Sam & Dean entered a waffle shop in northern Nebraska. Six customers lay on their sides or backs, eyes burned out.
"Another angel attack," Dean sighed. He then noticed the piles of waffles and pies behind the counter.
"No Dean, this is a case. We're looking for Metatron and you cannot eat when people have just died!" Sam objected.
"The cops are just going to throw them out once they arrive. No one would eat them," he walked behind the counter and grabbed himself a plate- stacking it with three waffles and two slices of pie.
As he turned around, his shoe crunched on something. Dean looked down to see a hand. A hand very familiar to him.
The tan trench coat was soaked in blood and the blue striped tie was torn.
"C-cas?" Dean dropped the plate and sank to his knees.
"Dean... I was trying to... protect these people from Metatron," Cas said in a low voice.
"Shhh, Cas, it's going to be okay. Save your energy," Dean's eyes began to water; he put his left arm beneath Cas' neck and other other under his knees.
Cas grabbed Dean's left arm. "No Dean, it's too late. You can't save me."
"You are NOT gonna die on me buddy. I need you. I can't live without you," Dean cradled Cas' head in his lap.
Fading blue eyes met green ones. "Dean, I..." That bright blue light faded from Cas' eyes as he closed them and gave his last breath.
"Cas, no! Please. No!" the tears began to roll down Dean's face. He held Cas close, cradling him as he cried.
"Dean, we have to go," a teary-eyed Sammy said.
Dean stood up, knees shaking. He picked Cas up and they walked outside.
"Dean, I'm so sorry. I know you cared for him a lot- more than I ever did," Sam said, placing a hand on Dean's shoulder.
Dean stood there, silent, letting the tears fall. His best friend was gone, dead, because he loved humanity too much. He gave his own life to protect theirs.
They burned Cas' body that night.
