Reaching for Grace

Chapter Four

"Who the he-"

The strange man interrupted, "My name is Castiel. I am an angel of the Lord."

Dean just about laughed, did this damn thing just say it was a freakin' angel of the Lord?

" Uh, sorry buddy but I think you're a tad bit more south than you're supposed to be." Dean chuckled, crossing his arms against his chest.

"No, I am defiantly supposed to be in Hell, saving you. You are Dean Winchester, correct?" The black haired man tilted his head, stepping closer to Dean.

"Yeah I uh, I'm gonna have a hard time believing that you are an 'angel of the Lord.'" Dean mocked, quotey fingers and all.

"Why? Are you a non-believer?"

"What, of God? Yeah I guess you can say that."

"Dean Winchester you are standing in Hell, and yet you won't entertain the idea of Heaven?"

"Well yeah, Hell is understandable, bad shit happens to good people all the time, that's just how the world works, just random evil crap. But if there is a God, where is he? Why doesn't he help the poor innocent bastards stuck on earth, huh?"

"The Lord works in-"

"Don't! Don't say it...look even if you an 'Angel of the Lord', what the hell do you need with me? I'm no one." Dean questioned as he spun back around to the girl and started undoing her restrains, she jumped up and quickly ran out the door, careful not to look back.

"You don't think you deserved to be saved?" Castiel said, tilting his head.

Dean smirked, "No buddy, I don't"

"We can waste hours talking about religion or we can work on getting out of here."

Castiel walked over to Dean and grabbed his arm, only to have Dean jerk out of his grip.

"You just randomly show up here and expect me to trust you?" Dean snarled.

"No, I most certainly do not expect you to trust me but right now I am your only chance at getting out of here. So either stay here and melt away into one of the beasts you hunt, or take that chance and possibly get back to your brother."

"Fine but you better not get me killed." Dean smirked.

"Your're already dead." Castiel said in all seriousness.

"Thanks..." Dean shook his head as Castiel led him back out into the dimly lit corridor.

"I'm only speaking the truth." Castiel said, walking quickly ahead of Dean,

"Your're a very literally guy aren't you?" Castiel ignored Dean's question.

"Do you know your way around this place?"

"Oh yeah, definitely, because the whole time I was getting my insides torn out i was paying attention to where the flashing 'exit' sign was."

"I...detect a hint of sarcasm."

"Yeah no shit, Sherlock."

Castiel ignored Dean's remark, picking up his pace quite a bit. Dean attempted to catch up with the angel, moving to the side to walk aside him.

"No, Dean. Stay behind me." Castiel demanded, reaching an arm put to gently push Dean back behind him.

"What? Why?" Dean frowned

"Because, I must protect you. I didn't come all the way to Hell just to have you taken again"

"Thanks. But I think I can take care of myself, I have been fighting these things for a while now"

Castiel stopped in his tracks, spinning around on his feet to face Dean, "Where is your weapon against demons, Dean? Where is your holy water? Or your salt? Or your magical gun that can kill anything?"

Dean paused, biting his lip.

Castiel tilted his head, "Exactly. You don't have them, because you are in Hell, and you have no defense what so ever against these things. So for now, I will defend you."

Dean watched as Castiel's trench coat flipped around with him as he continued walking through the dark hall. Dean thought to himself as he watched the stranger walk in front of him, he thought about the way Castiel held himself as he walked, like he wasn't used to being the lead of anything, but he still knew exactly what he was doing. He thought about how he might get to finally see Sam again, and how he was getting out of Hell, it all seemed like a dream, really. This strange miracle randomly shows up and confesses he's here to rescue Dean from Hell, it all just seemed unreal, especially for his track record. Dean thought to himself for a moment for a while before deciding to let this man take the lead, figuring it was his best shot out of here.