"We've stopped at the only motel in town." Cas settled into the impala, phone to his ear. "We'll work the case from here."

"How is he?" Sam asked.

"Good." Cas said, sounding sure. He rolled his eyes. "Sarcastic and impatient, but it isn't like he wasn't before he was a demon."

"No hankering for mass murder?"

"Not that I've observed." Cas looked back towards the motel room. "The mark seems to have been the primary cause of his blood lust." The shadow in the curtained window betrayed Dean's vague silhouette getting dressed after his shower. "He didn't even protest when I salted the door last night."

"Well that's something at least."

"Yeah…"

Sam picked up on the hesitation. "What?"

"Something that happened yesterday…"

"What?"

"Nothing bad." Cas assured him. "We were watching a movie and he just sort of… stopped."

"Stopped?"

"He was just staring right past the screen. It took almost a full minute of me calling his name to snap out of it."

"What'd he say?"

"That he was 'spacing out'" Cas quoted.

"You think something's up?"

"It was odd, but it didn't seem to be a problem and it has yet to happen again."

Sam was quiet for a moment. "Well, keep an eye on him I guess."

"I will."

"You got the email I sent you? With the address?"

"Yes. We will check it out in the morning."

"Good." Sam said, sighing.

"How are things in the bunker?"

"Quiet." Sam admitted. "Charlie left with a promise she'd keep her ear to the ground. Kevin is working at the hotel. He's saying he might find an apartment somewhere near here."

"Any luck figuring it out?"

"None… Actually Rudy just called and asked if I was up to covering his back again." He paused. "I'm sort of spinning my wheels here. I think I'm going to help him out."

"Where is it?"

"New Jersey. He thinks it's a rugaru. I'll probably fly out there again." Sam shrugged. "You guys have any plans tonight?"

"Dean is currently showering. He suggested we might check out a bar."

"Do you think that's a good idea?"

"I will be with him the entire time. I do not believe much could go wrong."

"Famous last words. You give a call if it all goes off the rails." Sam sighed. "He's contained now, right?"

"Yes." Cas lied, looking up and watching the door to the motel open and swing shut again. He hadn't really been worried that Dean would try to make a run for it on foot. "I will call you tomorrow evening."

"Good luck with the case."

Cas hung up the phone, giving a nod to Dean.

The demon walked up to the car, opening the passenger side door and sliding in. "You know it's rude to hang up without saying goodbye."

"So you have said."

"And yet." Dean rolled his eyes. "Whatever. You ready to go?"

"Yes." After the diner the other day, Cas was feeling a little more at ease about going out, if only just. Dean assured him that a Thursday night wasn't a busy time for the bars, but it certainly wasn't going to be empty.

Though, it was two towns over before you even found a bar, so Cas had to admit it was pretty rural. He figured Dean's assessment could not be too off.

Dean leaned back in his seat. "Well? Let's get moving."

.

Personal space.

It was one of the first social rules Dean tried to impress upon him. Of course Dean always seemed to be fuzzy on where exactly the line was. Cas tried to navigate the shifting closeness Dean wanted, wondering if this sort of thing was clearer to anyone else.

Cas learned to basically stand still and allow Dean to set the distance.

After the car accident, the lines blurred even further. The range simply broadened; In private, personal space was an abstract concept. Dean was casual with contact, open. In public they were still on that sliding scale.

Most of the time Dean kept a fair bit of space between them. He didn't often choose physical contact in the public eye. Since becoming a demon again, Dean had relaxed that policy somewhat.

But never like this.

Dean wasn't necessarily on top of him, but his seat was so close their knees were almost touching, and Cas was surprised when Dean stole a kiss before he got up to bring back drinks.

It was… unexpected.

Dean slid back into his seat, pushing a beer in front of Cas. "So, what exactly does Sam have for us?"

"Sam emailed us both."

"Yeah, and I ignored it. I don't need to read an email, I have you for that."

