Until We Meet Again, My Angel

Chapter 14: What Can I Say?

   The sunset was beautiful- the clouds delicate brushstrokes of pink and gold against a sky of red and orange. It was silent but for the hum of a distant city and the faint chirps of crickets. In the woods the boys had picked, there was a small clearing where the soft grass had not yet met the cruel chill of fall. It was here that they would have the funeral.
   As Cas stood with the Winchesters, he stared blankly at Claire's body- they had wrapped her in white gauze and placed her on a bed of dried logs. Soon after Sam and Dean had taken a few steps back, Gabriel appeared next to his little brother. As he laid a hand on his brother's shoulder, he said softly, "I'm so sorry, Castiel. I know how much you loved her, I-"
"No you don't," Castiel interrupted him, "You'll never know this kind of love. Claire was my daughter."
   Gabriel dropped his head and gazed sadly at the ground as he sighed, "I know... But I am sorry. I have to go, I've been checking on Heaven every once in a while, and I can't stop now." He paused, glanced sadly at Claire's body, then disappeared.
"Cas," Dean said gently, "please tell me you know this wasn't your fault. This happened because of me. She was under all our watches, she-"
"Died," Dean's savior announced, rather abruptly, "She's dead, Dean. She was my responsibility. I loved her, I raised her, and now I'll never see her face again."
   Dean, defeated, sighed shakily, and dropped his gaze to his shoes, the sleek material standing out against the textured forest floor. Sam looked to Castiel, waiting for the signal. When Claire's father nodded, Sam lit the match and threw it onto the logs. Cas had wanted to bury Claire, but Sam and Dean had insisted on a Hunter's funeral. It was traditional among Hunters to burn the body of a fallen comrade to ensure that they wouldn't come back as a ghost.
   After a few minutes of silence, Sam walked back to the car. However, Dean and Castiel stayed there; long after dark, long after the flames had stopped burning, long after every single ash had been blown away by the wind. Finally, after their tears had subsided, Dean and Cas returned to the car. Still, as the Impala's headlights illuminated the road, neither of them spoke a single word.

   Dean sat in front of their motel room, silent and stoic, leaning his temple against his fist. Three days had passed, and there'd been no word from Gabriel about Heaven or the murdered Angels. Man, Dean thought to himself, Angels. Angels are real. Remembering what had happened, he added, Angels are dicks. Dean was pulled from his thoughts when he heard the door open. He turned his head to see Sam shut the motel door and pull up a chair next to Dean. Though Dean had resumed staring at the sunrise, Sam spoke to him.
"Dean," he addressed his brother, "talk to him."
   Of course, Dean knew that 'him' meant Castiel, but he remained silent.
"Dean," Sam pleaded, "it's been three days. Please, please, just talk to Castiel. He needs you."
"Sammy," Dean grunted, straightening his posture, "Castiel is mourning his daughter. He's in a bad place, it's normal that he's been a little withdrawn."
"Withdrawn?" Sam echoed, surprised at Dean's casual attitude, "He hasn't said a word in three days! All he does is lie there like a piece of drift wood, watching Oprah reruns and sleeping."
"Hey, that's not fair. Just yesterday, I saw him watching an old episode of How I Met Your Mother."
"Dean," Sam growled, "You said you loved him. Prove it. Talk to him."
"About WHAT, Sammy?" Dean snapped, making his brother flinch as he yelled, "About how Claire would still be alive if he'd left me in Hell? Or how about the fact that we sent Claire away to keep her safe, but instead, we got her killed? Oh," Dean donned a fake smile, "How about this: 'Hey Cas, just wanted to let you know that, while you and I were busy dancing and having fun, Angels were tracking down your daughter to use her as bait!' How's that sound?"
   Sam made no sound, dropping his head in frustration. Dean lowered his voice, leaning in close as he asked angrily, "How the Hell am I supposed to face the man whose daughter is dead thanks to me? To tell him that he has to stop being sad? That his Great Love, Dean Winchester, is the reason that the Angels sought out Claire and used her to trap her own family, and to take her life. That HE saved!" Dean was yelling again as he finished, "THAT THEY TOOK!" Heaving, Dean whispered, "He's the love of my life, Sam."
   Sam put his hand on his older brother's shoulder, and begged, "Then just tell him you love him."

   Dean entered the room, Sam trailing behind, and found Cas exactly where they'd left him. Sprawled out on the bed, the Angel hadn't moved since they'd returned from the funeral; he was wearing dirty clothes, he needed to brush his teeth, and a shave wouldn't hurt. Dean walked over to Cas, grabbed the remote from his hand, and shut off the TV. The grieving Angel forced himself into a sitting position, and turned his head to meet his boyfriend's eyes, though he stayed silent. Before Dean could open his mouth, there was a whooshing sound, and suddenly, Gabriel was standing in their room.
   Sam immediately stood up, but Gabriel was two steps ahead of him, saying, "No word from Heaven, everything's fine, but that's not why I'm here!"
"Then why are you here?" Dean asked.
   Gabriel smiled excitedly as he answered, "You guys are gonna be thrilled!" Clasping his hands together, the Archangel went on, "Okay, so, I was a few towns over, following this Angel who turned out to be of no use to me, when I overheard a couple cops talking about a recent case."
"So?" Dean questioned.
"So," Gabriel responded, "They were saying two dead bodies were found at a local park. And here's the best part... you ready? Their hearts were ripped out." Gabriel frowned at his failed attempt to lighten the mood, and summarized, "I found you guys a case!"