The darkness was tangible against Dean's skin, pressing against his body as he laid on his back. He had the strangest dream. He and Cas had been in the lab at Sucrocorp ganking Dick Roman. He remembered hearing Mack's voice calling for him. And then... nothing. "Wake up," a familiar voice spoke above him. His eyes snapped open, darting around to take in his surroundings before he had even finished sitting up. Cas was standing beside him and they were in some sort of forest. A really, really dark forest. "Good," Cas said when he sat up. "We need to get out of here." Dean stood. "Where are we?"

"You don't know?" Cas asked, turning to face him. Dean shook his head, glancing around at the dark trees surrounding them. "Last I remember, we ganked Dick," he stated, dread slowly filling him as it started hitting him that this wasn't a dream. "And where would he go in death?" Cas asked, answering his question with a question. Dean's heart dropped in his chest. No. No way. Mack was still at Sucrocorp with Sam and Kevin. He couldn't be in freaking Purgatory right now. "Wait..." he swallowed, not wanting to believe it. "Are you telling me...?" Don't say it, Cas. Please don't say it. "Every soul here is a monster," Cas replied grimly, again answering his question without really answering his question. "This is where they come to prey upon each other for all eternity."

No. No. No. No. No. "We're in Purgatory?" Dean hissed. "How do we get out?" They had to get out. Mack needed them. She was turning nine in four days. He couldn't miss another birthday. He couldn't be trapped with a bunch of monsters and Cas. "I'm afraid we're much more likely to be ripped to shreds." Growing increasingly frantic, Dean scanned their surroundings once more, freezing when he spotted two glowing red eyes in the darkness. "Cas, I think we better-" he cut himself off as he turned and didn't spot Cas anywhere. "Cas?" He did a full three-sixty, but the angel was gone. So not good.

Day 1

Dean started looking for Cas. He hid a lot- didn't have a lot of other options. The only weapons he had were his normal knives he always carried on his person plus the machete he'd been carrying before he ganked Dick.

Day 4

Dean had stolen a strange looking blade off the body of one of the monsters he'd killed. He was still searching for Cas. "Happy birthday, bug," he murmured as he took a breather behind a tree. "Hope you and Uncle Sammy are doing okay."

Day 10

He was dirty. He felt gross. But he couldn't stop moving. Something he had noticed early on in Purgatory, he never got hungry and he never got tired. He found a safe place that night to hunker down anyway, keeping a watchful eye out. "Cas, please," he begged. "I don't know if you're hearing me, but you gotta come back. I love you, so much, and we gotta get home to Mack. I can't leave here without you, it would crush her." Tears sprang to his eyes as he prayed. "I don't care about the things you did, Cas. I don't care that you lied and let the Leviathans out. All I care about is finding you so we can go home. Please."

Day 176

Dean chased after the vampire mercilessly. Over the past several months he'd made a reputation for himself as the human in Purgatory tracking down the lost the trail and stopped, eyes darting around as he listened. There was a rustling noise off to his left and he took off once more.

The vampire he was chasing stopped running inside a clearing and Dean stalked up behind him. With a yell, the vampire turned, grappling with Dean. Dean hit his arm, making him drop his weapon and shoved him up against a tree, holding a knife to his throat. The vamp's teeth descended, snarling at Dean. "Take a breath. Calm down," Dean told it. "Where's the angel?" The vamp stared at him with wide eyes. "You're him. The human."

"Where's the angel?" he asked more forcefully. "I don't know." Dean scowled, clenching his jaw. "Hmm," he hummed. He plunged his knife into the vampire's arm, pinning him to the tree. He reached down, picking up the vampire's own weapon and beheaded him with it. With a yell, a second vampire tackled him to the ground. Dean reached unsuccessfully for the weapon as the vampire held him down. Suddenly, another creature flung himself at the vamp and beheaded him. He turned, vamp teeth descended, to face Dean.

Dean got to his feet, still holding the first vamp's weapon. The living vampire retracted his teeth, smirking at him. "What, no thanks for saving your hide?" the vamp asked, voice thick with a cajun accent. "Sure," Dean nodded, indicating the blade in his hand. "I won't shove this up your ass." The vampire chuckled. "Mm. Awful strange way to punch your meal ticket, friend. I got something you need."

"Yeah, what's that?"

"A way out."