Cas rolled his eyes. "Riley Stanton heard a struggle upstairs in her father's office. She found him on the ground and saw her previously deceased uncle standing over him. According to what she told the police he turned on her before he just vanished. Alarms were set on the house, but no windows or doors were opened at any point before police arrived, and a thorough sweep of the house turned up nothing."

"Police ruled out Riley?"

Cas nodded. "She sustained injuries she could not have inflicted herself."

"So what are we thinking? Just a classic ghost?"

"One would hope." Cas said. "Is it ever so simple?'

"Sometimes." Dean said. "But yeah, almost never."

"I won't hold my breath for it, but I imagine we'll find out." Cas said, absently picking up the bottle and taking a sip.

Dean pulled out his phone. "Let me see if dear uncle was buried somewhere nearby. David Stanton?"

"That's her father. Chris Stanton is his brother."

"Uncle Chris, got it."

Cas didn't respond, attempting to blend in by taking another drink of his beer. He listened in around them for a second. Dean had been right, the bar wasn't too crowded. A couple bikers in the corner, congratulations to someone named Roy after a game of pool, a girl at the bar talking the bartender's ear off. Certainly not the packed bar Cas had been wary of.

"Great. Cremated." Dean sighed.

Cas returned his attention. "Now what?"

"We talk to Riley about what she saw, and then we pick through the crime scene and see if we can figure out what Uncle Chris was attached to." He turned to Cas. "Can't visit the Stantons until morning."

"I suppose." Cas said slowly, focusing on Dean as he got even closer.

"We'll have to find some way to pass the time."

"I-"

Dean caught him in another kiss, pulling back with a grin across his face. Dean threw back the last swig of his beer, standing and clapping Cas twice on the shoulder. "Let's move." He threw a couple bills down on the bar before heading towards the door.

Outside the bar, Dean hurried his steps, forcing Cas to half jog to keep up. "Dean, what are you doing?"

Dean rounded the corner, taking a brief look around the alley and slowing down. "Yeah, this'll do."

Cas tilted his head, coming to a stop next to him. "For what?"

"Hey!" The voice came from behind him.

Dean split into a wide grin. "Showtime."

Cas looked at him in confusion before turning around.

Four men were standing at the entrance to the back alley, and when he heard the shuffle he noted that at least two had come up behind them. He caught further movement from the only other exit.

The closest was a man in a baseball cap that Cas recognized from the bar.

"Hey, Roy, wasn't it?" Dean asked casually, a grin starting to pull at the corners of his mouth. "You boys are awfully loud, you know."

Cas scanned over each of them, trying to sense what Dean had, but they were all human.

The hunter spread his hands. "There a problem?"

Cas spared a glance at him, taking in his posture. Dean hadn't been surprised in the least…

Roy spat on the ground, settling back onto the heels of his boot. "Yeah, we got a problem. I'm looking at it."

"That any way to talk to a couple of men just passing through town?"

"Ain't no men here. Just a couple of faggots who like to run their mouths."

"Really. Homophobia in this day and age." Dean shook his head, feigning disappointment.

Cas started piecing together the puzzle. The unusual behavior at the bar suddenly made sense. At some point Dean had caught onto them; He wanted to provoke a fight.

Dean counted. "And you think it's gonna take eight guys to bring down little old us? Man, lynch mobs just aren't what they used to be."

"Oh my boys just didn't want to miss any action."

"Oh it's action you want?"

"Dean." Cas hissed, exasperated.

"I've got this, honey." Dean purred, stepping forward, almost forehead to forehead with Roy.

Roy reached out, grabbing two fistfuls of Dean's jacket, clamping tight.

"I'm sure Cas won't mind if you want a slice of this." Instead of ripping free of Roy's grasp he bridged the gap and kissed him full on the mouth.

Roy desperately tried to pull back, releasing Dean's coat and trying to step away, but Dean clamped one hand behind Roy's head, the other grabbing hold of his belt and dragging him even closer.

Cas caught movement out of the corner of his eye, and managed to dodge the tire iron that whizzed by his ear. He lost track of Dean when he suddenly had four people on top of him.

