Reckless and Brave

CXI. (106) Blue on Black

[The Man Who Would Be King]

"You know, I've...I've been here for a very long time. And I remember many things. I remember being at a shoreline, watching a little grey fish heave itself up on the beach and an older brother saying, "Don't step on that fish, Castiel. Big plans for that fish. I remember the Tower of Babel...All 37 feet of it, which I suppose was impressive at the time. And when it fell, they howled 'divine wrath'. But come on--dried dung can only be stacked so high. I remember Cain and Abel...David and Goliath...Sodom and Gomorrah. And of course, I remember the most remarkable event--remarkable because it never came to pass. It was averted by two boys, a girl who heard angels, an old drunk, and a fallen angel. The grand story. And we ripped up the ending and the rules...And destiny...leaving nothing but freedom and choice. Which is all well and good, except...Well, what if I've made the wrong choice? How am I supposed to know? I'm getting ahead of myself. Let me tell you my story. Let me tell you everything."

Dean and Holly were driving in the Impala when Cas appeared. "Hello, Dean. Hello, Holly. Are you two alright?"

Dean nodded. "Yeah, we're...we're fine. How are you?"

"Just wanted to check in."

Holly rested her head on the back of the driver's seat and asked, "Any word on Satan Jr. being alive and kicking?"

"I'm...looking, believe me. I just don't understand how Crowley could've tricked me."

Dean frowned. "Well, he's a tricky son of a bitch, that's how. Doesn't matter. But if he is up and kicking, then what does matter is finding him, ripping his head off, and shoving it up his ass."

"What about you two? Have you found anything?"

Dean shook his head. "No, nothing yet."

"Where's Sam and Nate?"

"They're keeping busy. They're tracking a Djinn in Omaha as we speak. In fact, we're heading out there right now to meet up with them."

"Well, I'd come if I could."

"Yeah, no, I-I get it. No worries. But, Cas, you'll call, right? If you get into real trouble?"

"Crowley had a point, of course. My interest was conflicted. I still considered myself the Winchesters' guardian. After all...they taught me how to stand up...What to stand for...And what generally happens to you when you do. I was...done. I was over. And then the most extraordinary thing happened. I was put back. And we had won. We stopped Armageddon. But at a terrible cost. And so I knew what I had to do next. Once again, I went to Harrow Hell, to free Sam from Lucifer's cage. It was nearly impossible, but I was so full of confidence, of mission. I see now that it was arrogance...Hubris...Because, of course, I hadn't truly raised Sam--not all of him. Sometimes we're lucky enough to be given a warning. This should have been mine."

Dean and Holly entered to see Red trapped under a devil's trap. They walked into the kitchen, Sam following.

"So, what'd you two tell him?" Sam asked.

Dean frowned. "Nothing. Just relax."

"What's the hubbub?" Bobby inquired.

"We saw Cas. He popped in on us about two hours back."

"What'd you tell him?"

"Nothing, alright? Told him we were on some crap monster hunt. He doesn't know that we're getting close to Crowley. You know, he's our friend...And we are lying to him through our teeth."

"Dean--" Sam began.

Holly shook her head. "No. He burned the wrong bones. Crowley tricked him."