Chapter 22: Heaven & the Hunt

Dean's heart was in his throat the second the door crashed open, nearly shattering it off its hinges. He feared he was too late and that somehow he missed his chance. He just needed to see the angel one last time. One more moment. One more glimpse of his incredible blue eyes before vanishing from his life… forever.

He stumbled inside the kitchen and stilled when he saw the fire. And Cas, trapped inside it. The tension in his gut subsided a little, knowing Cas was still there and safe, at least for the moment.

"Cas? What the hell?" he asked thoroughly confused as he walked towards the extremely pissed off angel in Bobby's study.

"Hello Dean," Cas replied curtly, jaw locked tightly. The angel appeared unharmed and back to his normal self considering all that had happened to him. And that he was standing in a fiery ring meant to entrap angels.

"Why… who...?" Dean began, already grabbing the bag of rock salt by the window to put out the flames.

"It was Balthazar," Cas seethed.

"Why?"

"Because he's an idiot, that's why. Please release me, I need to…" Cas began but stopped abruptly. Dean hesitated as he stood before the hot flames that danced at his feet and licked hungrily up towards his face.

He eyed Cas, waiting for him to continue but when he didn't, he paused with the rock salt.

"You need to what, Cas?" he asked.

Cas, finally, for the first time since Dean walked into the house, looked at him. His clear blue eyes blazed as hot and angry as the vicious fire snapping between them. "I have many things I wish to accomplish before my death. And standing in Bobby's house until the Fates take me is not exactly ideal, Dean."

Dean nodded in understanding, though continued to wait. He wasn't sure why. But seeing Cas, trapped in this circle, forced to stay there… appealed to Dean at the moment. He couldn't explain it, only that he before he realized what he was doing, he set the bag of rock salt back down on the table.

Cas's face tensed, "What are you doing?"

"I need to talk to you," Dean replied stiffly.

"Fine," Cas retorted, "at least release me."

"No."

"No?" Cas seemed to breathe smoke through his nose. "Why not?"

"Because I don't want you going anywhere, Cas. And I've got this strange feelin' the second I release you, you're gonna leave."

When Cas didn't reply, only narrowed his eyes dangerously, Dean felt a shiver race up his spine, alerting him. It had been awhile since he'd seen Cas go all wrathful on his ass but the few times he did, Dean tried to stay out of the way.

And he could see that Castiel now, staring at him through the flames of Hell, ready to snap or worse, fight. This wasn't going to be easy, Dean realized.

Dean took a deep breath, his muscles tense as though going into battle. "You know, for an angel Cas- you sure aren't the easiest to get a hold of these days."

Cas tilted his head, chin raised defiantly. "For a human Dean, you are not the easiest to speak with."

Dean smirked, "Yeah okay- that's true. But still man, we've got history you and me. I'm not lettin' my friend go down without a fight. If you know anything about me Cas, it's that."

"Right now Dean, I believe that I don't know you at all," Cas replied coldly, his eyes becoming icicles, hard enough to break a man.

Dean gulped. Cas was going to fight. So that meant Dean was going to have to try harder to make him understand.

"You're my friend, Cas…" Dean began, but Cas cut in harshly.

"A friend willing to let me die. Yes, how noble of you Dean. Now- release me! I wish to spend the time I have left away from you and everything that is you."

Dean reeled. Cas wasn't done shocking the hell out of him.

"I will already spend my eternity in my own personal Hell, I don't wish to prolong it in the presence of the man who chooses not to love me." Cas voice darkened, "even if I believe I deserve your coldness, does not mean I have to tolerate the pain of it now."

Dean's heart grew heavy in his chest like a stone. Cas hated him. Resented him. But Cas didn't know him or at least how he felt. And it was time to man up, Dean told himself as he grabbed the bag of rock salt and tossed it on the flames. The second it did, the flames vanished. Cas's hard stare didn't unnerve him anymore. It empowered him.

He took a determined step forward and grabbed the back of Cas's neck, pulling him close, forcing the angel to look at him. "If you want to think I'm an asshole, fine. I know I can be. But the very least Cas- is I can set the record straight before you greet your death with open arms, you stupid child."

Cas's face hardened stoically, though his eyes no longer looked at him in anger, but in an emptiness that tore Dean up on the inside. He did this to Cas. He hurt him bad. They both had.

"I want you to know the truth before you sacrifice yourself to those bitches, Cas." He said gravely, his thumb stroking the angel's soft skin of his neck, briefly touching his even softer hair, wondering if this was the last time he would get to hold his angel.

"I knew from the moment I saw you Cas, that you were going to change my life." He whispered softly, their eyes locked and unwavering. "I knew it from my soul that I could trust you and that you would never hurt me."

Cas's eyes broke then, adverting his gaze, shame seeming to engulf him.

"But I also kinda thought you were a dick," he continued. "Some pompous ass-clown that thought he was God's friggin' gift."

Cas's gaze returned to his curiously then.

"I've been wrong about a lot things. But with you Cas- I was so off target, we ended up nearly killin' each other." He said, his voice breaking with sudden emotion. "I promise man, never to let that happen again. I promise not to lie or hurt you again. You're my best friend. And if I was right about anything when we first met, it was that you would change my life. And you have."

Cas's face was etched in deep pain now. He wanted to rip himself away from Dean and struggled to stay. Dean saw Cas as a bird, ready to take flight but trapped in its own cage. His grip instinctively tightened. He wasn't letting him go. Not now. Not ever. And if he had to pull apart the bars of Cas's cage to get to him, he would.