The three men right behind Roy jumped in, arms up to try to rip Dean off. Dean released Roy just long enough to ball a fistful of his shirt, freeing up one hand to grab the man who reached him first by the arm and twisting it to break. He shoved him backwards, watching him trip and knock over the other two.

He missed Roy thrusting his hand into the concealed holster beneath his waistband. He pulled the pistol out, hastily lifting it and firing point blank.

Dean's head cracked back. He lost his grip, allowing Roy to stagger backwards out of his grasp.

He watched the demon straighten up, the color draining from his face.

Blood streaked from the crater in Dean's skull, slicking down the contours of his nose and cheekbones, falling in streams from his mouth as he began to cackle. His eyes flicked black as the flesh knit back into place.

"What-" Roy stammered, struggling backwards further, jumping as he came into contact with the post of a chain link fence.

Dean tipped his head to the side, pushing the bullet to the front of his teeth and spitting it into his hand. "I think this belongs to you." He closed his fist around it before delivering a devastating strike to Roy's clavicle.

Cas whipped around when Roy screamed. "Dean!" He was cut off as a rope was thrown around his neck. He reached up, pulling and ripping the rope easily in half. When he rounded on them, three of the men sized up the fight, turning on heel and running as fast as they could. Cas reached out and touched the remaining combatant, sending him into sleep.

Roy fell to the ground, one hand clamped over the shattered collarbone, trying to scoot away again.

A board cracked over Dean's head and he turned, catching it on a second swing and wrenching it out of the guy's hands. He pulled it back and threw it, catching the man by the neck and throwing him right after it, crashing into some waste bins before landing on the first man Dean injured.

Cas hurried over, reaching out and touching both their foreheads before they could regroup, putting them under as well.

As the street quieted, Cas looked down at Roy who was still scrambling backwards, ending up trapped against a brick wall.

"What the fuck are you freaks!?"

Dean crouched down, getting close, eyes still black. "You just don't learn do you?" He grabbed Roy's hand, neatly yanking back and reveling in the sharp crack. "Let's try this again."

"Please!"

"Dean, stop it." Cas said.

Dean ignored him. "Say you're sorry." When he received only silence, he tugged Roy's wrist further back, feeling the tendons start to pull tight.

"Jesus Christ-"

"Wrong answer."

Roy's head cracked sideways at the end of Dean's knuckles before he collapsed to the ground unconscious.

Cas thrust his hand out and touched the one remaining cowering man on the forehead, letting him drop to the ground as well.

"You're letting them off easy."

Cas glared at him. "We have to get out of here."

Dean rolled his eyes. "Whatever." But he started to jog back in the direction of the car.

"What was that?" Cas asked once he was turning the impala onto the road and putting the bar solidly in their rear-view.

Dean threw his hands up. "What? The dude had it coming."

"When you suggested we go to the bar-"

"I didn't plan it!" Dean defended. "Nice quiet evening out, scouts honor."

"You were never a boy scout."

"Not true actually."

"Dean-"

"I fixed your hair when we sat down, that was it. Roy and company caught it immediately. I was just trying to give them a show, rile them up a bit. I didn't realize they were gonna form a lynch mob about it."

"You should not have antagonized them." Cas said, but he felt himself relax. "Do you think they will be able to identify us?"

"They never saw the car. Who is going to find two random guys at a motel three towns away? Never mind you know they're going to be spouting off nonsense about the man who survived a bullet to the head."

"It isn't nonsense."

"It is to the police."

Cas sighed. "I would appreciate you trying to minimize altercations in the future."

"I promise to let us be hate-crimed in the future."

Cas rolled his eyes. "We stick to cases for now."

Dean flopped back against the back of his seat. "How about we find a case somewhere no one gives a shit."

Cas didn't reply, focusing on the road. Unwanted attention aside, he was having a hard time condemning it.

"So, you going to update Sammy on our little outing?"

Cas ran his hand absently on the side of the steering wheel. "I think it might be best not to mention it unless your brother asks first." No need to start that fight. "We'll just work."

Tomorrow they could focus on the case and leave this behind them.

.