Dean's heart did a somersault in his chest. He needed a way home. He had been too focused on finding Cas to think about that part of the plan. He had just figured once he found him, they'd figure something out together. He didn't show his true feelings, instead laughing in the vampire's face. "Even a dental apocalypse like you knows there's no such thing," he spat. "There is if you're human," the vamp insisted. "God has made it so. At least, that's the rumor."

"Bull."

"Suit yourself. Maybe you've gone native," the vampire shrugged. "Maybe you like being man meat for every Tom, Dick, and Harry." The vamp turned to leave. "Prove it," Dean called after him. The creature turned. "Nah. You're either in or you're out," he said. "So you just want to guide me out of Purgatory out of the goodness of your undead heart?" Dean quirked an eyebrow. "More or less," the vamp nodded.

"What's in it for you?" Dean pressed. No way there wasn't a catch to this whole bit. Sure enough, the vamp answered, "I'm hopping a ride." Dean blinked. "What?" The vamp rolled his eyes, "It's a human portal, jackass. Only humans can pass through. I show you the door, you hump my soul to the other side." Dean scowled, "So you're looking for a soul train." The vampire nodded. "Sure. If that's what you're into."

"And how do I know this isn't a set up? How do I know I ain't gonna end up like your friend over there," Dean gestured to the dead vamp who'd been pinning him down. "He was my friend. Now you are. First rule of Purgatory, kid. You can't trust nobody."

"You just asked me to trust you."

"You see," the vamp grinned. "You're getting it now." Dean narrowed his eyes, considering for a moment. "Hmm. First we find the angel." The vampire wrinkled his nose. "Mm, three's a crowd, chief." Dean shrugged, echoing the vamp's words from before. "Well, hey. You're either in or you're out."

Day 253

Dean turned a slow circle, his Purgatory blade in his hand. Benny, the vamp who'd volunteered to get him out, was standing in front of a humanoid monster that was sprawled with his back to a tree. "I don't think he knows, man," Benny shook his head. Dean leaned over, putting a hand on the monster's shoulder. "Oh, he knows. Where's the angel?" The monster glared up at Dean, refusing to talk. Frustrated, Dean pressed his blade to the monster's throat. "You feel that?" he spat. "There's a stream," the monster gasped.

"Go on."

"It runs through a clearing not far from here. I'll show you." Dean pressed his blade a little harder against the creature's throat, careful not to cut off his airway so he could still speak. "How about you just tell me? Go on." The monster glanced over at Benny before looking at Dean again. "Three days' journey. Follow the stream. There's a clearing. You'll find your angel there." Dean looked behind him at Benny, who raised an eyebrow. "You know what, Mutt? I believe you."

He pushed his knife into the monster's skull from under its chin. The blade was visible in its open mouth as it choked and gurgled. He pulled the blade out and the monster's head fell forward. He turned, walking away. Benny took a moment to look at the dead creature before following in Dean's footsteps.

Day 256

They'd been following the stream for three days, just like the creature had said. Over the past several months of knowing Dean Winchester, Benny Lafitte had learned a lot about him. One, he was ruthless in his tactics of torturing the monsters of Purgatory for information about his precious angel. That fact made Benny really glad he had befriended the hunter. He couldn't imagine what would happen if he and Dean became enemies. Two, said angel had to really be something because Dean prayed to her every night, expressing how much he loved her and just wanted to get home with her. Three, Dean was a father.

The angel- Benny wasn't sure if she was an actual angel or if that was just what Dean called her- must have been Dean's wife because he kept telling her that their daughter, Mack, needed them to return home to her. It was clear from his prayers that the only person he cared about more than his angel was his daughter. When they arrived in a clearing by the stream, a man in a ratty old coat was crouched by the water washing his hands and face. "Cas!" Dean cried.

Benny was floored, gaping as the man in the trench coat turned at Dean's voice. "Dean," he smiled, standing up as Benny and Dean approached him. "Cas," Dean laughed, pulling the man- angel- in by the lapels, smashing their mouths together. Benny's brain was working in overtime, reanalyzing everything he'd thought he knew about Dean. Cas was a man. Not just a man- he now knew he was an actual angel. "Damn, it's good to see you," Dean grinned, pulling back. "Nice peach fuzz." He playfully rubbed his knuckle over Cas' beard. "Thank you," Cas averted his gaze, a blush coloring his cheeks.

