A Hunters Heart

The Voices Told Me To

Grace. She will save us.
The pleading words echoed in Castiel's mind when he woke up in his room. Of course, still having half of his grace meant that he didn't require sleep unless a severe case exhausted him, he had merely been resting in his room. Then again, it wasn't even his room. It was a spare room in the bunker that he had claimed as his own. Across the hall from Dean's, their rooms were practically identical.
Castiel sat straight up in the bed. He wasn't sure of the time, but the distant clanging of pots and plates told him it was morning. And morning meant breakfast. Castiel hadn't changed out of his normal suit and trenchcoat from the previous day and saw no need to do so for the morning meal. So, he made his way slowly to the kitchen.
Once he arrived, he was greeted with a rather awkward situation. Dean was standing by the stove, cooking what seemed to be pancakes. He looked up at Castiel for just a moment before going back to the baking batter. Around the table were Sam and... her.... The girl. Castiel could only think bad thoughts about her. Ever since Dean had cheated on him, Castiel was bitter about checking in on the Winchesters. And when he finally does, he runs into Dean's girlfriend in the kitchen.
Dean brought a large plate of pancakes to the table when he sat down opposite Sam, leaving Cas the chair across from Lexi. Lexi was the first to break the silence.
"Hi, I'm Lexi." She told Cas, expecting him to introduce himself, but his only reply was a scowl. Lexi... that's a whore's name if I ever heard one. The next person to speak was Sam.
"This is Castiel."
"Nice to meet you Castiel." Lexi gave her reply as happily as she could, only annoying the angel further. Castiel, still having said nothing was only sitting there. He couldn't think of anything to say or do. Sam was trying his best to make conversation, but only Lexi was willing to participate. Thankfully, Dean chose this time to pass around the pancakes.
After a while, Lexi looked up at Castiel. Almost as if she were mustering up the courage to speak.
Noticing his plate remained empty, she nervously asked, "Are you hungry? Or do angels even need to eat,". The brothers exchanged a look and Dean suddenly glared at Lexi.
"How did you know?"
"How did I know what?" Lexi asked innocently
"Nobody ever said he was an angel. How did you know." Dean pressed, the protectiveness in his voice was clear.
Sam was the next to speak up.
"I, may have... briefed her last night."
"Wow, Sam. You told a total stranger our entire life story?!"
"No! Just the part about Cas being an angel. That's all."
"Why would you just tell her about Cas?"
Sam looked to Castiel for that answer.
"Cas?" Dean was about ready to pop when Castiel spoke for the first time that day.
"I was merely answering your prayers." he stated meekly. As pissed as Cas was, a mad Dean was the last thing he felt like dealing with right now. However, it was too late. Dean rose from his chair, the sudden movement knocking it back. The loud crash on the floor was coupled by the sound of Dean's hands hitting the table.
"Now?! You decided to answer me NOW? I've been praying for months, Cas. What the hell kind of position were you in, that made so that you couldn't respond to me for the past 6 months, but, all of a sudden, you decide to pop up and 'Answer my prayers'!"
Castiel was getting more and more mad by the second. "Dean, if you would just let me explain..."
"No! I'm done with you! You haven't been listening to me, so why should I listen to you?" The hunter's shouting had been leading Castiel to the breaking point. It was only a matter of minutes until..
"No!" Castiel had snapped. He assumed the same position as Dean, hands on the table and chair flung behind him. "I am done with YOU. I've been listening to your prayers. I could just hardly hear them through all the LIES. You say you didn't cheat, but the second I get here, I run into her in the kitchen!" Castiel pointed to a pale Lexi, "It's not that I couldn't answer you, it's that I didn't care enough to make the trip!"
"Oh, really?" Dean shouted, "Then why the hell are you here?"
Castiel's eyes fell to the table as he remembered the voices. Grace. She will save us. For some reason they were louder, almost clearer, now.
"I... I need your help." He said quietly. Dean responded quickly.
"Ha! You come in here all mad and shouting and then ask us for help? Sorry, no can do."
"Do you think I wanted to come down here?" Castiel was no longer shouting, only speaking, trying to get through to Dean. "The matter that has arisen is so bad, no angel as ventured to solve it and come back alive."
Dean's stance softened. He shook his head as he turned around and picked up the chair. Castiel mirrored him and they both sat down.
"Okay," Dean said with a tired sigh, "Start from the beginning."