"Riley is with her grandmother. She'll be home in an hour." Felicity Stanton crossed her arms, looking over the two FBI agents on her porch. "Uh… if you want to wait-" She stepped back.

Cas and Dean followed her in, stopping in the entryway and tucking their badges back in their pockets.

Felicity cleared her throat. "She, uh, she already talked with the police."

"I know." Dean said. "We just have a few follow up questions. We'll keep it brief."

"Okay." She said softly. "If you need to uhm… if you need to see the office… it's upstairs, end of the hallway…"

"Thank you."

"The laptop has the driveway camera on it. Police already looked at it, I don't know if you talk."

"We prefer to keep our investigations independent." Dean said easily. "It helps to make sure nothing is missed."

"Tell me if you need anything." She said softly.

Cas let Dean take the lead up the narrow staircase. As soon as they were beyond a closed door, he talked quietly. "Should we not question her as well?"

"Nah." Dean said sidestepping the marked blood stains. "At least not yet. You saw her down there, she's barely keeping it together."

"You think Riley's account is accurate? That she saw her uncle?"

"Most likely." Dean sighed. "If it happened in this room, he's probably attached to something in this room."

"You're sure?"

"No, I said probably, pay attention."

Cas' expression flattened.

"Look for something that screams 'haunted brother' I guess."

"We may anger it to awakening if we find it."

"And?" Dean shrugged. "What's it gonna do, say 'boo'?"

"Felicity is human."

"Oh, she'll be fine." Dean took a seat at David's desk. He began pulling out drawer after drawer, hoping it became clearer what he was looking for eventually.

Cas turned his attention to the bookshelves, taking note of each of the titles as he ran his hand over them.

Dean stood and walked to the small closet, reaching up and pulling down the first box he found. He stopped. "Oh, hello."

Cas looked up. "What?"

Dean turned, showing Cas the contents. "Ye olden witch starter kit."

"That complicates things."

"Yeah, so much for a straightforward case." He shifted the box, candles and vials knocking together, a couple books falling to one side.

"Unless it is a coincidence, and he really was murdered by a ghost."

"Yeah, maybe, but I wouldn't put money on it." Dean set the box down, slowly unpacking each item. He took his phone out, taking pictures of the titles and a couple pages inside each. "Looks like some complicated stuff."

"If we are lucky, it was a one off spell, and the danger is over."

"Fingers crossed." He pulled a handwritten scribbled list, taking a picture of that too. "Recognize these?"

"No."

"Me either." He began to pack everything back into the box except the two small books. "Police looked at the security footage from the camera outside the house, said they saw nothing. Let's make sure there's nothing they missed."

Dean sat back at the desk, opening the laptop glad to see it on and the relevant footage clearly marked by the police before them.

Cas watched over his shoulder as they started the video, keeping a careful eye for anything suspicious. The street wasn't lacking for foot traffic.

"Wait…" Dean leaned in, squinting at a figure in the background. The video rolled forward and Dean paused it just as he could make out a flash of red hair. "Is that…?"

"Rowena." Cas breathed.

"Are you sure?"

Cas shook his head. "No." He was already digging out his phone. He pulled up an old text conversation with Charlie. In it was a picture of a part of the setup to remove the mark. Rowena was on the side.

"So what, witch hunting witches? Professional dispute? Power play?"

"Whatever it is, she certainly appears to have completed her goal. Perhaps she moved on."

"I would be surprised if she didn't. Something like that is practically begging for a hunter to come poke around. She's good, but I don't think she'd take on that risk if she didn't have to."

"What now?"

Dean took a picture of the security footage. "I'm texting this stuff to Sam now. He knows what Rowena looks like better than us."

"And then?"

Dean sighed. "We look for any other weird things nearby. Try to see where she's heading. Catch up."

"Great."

"Let's talk to Riley, then hit up the morgue." He tucked the two books. "And then the library. See if there's any weird history that screams witch shit."

"I'll look through the books and see if these ingredients have a match."

"Sounds like a plan."

.

The sun had set by the time they finally made it back to the motel.

