Take The Heart I Never Wanted to Give

19

Gabriel, Sam, and Castiel looked up sharply when they heard an angry snarl echo somewhere in front of them.

"Someone else is here." Gabriel murmured cautiously.

"Is it Alastair?" Sam questioned, pulling a barely conscious Dean closer to his chest.

"No." Castiel answered, his lips peeling back in a slight snarl. "He won't get back up if he knows what's good for him."

"Is he dead?" Sam asked, a large part of him wishing the answer was yes.

"No." Cas said bitterly, an alarmingly sinister gleam dancing in his blue eyes, "Not yet anyway."

"I'll gladly help you in that matter when you get the chance." Sam said, the same sinister gleam in his eyes.

"Guys." Gabriel said getting their attention. "We can plan Alastair's murder later. I'm gonna go see what's going on. You guys stay here." Gabriel said, moving forward until he felt Sam's large hand grab his wrist gently.

"Gabe wait. Maybe I should—"

"Sam," Gabriel warned, "don't you dare finish that sentence. You've got Dean to worry about and Cas is injured. I can handle myself just fine. I've been doing it since I was 12. Stay. Here."

Sam looked at Gabriel, biting worriedly at his bottom lip before hesitantly nodding and letting go of Gabe's arm. Gabriel gave him what was hopefully a reassuring look before creeping forward in a crouching position.

Gabriel continued forward, the sounds of snarling getting louder and louder until they came sudden stop. Gabriel stopped moving, a voice spoke briefly but he couldn't here what they were saying. Cautiously, Gabriel moved closer until he came up behind a thick bush. He carefully peaked over the bush surprised to see the familiar head a fiery red hair that belonged to Charlie along with Kevin, Valerie, and Crevan.

"Thank God." He muttered to himself. Getting up from his hiding spot, he moved forward quickly to greet the others. Charlie spotted him first, shouting his name and pulling him into a tight hug.

"You're okay!" She exclaimed. She looked behind him briefly before looking back up at him with concern. "Where are the others?"

"I told them to wait back there. We heard snarling. What happened anyway?"

"Trust me, I'll explain but right now we need to get back and we need to get back fast. Go grab the others."
Charlie said urgently.

Gabriel opted not to ask further questions and quickly went back to retrieve the others.

"What happened?" Sam asked when Gabriel approached them.

"It's Charlie and the others. They found us. She said we need to get back to the castle fast."

"Did she say why?" Castiel questioned.

"She said she'll tell us later. Come one, whatever it is she sounded concerned." Gabriel said urging them to follow him quickly.

They followed briskly after Gabriel back to where Charlie and the other omegas were. Everyone exchanged quick hugs and relieved sighs knowing that one another was safe.

"Okay, now that we're here, we gotta get Dean and Cas back to the castle quick." Charlie said.

"Why? What happened?" Castiel asked worriedly.

"Naomi tried to rig the 'fox hunt.' When you were gone Naomi asked John what would happen if none of you found Dean within the hour. John said Michael would automatically receive him since he's the oldest. Naomi hired two of John's guards to retrieve him early on to make it appear that no one had found him in time. That's why we're here. We managed to catch them before they could get to you." Charlie said with an exhausted sigh.

"That bitch!" Sam hissed. Gabriel and Castiel snarled in agreement, teeth bared and eyes flashing brightly.

"Look, I'm just as pissed as you are but we need to talk about this later." Charlie said trying to quell their anger before it could spiral out of control.

"She's right." Kevin said. "John's probably sending out a search party right now. As bad as this is gonna sound, Cas has to stake his claim on Dean in order to prevent Michael from getting him."

Castiel glanced at Dean who was progressively getting worse, tiny tremors racking his body as sweat accumulated over his quickly paling skin, his face scrunched up in pain as weak moans escaped his throat.

Castiel let out a frustrated sigh and nodded crossly. "You're right."

"Cas you're injured." Sam protested. "You barely standing up right."

"Sam," Castiel started, his lips peeling back in a slight snarl, "if I don't then Michael is going to get him and there's no telling what him and Naomi will do to Dean once they've officially bonded. I promised Dean I would find him and bring him back." He glanced at Dean once more and shook his with finality. "I'm not breaking that promise to him. I can't and I won't."

Sam's lips tightened into a thin line, a subtle look of contemplation marring his features before he sighed and nodded. "Fine. Get him to the castle but make sure John and Naomi see you first. We'll be out of sight but we'll be right behind you."

Castiel nodded briskly and out stretched his arms so Sam could carefully placed Dean in his arms. Sam deposited Dean carefully in Castiel's arms, supporting his back until he was sure Castiel had a good grip on Dean's frame.

"You got him?" Sam questioned.

Castiel nodded, holding Dean close to his chest.

"Be careful, Cas." Gabriel warned, giving his brother a one armed hug.

"I will." Castiel whispered back. Giving the others a final nod, he sprinted away from the group making his way back to the castle to put an end to the fox hunt.