That was awesome.

This was fantastic! I'm not really sure which version I like better, 1 or 2; I only know I like either better than the show because Castiel wasn't actually left alone!

Once again, your characterization is spot on, thoughts and dialogue giving us easy access to character motivation and insights. I love the dynamic between Cas and Dean and how here they actually do put others ahead of each other-Sam like in the episode and Dean too but mostly Dean putting Cas ahead, treating him, and realizing he needs to start matching his actions to his words. That insight was priceless, and lets me know he wants to change and to do better by their angel.

As usual, a lovely piece! Thank you so much for sharing!

First off, I'm so glad you decided to write codas (not one but 2, yay!) for this episode; I hated how the Winchesters ignored Castiel in the show, out of sight out of mind, like he means nothing to them. So it seriously needed some fix-it and major h/c and thankfully, you obliged!

This was just so beautifully written. Cas being Cas, he puts the Winchesters above himself so prays for help from the angels, having an idea of what they'd do to him; but better him than the boys, as echoed by the Winchesters' actions. As the coda is seen through only Sam and Dean, the reader gets to see that each of them blames himself for forcing Cas into the recent decisions he's made. I love how you actually show the boys coming to the realization that they need to undo what they've been doing to their angel since he's supposed to be family (instead of in the series where they leave Castiel chained alone in the library-as if he was a dog not a brother-for at least 12 hours while they go to CO ... but I digress), and wanting to fix the problem, fix their relationships with Cas. The emotions were wonderfully rendered, gripping and visceral, and filling a hole left in the actual episode. The whole tone and mood was perfect and just a joy to read.

Thank you so much for offering this piece, for filling a void left by the series episode!

Aw, I think I liked that even better than the first one! I especially love Dean taking care of Cas, and the rescue was very well done - just like Dean to go in like that and get captured too, and Efram was a good villain there, deciding to go back and forth between them. I liked that Cas went nuts and was able to distract him for long enough that Dean killed both the angels. Like Cas, I was actually a little surprised about Dean's priorities, but if he found Cas hurt like that I'm sure he wouldn't just abandon him to go help Sam, especially since as far as he knew, Sam was handling the situation. Once again loved Cas' dedication to keeping him from hurting anyone, like how he expected to go to the dungeon instead of a bed, and I liked the extra layer of Cas' trauma from Dean hurting him complicating matters. Poor Cas really went through a LOT in just a few days.

I really liked it when Dean determined that Cas trusted him and he trusted Cas so the trust was sufficient all around, while Cas was just confused by it. And aw, poor Cas apologizing for "being a burden" and Dean trying to convince him that he's not and realising that he's contributed to that perception. The Winchesters don't do it on purpose, but they're really bad at focussing on how useful Cas' powers are, and acting irritated when he can't do something, so of course he feels like if he's not useful to them, he shouldn't be around. I'm currently working my way through season 11 and I love how obsessed with saving Cas Dean is being...! I like the hopeful note this ended on and how Sam was concerned, too. Such a nice piece of hurt/comfort and friendship!

Aw, it was nice to get more of the delicious hurt/comfort in these couple episodes. I like the way you had them realizing to look for him after running into the manhunt - it makes sense that they might have seen something heading back to the bunker. I didn't think about the fact that they just went back to the bunker without trying to contact Cas again (although they might have tried calling him in the car or something and we didn't see), but I don't know that they weren't thinking about him. They'd both just gotten out of a big mess of their own and were probably figuring they'd go back to the bunker to regroup - especially since they've got all that magic back there - and then refocus on finding Cas. They also didn't quite know what was going on with them, although they do have a crappy track record of thinking something is weird or maybe going on with Cas and then just kind of ignoring it!

The way they found him worked perfectly and I liked how he started freaking out and they had to treat him carefully, like a wild animal, even though of course he didn't want to hurt them. And how focussed he was on keeping them safe, refusing to let them take off the cuffs. (Although I didn't think he *was* actually still cuffed when he got back to the bunker. I thought he got them off for purposes of traveling back there and then the Winchesters supplied him with new ones from the Men of Letters bunker. He certainly had a more extensive get up in the next episode, with a chain going all the way down to the floor, whereas the angels had just handcuffed him.) Dean and Sam's inner thoughts were both interesting and realistic - of course they'd both blame themselves and assume Cas didn't trust them when really Cas just wanted to get help as fast as possible to avoid hurting people, them included, and thought the angels could fix him.

Interesting dialogue about Hannah, and I liked that Dean was able to find out about that, because of course on the show, they once again miss important stuff that happened to Cas. He probably told them he got tortured by angels, but it's doubtful he went into too much detail. This was a good alternate version of what could have happened and I enjoyed the hurt/comfort because Cas needs love from those boys! Thanks for posting!

Thank you so much - both of these are great.I also felt the need for the boys to do something for Cas instead of just going about business as usual.

OMG these two stories killed me this week! And this second chapter was even more painful than the first! I couldn't believe you could break my heart even more than you did in the first chapter!
It was so beautiful! Cas was just so in character i loved him. It's nice that in your stories, the boys don't forget about him and actually catch him when he falls to pieces. It's what I would probably sell my soul for to see actually happen in the show. *sigh
Great great great job like always!
Thanks for taking care of our favorite character!

Definitely another fantastic how it SHOULD have gone, haha. I have no idea which of these I like best, they're both so great! As much as I like seeing both Sam and Dean come to Cas's rescue, there's also something really sweet about watching Dean come save him single-handedly after the trouble they had at the end of s10. I always love Cas!whump but thank goodness he actually had someone take care of him this time! I mean, I'm glad they were determined to help him (you know, in the whole two episodes in the show) but again: SO MUCH MORE SATISFYING than "let's just leave Cas chained in the library, he'll be fine."

Both versions of this story were great! Good job ;)

LOVE IT!

Another really awesome coda! I love both your version so much more than the original, I can't really decide which one I like better. I loved Dean's determination to find Cas here, and the emphasis of 'saving people' again. I really would have liked to see Dean take out Ephrim and Jonah. Poor Cas though not even trusting himself now with his curse, and how he was trying so hard not to be afraid of Dean while having flashbacks and Dean's disgust at Cas wanting him to leave him in the dungeon. I always love Protective!Dean :)
And yeah, I'm sure they'll figure out the plot, h/c is more important lol. I actually love the idea of them hearing about "Father Crowley" later, I can only imagine their faces lol
Anyway, another awesome job!

Aww great chapter! Keep writing. You is mighty fine at it. Also, the whump was on point. Not too jarring but just enough angst. I'd love to see more from you

I really liked both of these alternate oneshots :) I wonder what would have happened if Cas had actually been taken to heaven and incarcerated. Like, maybe the Winchesters would have had to barter for his freedom, or just rescue their angel themselves. :) Food for thought, I guess.

Have fun storming the castle! :) :) :)

These are both really wonderful stories! I love examining alternate versions of sections of the show, many of them are wonderful opportunities to expand upon and you always do such a creative job of it. I just want to say that I really love the little bit in this story where Dean is thinking about trust and about actions versus words. Too many times a person will say one thing with words, but say something else with actions, and I think it would certainly help the Winchesters out if they paid more attention to that. Anyway, really wonderful writing, as always. Thanks so much for sharing!

oh, man, this one was even better! All the sweet hurt, all the even sweeter comfort, the ptsd...beautiful