Dean left Cas to call Sam, heading into the motel room alone to pack up their crap. He was hoping Sam had a lead somewhere and they could get on the road immediately. He'd rather be driving than spend another night just waiting.

He was hardly through the door when he felt the exit get closed off behind him, fresh salt hastily scattered across the doorway in a complete line.

Dean whipped around, eyes widening when he saw who was standing there.

"Get out of him you rotten-egg cockroach!"

Oblivious to events inside the motel room, Cas dialed Sam's number.

It picked up after the first ring. "Cas." He barely greeted. "Yeah, that's her."

Cas leaned back in the impala's seat. "David was a witch. We're not quite sure why, but it looks like she conjured the specter to carry out some sort of execution."

"I looked at those titles. They seem like some pretty powerful stuff."

"Perhaps a vocational dispute."

Sam sighed. "Yeah, maybe."

"For now we should focus on finding her."

"I've been looking through every scrap of news even remotely near you guys. We have a guy puking frogs in Arizona."

"You think it's her?"

"Well, it's someone." Sam said. "It's the best lead we have right now."

Cas looked up, catching movement in the sheer curtained window.

"Are you ready to take down the address?"

"Yes." The angel frowned as he watched the shadow move against the wall… shadows, multiple.

"Alright, it's Fifty eight Lakefront ro-"

Cas interrupted Sam mid sentence. "Sam, I have to go."

"Cas, what-!?" Cas was already half out of the car when he hung up on Sam. Cas slowed down in front of the door, tilting his head to listen in. There wasn't an immediate fight, and Dean was talking to someone.

"Garth, you idiot, I'm not possessed!"

"Exorcizamus te, omnis immundus spiritus, omnis-"

Dean rolled his eyes before clamping his mouth shut.

Cas opened the door, taking in the scene. Dean had one hand over Garth's mouth and another pinning his neck to the wall. There was a half empty vial of holy water soaking into the carpet.

"Cas." Dean said lowly, hearing the door shut. "I've told you about Garth before."

"Garth is a werewolf?"

"Garth is a what!?" Dean asked, snapping his head around for a moment before looking back at Garth with a critical eye. "What the hell are you out here hunting me for, then!?"

"Dean is my friend. I'm not about to let a demon muppet him around the country."

"I already told you I'm not possessed. Cas, back me up."

"He is correct." Cas said somewhat uncertainly.

"You're a demon."

"Yes. I'm a demon."

"Exactly!"

"No! Not exactly!" Dean said, frustrated.

Cas stopped beside him. "Dean, put him down."

"No way."

"Dean." Cas said sternly.

Dean rolled his eyes. He released his grip, letting Garth fully settle his weight back on the ground. "I see your hand reach for holy water and I'm going to break it."

"Dean."

Garth rubbed his neck. "Does someone want to tell me what in the heck is going on here?"

"How about you start with why you're a werewolf?"

"No way, I asked you first."

"This isn't kindergarten, Garth."

"Dean is a demon whole, not possessed." Cas cut off, ignoring Dean's indignant glare.

"And who are you?"

"Cas."

"Castiel?" Garth said.

Cas tilted his head to the side. "How do you-"

"I-" Garth gave a half smile. "Supernatural."

"Oh come on." Dean groaned. "Is there anyone left who hasn't read that stupid book series?"

"You read Chuck's books." Cas put together.

Garth cleared his throat. "Anyway, I was in town looking into David Stanton's death when I heard about the brawl. Camera outside the post office picked you up leaving, clear as day, eyes black as sin."

Cas frowned. "Is this video-"

"I deleted it." Garth said. "No need you getting chased by a pack of hunters after I got your ass back to hell. Now what's all this about 'Demon whole'?"

Dean took a couple steps back. "Ancient curse that turned me into a demon when I died."

"So you're-"

"I'm possessing me."

Garth dropped his hand. "And the men in the alley?"

"Dispute of values. Justified. But spill, since when are you a werewolf?"

"Hunted a big bad wolf over in Portland a little more than a year ago. He got me right before I took him down."

"And you didn't immediately put a rifle in your mouth?"

