keys in his hand. "Hey-"

Cas leapt off of Dean and hopped backward, throwing the coat to the ground and spreading his wings, "I'm sorry, I'll give them back later." He said as they all shouted his name in near unison. "I can't let you get hurt, I'm sorry." He then hurled himself into the air with a powerful push from his wings.

"CAS!" Dean's voice faded fast as did the city below him, buildings flew by and he could see it all for the moment that he dared to look.

Flying back to the mansion was simple, that was the easiest part in all of the current events. He could see the building already, he praised his good vision and hurdled through the air straight for it. Dean would forgive him, he knew that but it still hurt to do what he did. Dean trusted him unconditionally just before he took off, and now maybe that was over. But if Dean lived through the next fight that Cas would have to undergo then it was worth it, he'd be able to forgive himself too.

Cas landed just outside the front door and pushed it open, Bobby, Michael, and Garth were all in the hall in front of the basement door but they just stood there waiting. "What's happened?" Cas demanded as he marched in, wings folded neatly behind his back. He noticed immediately that there was the smell of blood, it was faint but someone was hurt.

To his surprise they all looked unaware, no one was concerned in the slightest. "It's not a big deal," Bobby waved at him with a smile, "Desirae freaked out and Jet got a little hurt but it's fine, the boy's been through worse."

Cas furrowed his brow, "Where is he?"

"Downstairs, they both are." Michael nodded to the door, "We're waiting for him to come back out, Bobby's got the first aid-"

"And the clones?" Cas interrupted, he felt a little bad about it but he was in a hurry. "Did he tell you about the clones?"

All three looked confused and pretty much gave Cas his answer.

"Jet messaged Sam saying there were clones in the basement! How long have they been down there?" He asked but he didn't want to wait for an answer; any amount of time was too long. Cas pushed past them and darted down the stairs, his heart in his throat as he entered the main lab. It was a long, tall room and perfect for him to glide across to the door on the far side. It had been left open, which made his stomach churn. Whatever happened between Jet and Desirae happened fast.

Cas folded his wings and stepped into the dark hall, his eyes lit up the area as his first real realization that he was scared to be there. But he couldn't afford to be a coward; it wasn't just one friend but two that needed him now.

The first thing he noticed as he hurried down the path was the scent of blood again; it was faded and distant but different than it had been upstairs. Cas stopped moving forward and listened carefully, he didn't want to be jumped by something just because he was too busy worrying about where the others might be. He was no good to them dead.

There was nothing at first so he kept moving, he knew that the basement was a labyrinth and it was entirely possible that Jet and Desirae got lost down there. Jet was hurt; the faded smell was a sign that he'd passed through the area while bleeding. Bobby said that Desirae freaked out and hurt him, so that explained the smell in the halls upstairs. Maybe that was the only reason it smelled that way. Cas allowed himself to believe that as he rushed, following his nose more than anything else. It was unfortunate that Jet was hurt but it made a great trail for a tracker.

The path split several times and it was always easy to tell which way he should be going but after descending into the immediate lowered section, the area where his old cage was sitting, he had to stop and sniff a little harder. The smell of blood was stronger there; it drifted down the hall in one direction but had looped back around from another.

A clattering sound rang out from where his cage was and Cas felt a chill rush up his spine as he listened, a faint growl followed and ruffled his feathers. The snarling coming from some creature down the corridor echoed and drowned out any other noises he could've made out as being his friends or not.

A clone. He knew it had to be a clone and though he wasn't sure what seeing one would do to him he had to investigate all the same. A lump grew in his throat and he felt his heart pounding as he snuck further in, he recognized the area now and it just reminded him more of his captivity.

Just ahead he heard a very familiar sound of his old door closing and the vicious grunting escalated into jaw snapping and growing roars. Cas peered into the area from his perch, his old habitat was closed off and the lights were out. There were two figures inside, judging by the shape they had to be Jet and Desirae. But Cas couldn't really breathe a sigh of relief that they were safe, there were three shapes prowling just outside the cage, clawing at the glass and not making it anywhere. One was looking at the control panel that they had no doubt used to close the doors.