"You should meet somebody," Dean told him. "This is Benny. Benny, this is Cas." The angel looked over at him and he raised a hand in greeting, "Hola." Cas nodded, turning back to face Dean. "How did you find me?" he asked. "The bloody way. You feeling okay?" Cas frowned, "You mean am I still..." He pointed to his head and made circles with his finger in a universal sign for crazy. "Yeah, if you want to be on the nose about it, sure," Dean smirked. "No. I'm perfectly sane. But, then, ninety-four percent of psychotics think they're perfectly sane, so I guess we'd have to ask ourselves, 'what is sane'?"

"That's a good question."

Benny couldn't believe what he was hearing. This was the love of Dean's life, the angel who he'd prayed to every night? This was the one they'd detoured months to find instead of searching for the way out at Dean's insistence? No. Anger flared as he glared at the angel with dark hair and blue eyes in front of Dean. "Why'd you bail on Dean?" he snapped. Dean looked over at him in surprise.

"Dude-"

"The way I hear it," Benny continued, glaring at him as well, "you two hit monster land, and hot wings here took off. I figure he owes you some backstory." Cas shifted nervously as Dean came to his angel's defense. "Look, we were surrounded, okay? Some freak jumped Cas. Obviously, he kicked its ass, right?" He looked to Cas for backup. "No," Cas shook his head. "What?" Dean blinked. "I ran away." Benny scoffed, shaking his head. "You ran away?" Dean echoed. "I had to."

"That's your excuse for leaving me with those gorilla-wolves?"

"Dean-"

"You bailed out, and, what, went camping? I prayed to you, Cas, every night." Cas swallowed, avoiding Dean's eyes. "I know," he murmured. Dean froze up. "You know and you didn't... What the hell's wrong with you?"

"I am an angel in a land of abominations," Cas defended himself. "There have been things hunting me from the moment we arrived." Dean's eyes flashed with anger. "Join the club!"

"These are not just monsters, Dean. They're Leviathan," Cas argued. "I have a price on my head, and I've been trying to stay one step ahead of them, to- to keep them away from you. That's why I ran. Just leave me, please."

"Sounds like a plan," Benny nodded. "Let's roll." Dean held up a hand to stop him. "Hold on, hold on," he turned back to the angel. "Cas, we're getting out of here. We're going home." Cas shook his head. "Dean, I can't." Dean wasn't hearing it. "Yes, you can. What am I supposed to tell Mack, huh? What do you expect me to say when she asks about you?" Cas took a deep breath. "You aren't listening to me, Dean. I can't go."

"You can," Dean insisted. "Benny, tell him." Benny scowled, not appreciating being put in the middle of the lover's spat. "Purgatory has an escape hatch, but I got no idea if it's angel-friendly," he said. "We'll figure it out," Dean dismissed the problem. "Cas, buddy, I need you. Mack needs you, too."

"Dean..."

"And if Leviathans want to take a shot at us, let 'em. We ganked those bitches once before. We can do it again."

"It's too dangerous," Cas protested. "Let me bottom-line it for you," Dean snarled, getting in his face. "I'm not leaving here without you. Understand?" Cas nodded. "I understand." Dean's expression softened a little and he closed the short distance between them for a chaste kiss. "Let's go," he murmured.

Day 300

Dean fell back, looking around and spotting his weapon just out of reach. He kicked out with a leg, knocking down the gorilla-wolf he was fighting, and scrambled to his feet, grabbing his blade. He hurled the creature to the ground, swinging his weapon at it to keep it at bay. When he reached back, he felt Benny's arm. The vamp was fighting another gorilla-wolf, his back to Dean's. Benny whistled as two more gorilla-wolves charged at them- one from his side and one from Dean's. They prepared to strike.

Dean stood after killing the creature on his side. Behind him, Benny was wiping his weapon on another monster's clothing. Off to the side, Cas was busy smiting the third gorilla-wolf with a palm to the monster's forehead. The gorilla-wolf fell to the ground, dead. "Well, I gotta admit, Dean-" Benny piped up, "he's got his strong points, but holy hell if he ain't a magnet."

"Well, before we found Cas, you said it was my humanity that was drawing too much attention," Dean pointed out. Tensions had been high between the three of them since they found Cas. The dynamic was weird, mostly between Benny and Cas. They each got along with Dean just fine, but when it came to each other... that was an entirely different story. Benny smirked, "Yeah, that too."