"No, I did. I knew the deal. There's no cure, so I accepted my fate. Ate my favorite dish of egg fu Yung, watched the world's greatest movie, "Rocky III"" and then... well, that's when Bess found me."

"Bess?"

"My beloved. Got hitched shortly after."

"And this Bess convinced you to, what, embrace it?"

"Bess came from a family of Lycanthropes. No human hearts, beef only, cross my heart."

"Her whole family got bitten?"

"Second generation. It ain't just getting bitten, you can be born to it."

"Born a werewolf." Dean repeated, blinking.

"Family had some rough patches, couple of bad apples, but we sorted them. Everything is kosher."

Dean frowned, looking him up and down critically. He wanted to accuse Garth of trying to throw them off his scent, but he didn't actually think Garth could lie that well. "And you're still hunting?"

"Only sometimes." Garth admitted.

"We thought you were dead. You left Kevin to fend for himself. Not so much as a note."

Garth's expression fell, adopting a solemn look. "And I do feel badly about that. I knew he had you, and nothing could get onto that boat."

"Demons got onto that boat."

"What?"

"Doesn't matter." Dean dismissed.

Cas resisted the urge to roll his eyes, knowing if Dean was human he would not be so quick to forgive. "Kevin is safe." He assured Garth. "He is back in Kansas, working with Sam on a spell to revert Dean to human."

"So you're really just you?" Garth asked, shaking his head. "And I thought I messed up."

"Oh shut up." Dean said. "I'm doing just fine."

Garth looked directly at Cas. "And the brawl outside the bar." He asked him instead.

"It is true that Dean did not start it." He offered. "The men were quite hostile."

"Well, alright… I guess nobody died."

"Exactly." Dean said. "Now, if you don't mind-"

Garth crossed his arms. "And David Stanton? Ghost?"

"Witch."

Garth's eyes widened. "You're sure?"

Cas nodded, catching Dean's eye. "Sam confirmed it was Rowena."

"You know who it is?"

"Yeah." Dean said. "We've been looking for her. We got this, Garth, you can go home to…"

"Bess."

"Yeah. I don't think Sam would like me playing with others. Wants to know I can play nice first. Completely unwarranted."

"You put four men in the hospital."

"That was warranted." Dean shook his head. "What do you say?"

Garth sighed, giving one last look at Cas. "You two are sure you got this?"

"Cross our hearts." Dean frowned. "You still got hunter contacts?"

"I've been radio silent ever since I got bit… but I could probably dust off a few numbers."

"We're gonna run her down, but if she gets away from us… keep an ear to the ground and if she surfaces, you give us a call."

Garth gave a solemn nod. "You have my word."

"Good man." Dean clapped him on the shoulder.

Garth gave a small smile.

"You hug me and I rip your arms off."

Cas put a hand on Dean's shoulder, shoving him down to sit on the bed. "We appreciate your help."

Garth straightened up. "I'm sure I'll be seeing you two around one day. If you're ever up in Wisconsin, drop by and say hello!"

Cas stiffened when Garth ignored Dean and instead pulled him into an unexpected hug.

The werewolf gave one last big smile before letting himself over the salt line and out the door. "Ciao."

As soon as the door shut, Dean rolled his eyes and hopped off the bed. "I assume we have a destination?"

"Arizona."

"Good enough for me." Dean started to shove his last few belongings into his canvas bag. He walked past Cas, slipping it all the way over Cas' head, letting it hang across his body.

Cas frowned, pulling his arm through and looking down in confusion.

"You can carry the bags. Tell me more about Arizona." Dean said, walking back towards the bathroom to take a look in the mirror one last time.

"A man in Arizona was vomiting frogs."

"Yeah, that does sound pretty witchy. Where in Arizona?"

"We will have to call Sam back on the road. I saw you and Garth in the window, so I cut Sam off mid address."

"Think it's her?"

"Aye, and he deserved to choke on every last one of them." Dean and Cas whipped around, the light spilling in through the parking lot highlighting the red hair. Rowena leaned casually in the open door frame, a sly smile across her lips. "My oh my, if it isn't the famed Dean Winchester." She looked over Cas. "And his pet angel."