Another one ran up and slammed into the glass, which made four. Only one remained preoccupied with trying to get the two inside the cage, the others started to fight one another indiscriminately. They weren't friends; those things weren't cooperating on purpose and had no intention to share. He watched them tear into each other, they were starving and willing to eat just about anything. Cas wished at that moment he could control the panicked glow in his eyes; it was slowly brightening and he was certain those other things would notice.

His nose burned, he recognized the scent of the experiments in front of him. All those tests smelled the same way when they bled. He wondered if he did too? Or if he would've turned into the same kind of monster if Dean hadn't shown up when he did.

Cas arched his wings; he knew he couldn't wait to be discovered; he had to make a move first. With a calming breath he leapt forward and flew into the scene with a shout that sharpened all on its own.

He saw their faces. They had the same face as him.

His mind slipped drastically and he heard a sharper, louder cry tear from his own vocal chords.

Cas reeled inwardly, he knew what this was but he couldn't get a grip on himself.

His jaw felt heavy and his muscles tensed.

The others screeched right back at him; it echoed in his ears and became one of the only things he could hear at all.

His mind was ringing like a piercing bell and disorienting his more rational thoughts.

Blood poured down his forearms and splattered across his face.

What was happening? What had he just done? He tried to hold onto himself, his mind felt like it was overheating.

Another deafening shriek shook the area; it hurt his throat when it came out.

Inside Castiel couldn't see a thing. He couldn't make out what happened or understand the passage of time. All he could do was wait until his body would stop.

He caught glimpses through searing white vision; the walls were washed in blue light. The cage wasn't clear anymore, blood stained the glass and chunks of a body or two were smattered into the mess.

Castiel crouched with his wings flared open, through predatory eyes he stared at one last clone that hissed at him and lunged.

And then he was just standing in the middle of the walkway, wings folded neatly behind him as he faced the control console. He felt his stomach lurch and his head spun wickedly, bringing him to his knees to wretch. He stared down at the grating of the metal path; gore dripped through the holes and made sickening sounds as it hit the dirt below. His ears burned as he tried to ignore it.

Then he heard a stifled whimper and looked up at the cage again. Desirae was watching him, her eyes were glowing and he could see the inside of the enclosure because of it. Jet wasn't moving other than a few shaky breaths his body forced on him. He'd passed out by the look of it; Desirae had dragged him into the cage on her own. No doubt a last ditch effort to keep them both alive.

But why did she look so terrified? Cas was there, he saved them, it was okay now.

He looked down at himself and realized that he was entirely covered in red. His mouth tasted like blood and he didn't really need to question what had just happened. She probably thought he was a monster too.

Cas reached up and hit the open door button, he knew which one it was after he'd accidentally locked himself out that first time. He heard a worried gasp and looked up at Desirae again, she was on shaky legs but standing between him and Jet's unconscious body.

"It's okay," he breathed out and pulled himself to his feet.

"Cas?" She sounded like she could barely believe it; her expression was still far more horrified than relieved. "Is that you?"

"Yeah," Cas smiled at her tiredly, "It's me."

Desirae's eyes watered and a strained sob escaped her; he couldn't imagine what they had just gone through. Cas walked over to her and gave her a hug, "C'mon, let's get you guys out of here." He looked down at Jet and realized that it wasn't just the lighting that made Jet look so pale; he was missing his left arm just above the elbow. "Oh my god," Cas didn't know what to say, he wasn't even sure if it was real.

"He saved me," Desirae hiccupped and cried even harder, "It's all my fault!"

"No," Cas said sternly, trying to keep himself together. What was Dean going to say when he got home? What could Cas possibly tell him? "It's not your fault. We need to get out of here fast, I don't think there were only four of those things."

With Desirae's help Cas got Jet onto his back between his wings, one and a half arms over his shoulders and he supported Jet's legs. The guy wasn't as heavy as Cas had expected, but he didn't have time to sit and reflect on that. Desirae hurried along at his side as he rushed back to the door. He knew he hadn't smelled any other clones when he first entered, they hadn't gotten that far yet but he wasn't sure how long it would be until they did.