"Well, I think we're clear for the moment," Cas announced, glancing around at the trees. "It does present a curious curl of metaphysics, doesn't it? If you murder a monster in monster Heaven, where does it go?" Benny snorted, "And this is the crazy aunt I want to take on the road?" Cas turned to him, tilting his head and narrowing his eyes curiously. "I am not your aunt," he stated. "What? Really?" Benny asked sarcastically.

"I have no possible relationship to your sibling offspring."

"Now, you're kidding me."

"Oh, you two are killing me," Dean groaned, rolling his eyes. "I have to agree with the vampire, Dean," Cas told him. "The risk of crossing Purgatory with a seraph- it's... less than strategic, and certainly when we have no reason to believe that I can pass through the door that you're headed for." Benny decided to put in his two cents. "You see, you're an intact, living human being stuck in Purgatory's craw. This dimension wants to spit you out, which is exactly what's gonna power our escape pod. Now, I'm pretty sure I can squeeze through, too, because, after all, you take away the fangs and the fun, I was born human, too. But..."

"I don't think it would work for me," Cas finished. "You hear what he's telling you, Dean? Your buddy is saying-" Dean rounded on the vampire angrily. "Listen to me, you undead blood junkie, I'm the one with the mojo. I'm the one with the plan. Cas... we're gonna shove your ass back through the eye of that needle if it kills all three of us."

"Obviously, I'm less than comfortable with that," Benny muttered.

Day 328

Benny stood guard a little ways a way, keeping an eye out for other monsters. Dean and Cas were huddled next to each other at the base of a tree, Cas rubbing circles on the back of Dean's hand with his thumb like he used to do. "What do you think Mack's doing right now?" Dean asked quietly. "I'm not sure," Cas murmured. "I just hope she's safe with Sam." Dean bit his lip, tears pricking at the corners of his eyes. "We should have been there for her this past year, Cas. She's almost ten..."

"I know, Dean," Cas pressed his lips to Dean's temple. "I'm sorry." Dean squeezed his eyes shut, burying his face in Cas' neck and tightening his grip on his hand. "Shh, it's okay. It's all going to be okay." Cas rested his chin on top of Dean's head, eyes finding Benny's in the dark. The vampire was watching them with an unreadable expression. As soon as Cas made eye contact, however, he tore his gaze away and went back to keeping watch.

Day 360

"What the hell do you know about the value of life? You're a vampire." Dean and Cas were walking hand in hand behind Benny through the forest. "Yep. And I think we both know which of our kinds kills more humans," Benny shot back. "Well, statistically speaking, that'd be your-" Cas started. "Yes, thank you, Cas," Dean snapped.

"I get it," Benny glanced back at Dean. "You're worried what I might do if we make it topside. I'll start eating your little piggies. I already told you, man- by the time I got iced, I was strictly on blood transfusions, donated blood. Not donated to me, I'll give you that, but I paid good black-market scratch for it."

"So, what is that? Like, the vampire Zone diet?" Dean quipped. "Look, all I'm saying is I started seeing something in humanity, okay? Something that shouldn't be taken. I drink blood. I don't drink people," Benny defended himself. "And why the hell should I believe you?"

"What does it matter what you believe? You got your head so far up your ass, Dean, you don't even realize we're already done for. The angel knows it. We are never gonna make it with him next to us glowing like a beacon." Dean glared up at the vampire. "Do I need to remind you of our deal?" he asked. "Of what you committed to?" They'd stopped moving and Cas had let go of Dean's hand, but Dean didn't seem to have noticed. "He is gonna get us killed," Benny argued.

"We may get to test that theory," Cas said, looking off into the distance. "More monsters?" Dean asked worriedly. "Leviathan," Cas confirmed. "Why don't you blip out of here?" Cas shook his head, "They're too close. I can't. Run."

"Cas-"

"You heard him, Dean. Come on!" Benny grabbed Dean's arm, pulling him further into the trees, separating them from Cas. "No! I'm not losing him again!" Dean tried to break out of Benny's grip to get back to Cas. "We can circle back for him, right now we gotta move," Benny said. Dean looked back in the direction of Cas desperately, then nodded, pressing forward with Benny.

Day 365

Benny, Dean and Cas were back together, walking through the forest. "We're getting close," Benny told them. "Really? I don't see crap," Dean grumbled, looking at the endless sea of trees around them. "I mean, what the hell is this escape hatch supposed to look like?" Cas piped up, a step behind Dean. "He doesn't know." Dean blinked, glancing back at Cas before looking back at Benny. "Hey, you just drug me into the fire. Please tell me you know."