Dean gaped. "What-"

"You attract a lot of attention." She continued, managing to look bored. "Did it feel good? Taking down a lot like them, you truly are a hero of the people." She mocked.

"You killed David Stanton." Cas stepped forward.

"I'm squashing gnats." She spread her hand. "How fortunate for me you two caught up."

"Rowena, you're not-"

"Silence." She said, and Dean had to fight the wave of energy encouraging him not to talk. "Your brother made promises he couldn't deliver on. I'm afraid that means revoking services rendered."

Dean managed to swallow the gag order and find his voice. "What, you're going to put the mark on me again?"

"I'm going to squash two more gnats." She said simply, rolling up her sleeves to reveal every square inch of her arms were covered in blood painted runes. She made eye contact with Dean. "It's a shame they clipped your wings… it isn't like he has them."

"Don't-"

Dean was cut off as Rowena shouted a spell, her eyes glowing purple and the runes on her skin burning off in an instant. The room began to shake, and an electric charge swept through the air. "Take a good look at each other, boys. It'll be the last thing you see."

With that she was gone.

Dean ran at the now shut door, coming up against the salt line. "Cas, you have to let me out!" He frowned, getting no response. He turned around. "Cas?"

Cas was clutching at his chest, slowly sinking down to his knees. "Dean… I can't… whatever she did, it's locking me down." He said, having to speak up to be heard over the growing din.

"What the hell did she do!?" He ducked as the one overhead light burst into a waterfall of sparks and glass. He heard the wall length mirror over the sinks crack and crash to the ground. "This is what, a magic atom bomb!?"

Cas hissed, his back contorting as another pulse of electricity ripped past him. "So it would seem."

"Cas, it can't kill me but it can kill you!"

"There has to be a way to stop it."

"Look for hex bags!" Dean shouted as the air around them crackled to life with even more fervor.

Cas struggled to his feet, making it only a few feet before crashing back down. He reached up, trying to open drawers in the cabinet.

Dean ripped the blankets off the bed, pillows flying before the mattress was turned up on end. He winced as the two bedside lamps exploded followed by the laptop catching fire on the desk. He finished stripping down the other bed in the same fashion before he ran back to Cas. "We don't have time." Dean pushed down the shoulder of his coat. "You have to burn it off."

"I don't-"

"If you burn off the tattoo I think I can teleport us out of here! The salt isn't that strong. You got the juice for that?"

Cas frowned, looking at the tattoo running across his shoulder, knowing how far it extended. "Are you sure?"

"Hell no, so get it over with."

Cas laid his hand over Dean's right arm, covering as much of the tattoo as possible. He paused.

Dean flinched one last time. "Jesus, Cas, get it o-"

Cas called on every scrap of his grace and pushed it through his palm, burning deep. He closed his eyes, feeling his way with his grace, unable to watch Dean while he ripped through the tattoo, searing from his grip on Dean's bicep, licking down to the elbow, cresting over his back and chest before climbing up the side of Dean's neck.

Dean kept his mouth clamped shut for as long as possible, lasting almost a minute before a primal scream forced its way past his lips.

He had survived the pain of hell and the torture of withdrawal under the mark. This made that list.

Cas barely managed to catch Dean when his knees buckled, easing him down to sit on the ground, half in his arms. "Dean?"

Dean half blinked up at Cas, head falling back for a moment, barely able to support it. The searing pain was still radiating across his body, temporary shock preventing him from feeling the full horror of his injuries.

Cas pulled his hand clear of Dean's shoulder, watching carefully as Dean's flesh began to knit itself back together. He had to close his eyes against the blinding spike in the light as the room began to rip itself apart.

Dean gasped a deep breath as soon as he could. Just as Cas crumpled in on himself against the pain, he shot his good arm out, grabbing Cas' coat as tightly as he could before he pushed himself past the salt, ripping them out of there just as the shock wave hit, throwing Cas from his grasp.

Dean didn't have any time to brace himself before he was flung into the freezing rapids of a river a thousand miles to the north.