Only Angel - Castiel

Chapter Seventeen

You were grateful for your day spent with Castiel. Once you got back to Bobby's house, it was business as usual. The DIY demon-blood-detox hasn't been working. In fact, it's proven to be more harmful than anything. Along with Sam's hallucinations came signs of seals breaking rapidly across the country.

"We can't keep this up," you say during another one of Sam's hallucinations. "We're hurting him, Dean."

"We don't even know if he's going to live through this," Bobby adds. "Plus, there most likely aren't many seals left. Where the hell are your angel pals?"

"You tell me," Dean snarks.

"I'm just wondering..." Bobby trails off.

"What?" He asks and you look questioningly at the old man as well.

"The apocalypse being nigh and all...is now really the right time to be having this little domestic drama of ours?"

You nod, in agreement with Bobby's stance.

"What do you mean?" Dean questions.

"Well, I don't like this any more than you do, but Sam can kill demons. He's got a shot at stopping Armageddon."

"So what? Sacrifice Sam's life, his soul, for the greater good? Is that what you're saying? Times are bad, so let's use Sam as a nuclear warhead?"

"We have to do something. Maybe Bobby's idea isn't the greatest, but neither is keeping him locked up like an animal in pain."

"I love that boy like a son," Bobby adds, "all I'm saying is maybe he's here right now instead of on the battlefield because we love him too much."

"Maybe Cas..tiel," you correct yourself, not trying to use his nickname, "might have an idea. You should try asking him."

"Yeah, if he'll even come. That dick says he doesn't serve us and then..." Dean trails off, not wanting to pour salt into what he's under the impression is an open wound.

Bobby, who's terrible with the whole "Cas situation" as he describes it, excuses himself to the kitchen.

You internally cringe at the insult, a wave of guilt washing over you for letting them believe he's bad. "I know he's the last person you want to see right now, but it might be worth a shot."

Dean sighs, giving in. "Fine. But don't expect me to be nice to him. He doesn't get to break your heart without paying for it."

"Don't be too hard on him, please. We still don't know why he did what he did, what happened to him in heaven."

It wasn't a lie for once. Castiel still hasn't told you what exactly happened, and you haven't pressed on the matter either. It was clearly something that unsettled and hurt him, and you didn't want to put him through the pain of reliving it if it wasn't necessary.

"Your heart's too big for your own good," Dean sighs, shaking his head. "I'll be back."

Dean leaves out the front door and you're left alone in the living room. Bobby is still tinkering in the kitchen, so you decide to go to the basement to talk to Sam.

It's quiet when you get to the bottom of the stairs. Opening the little window on the panic room door, you can see Sam sitting on the bed.

"Hey, Sammy. How're you holding up?" You ask, sympathy lacing your voice.

He turns to look at you and your heart breaks. He looks as if he hasn't slept in a year and there are tear stains down his cheeks.

"Please, you gotta let me out of here," he begs.