Chapter Text
Amara disappeared leaving the Winchesters to look around themselves in horror. Sam worked to regain control of his breathing as Dean carefully stood up, hoping the niggling in his back would go away. They took in their surrounds, Chuck; God Almighty lay on the ground in agony and Castiel, Lucifer, whoever, still sat slumped onto himself where he had landed from Amara's blast.
"Cas?" Dean let out a sound that was more a pained cry than spoken words.
Dean left his brother's side without a second glance crossing to Castiel and dropping to his knees in front of the Angel.
"Cas?" he said again, his hand cupping the other man's bewhiskered cheek, he ignored Sam's sympathetic tone and didn't even register his brother's words. Instead, he felt a wave of futile rage sweep over him, "This is why I wanted Lucifer out of Cas. But NO. No one cared enough did they? No one thought about-" His words stopped dead in his throat, and the tears welling up in his eyes and began rolling down his cheeks like rivulets.
Sam sat against a pillar with Chuck, who he had pulled into a sitting position, they both watched on in anguish.
"Gent's?" Rowena's accented voice broke the sad silence as she pushed open a door.
They all looked over at her while she looked around the room in horror. She looked back to them; her mouth hung open in frightened awe. "The sky looks like it is on fire," she told them her voice, quiet and terrified.
Dean, Sam, and Rowena looked over to Chuck, who weakly nodded, in agreement.
"We should get back to the bunker, make a plan," Sam said his voice feigned calm.
"WHAT ABOUT CAS?" Dean yelled, causing everyone in the vicinity to jump in shock, including, to Dean's surprise the body in his arms.
A gasping breath, the only sound in the room as everyone's attention turned this time, to Castiel.
Dean's hand shook, his hand moving back to Cas's cheek. "Cas?" Dean asked desperately, his voice breaking as he spoke the single syllable.
Slowly as if in hesitation his closed eyes scrunched before opening. Castiel blinked, dark blue eyes shining, he looked at Dean in confusion. "Dean," Cas pronounced staring at the other man.
Dean looked at him, in disbelief, before he all but collapsed on top of Castiel. He sobbed into the man's shoulder while Cas remained sat on the ground, surrounded by the scorched pattern of his Brothers wings.
Cas looked down at the man clutching him like he hadn't seen Dean in many months. He looked up; attention pulled from his weeping friend as footsteps approached where they sat.
"Sam," Cas said looking up at the taller man, "Father," he said, the word coming out barely legible, "Rowena." He nodded to the witch politely voice more controlled.
"Sorry about last time we met Sweetie." She said, referring to the attack dog spell, her face contorting to an apologetic expression she stepped closer to lay a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
Dean pulled his head up to glare at Rowena who quickly backed away with a defensive but amused expression.
"Okay, no one touches him but Dean, apparently." She said walking over to Chuck and Sam instead where Sam was supporting Chuck's body, holding him upright.
"Castiel." Chuck offered his son a weak but fond smile, "Sam is right, we should go."
"Drive?" Dean asked after coughing to clear his throat, "Neither of you can take us can you?" Dean asked looking from Cas to Chuck.
Chuck shook his head, "I can't, no, what little power I have left, we must save for emergencies, and Castiel certainly cannot."
Dean looked away from him frustrated and back to Cas, who looked downcast.
"Not because he is weak, but because my Son is no longer an Angel." Chuck explained, "Castiel knew that the moment he opened his eyes, didn't you Son?"
Cas nodded looking at Dean again, "I did. Thank-you Father. I'm grateful."
"You saved him?" Dean asked in awe looking up at Chuck. "He was dead, and you saved him?"
"It was the least I could do." Chuck admitted, "You were right Dean, I should have removed Lucifer from Castiel."
"How did you do it, though? You're dying!" Sam asked in wonder, "We are obviously grateful, Cas it's so good to have you back but-"
Castiel bowed his head, "Father used some of his remaining power to save me. He shouldn't have but-"
"'Shouldn't have' Cas, for gods sake!" Dean let out a sound of anguish.
"My son lacks his self-worth, is that not clear to you yet Dean?" Chuck asked Dean warily.
Dean took a breath before tipping Cas's face back up, his hand lingering again on the man's cheek. "You're human Cas, how do you feel about that?"
"Fine" Cas shrugged, his voice betraying his lie, and Dean pulled a face staring at him in disbelief.
"Fine?"
"A little tired, and nauseous, but I am fine Dean. How are you?" Cas asked leaning minutely into Dean's palm which still cupped his cheek as he pulled away.
"Just peachy Cas," Dean grumbled falling back taking a seat beside the former Angel.
"I'm sorry Dean." Cas told him, sorrow glazing his eyes. "I truly am."
Dean only stared at him.
"Let's get going Dean." Sam said again, his voice more forceful this time.
Dean looked around at his brother, ready with a verbal attack until he looked at Chuck, the gravity of the situation hit him.
God was dying.