He was especially grumpy today, because according to his count, he and Cas had been in Purgatory exactly a year. Mack would be ten in four days. He wanted to be out and back with her before then. "It's here. They promised," Benny assured him, scanning the horizon as he forged ahead. "Oh, they?" Dean scoffed. "Well, that's comforting."

"Well, even if it does exist..."

"Broken record, Cas," Benny cut in.

"Dean, it's a human portal," Cas pressed on. "There's still no proof an angel can pass-"

"Stow it, Cas," Dean snapped without stopping or looking back. "You're coming. That's final." Cas swallowed. "I'm just saying..." he put a hand on Dean's shoulder, stopping their progress. "... If it doesn't work... thank you for everything." Dean stared into his eyes with a mixture of frustration and fear. "Save the Hallmark. Okay? It's gonna work. Nobody gets left behind."

Benny had paused a little ways ahead and Dean walked in that direction, prompting the vampire to continue forward. After a beat, Cas brought up the rear.

Day 369

"Maybe you were lied to," Cas suggested. "Maybe there is no seam." Benny glared at him. "I lie. I don't get lied to. Aren't you guys all about faith?" Cas shook his head, "Not particularly." The angel glanced back at Dean, who was bringing up the rear for the first time ever. He'd been particularly quiet today, and Cas knew why- it was Mack's birthday. Dean had wanted to be back by now. Just then, a nearby leaf suddenly lifted in the air as if caught by an air current. They looked in the direction the leaf was blowing to see a patch of blue light shimmering and changing shape at the top of a cliff far above them.

"Oh, ye of frigging little faith," Benny smirked. "What the hell?" Dean asked. "There it is," Cas said, turning back to Dean. "It's reacting to you." Benny nodded at Dean. "Alright. Ready?" For the first time all day, Dean looked somewhat hopeful. "Just like we talked about," he nodded back. Benny and Cas watched as he cut his own forearm with a large knife. "Putting a lot of trust in you, brother," Benny told him.

"You earned it," Dean returned. He cut Benny's left forearm as well and they gripped each other's arms so their blood mingled. "I'll see you on the other side," Benny said. "Conjuncti sumus, unum sumus." Benny looked upwards following Dean's words, his body stiffening. His left hand on Dean's arm glowed with red and white light. The light spread until it consumed his entire body, flowing into Dean's arm. Cas swallowed as Dean grimaced. "Let's go," Dean told him.

"Wait, Dean," Cas said. "First-" Instead of finishing, he grabbed Dean's jacket, pulling him in for a hard kiss. Dean moaned, responding readily, gasping when Cas pulled away. "I love you," Cas murmured when he pulled back, forehead resting against Dean's. "I love you, too," Dean whispered. "Let's get outta here." Together, they moved out of the treeline and up the cliff toward the portal. "Dean, wait," Cas grabbed his arm.

In front of them, a giant cloud of black smoke dropped something on the ground. As the smoke cleared, they watched two balls of black goo become Leviathans. Behind the monsters, the portal was still shimmering and moving with blue light. Dean swung at the first Leviathan, who ducked and hurled him into the ground. He rolled downhill a little ways. Cas attempted to put his hand on the Leviathan's head, but the second Leviathan kicked the back of his legs and punched him as he fell to his knees.

The Leviathans continued to beat on the angel, who fell heavily to the ground. The second Leviathan dragged him to his feet. Cas hit her, sending her reeling backwards. The first one grabbed onto Cas, his mouth transforming. Dean appeared behind him then, decapitating him. Cas pushed the female forward so she was bent over and Dean decapitated her as well. Dean reached out, pulling Cas back to his feet. "We got to move! The portal's closing!"

As they climbed upwards towards the portal, Cas stumbled. Dean paused, grabbing onto him and dragging him back up. "Cas! Damn it! Come on!" Dean reached the portal first, stepping into it. He reached out to take Cas' hand. "Come on!" he yelled. Cas reached out, grabbing Dean's hand. "I got you! Hold on!"

"Dean!" Cas cried. "Hold on!" Dean told him as he felt Cas' fingers slipping away. Cas lost his grip on Dean's hand, sliding further down the cliff. "Dean!" The portal closed, taking Dean with it.