"I want you to understand one thing before you go, Cas." Dean said. "I didn't choose to fall in love. Hell, I didn't even think I was capable anymore. But you somehow, snuck inside my heart when I wasn't payin' attention. Now here we are, at each other's throats once again because of me. Because I couldn't tell you the damn truth. Well here it is Cas…" Cas's whole body stilled, no longer resisting him as he whispered to the angel. "I love you. I think I always have. If you leave me now, you're choosing to do so. And I won't stop you."

"Dean…" Cas breathed out weakly, his eyes brimming. Dean felt the angel's body loosen and before he realized it, he wrapped his arms around the defeated angel, holding him tight and holding him with the strength of his heart.

Cas's fingers dug into his back desperately, his face buried into the crook of his neck, and his breathing frantic. "Dean…" he whispered again, this time full of emotion.

Dean's heart broke but he continued to hold him, swallowing the lump in his throat. This was what love was, Dean knew it. Painful and hard and serenely blissful. He couldn't imagine loving anyone more than the being he had in his arms.

Dean moved Cas's face up towards him and kissed him. It was unhurried and slow, tender and gentle. It was his heart, sealed in a kiss. Cas accepted it, his body still full of emotion as he opened his mouth and devoured. They stood, trapped in each other's arms for a long time, neither one ready to let go. Wrapped in the heaven of each other.

All of a sudden a bright, angelic light burned between their chests. Dean nearly leapt back in surprise but he felt Cas's superior strength hold him there. "No," Cas breathed. "It's the bond of the Guardian. It's reconnecting itself."

"What?" Dean asked, thoroughly confused and his heart racing frantically as the light grew brighter and his chest warmed with it.

"Don't resist it, Dean." Cas instructed, his face stoic and unreadable as he seemed to embrace the light between them. Dean watched his angel glow.

Just as the light abruptly came to life, it just as quickly vanished. Dean was left with a weird tingling in his chest, a tightness around his heart. He rubbed the spot where the light had touched him and Cas.

Cas took his hand and put his knuckles to his smiling lips. Dean, now really confused, just stared at Cas.

"The Fates can't take me anymore, Dean." Cas whispered as his eyes brimmed over with unshed tears of happiness and his smile lit his handsome face. "They cannot take me."

"Are you serious?" Dean asked, his hand recapturing Cas's face, caressing his cheek.

"Yes, the Fates are not as powerful as Guardian Angels. That is why they knew they could kill me- our bond of mortal and angel had been severed."

"So that means you're stayin'?" Dean asked, getting weaker by the second by the pure elation now throbbing through his entire body.

Cas beamed, "Forever."

Dean and Cas embraced, both sighing in relief and utter happiness.

"Aw- so touching…" said a dark, husky voice from behind them. "I think I may gag."

Dean turned, frowning at the demon that stood in Bobby's kitchen. "Way to ruin a moment, Crowley."

"Apologies," Crowley said with an indifferent shrug. Dean irritably watched as the demon poured himself a drink from Bobby's liquor cabinet. "Cas, darling- good to see you alive, I suppose."

Cas stiffened, "Crowley- what do you want?" he asked harshly.

"Oh what? No hugs and kisses? After everything we've been through?"

Cas said nothing, simply arched a suspicious eyebrow at the demon, dressed in his usual black suit and cocky attitude.

"You're right of course," Crowley said. "But alas, water under the bridge"

"Again Crowley- what do you want?" Dean snapped impatiently.

"Oh- I dunno, I thought you love-birds might want to know about a couple of Leviathans I found down in New Orleans."

Dean and Cas exchanged a brief look.

"I figured Castiel might want a little payback," Crowley explained with a wave of his drink before taking a sip. "After all, they did wear you to the prom, angel."

Cas took a step to the demon, his warrior stance hard and ridged. Dean smirked, he liked it when Cas got all badass. It was definitely a turn on. "We will join you Crowley. From what I understand, you helped the Winchesters defeat Roman. For that, I am grateful."

Crowley smiled, "Cas- you're gonna make me blush. Stop it." He cooed mockingly. "Besides, Dick had become a thorn in my ass, and not the fun kind either. So why not help the Wonder Boys take a swing at him?"

"We should probably call Sam," Dean muttered more to himself then the others as he pulled out his cell phone, then paused. It would be faster to pray for Balthazar. And Dean had a few words he wanted to say to that sneaky ass-hat anyway.

Dean quickly and quietly prayed for Balthazar and seconds later, Balthazar and Sam stood in Bobby's study.

"Oh joy, the whole team is here." Crowley grumbled.

"Crowley, unfortunate to see you so soon," Balthazar said in mild surprise.

Crowley opened his mouth to retort when Cas gave the demon a cold glance. "Enough," he ordered, silencing the demon.

Sam looked between Cas and Dean, then searched his brother's face, "so…?" he asked carefully.

Dean couldn't hold back the smile that touched his lips as his gaze returned to the angel. Cas resisted his urge to smile better than Dean as he answered, "Our Guardian bond has been restored."

Sam frowned.

"It means the Fates can't snatch Cas any time soon, at least while he's a Guardian." Dean explained.

Sam smiled at them, "That's great." Dean noticed that his brother looked rather proud of him at the moment. Maybe because he thought Dean wouldn't be able to pull his head out of his ass fast enough to save Cas. He was glad he proved Sam wrong, but even happier that his brother didn't mention his doubts.

Dean turned his eyes to Balthazar then, glowering. "Nice plan by the way, Balthazar. You had me going there for a minute."

Balthazar smirked innocently, "Whatever do you mean, Dean?"
Dean pursed his lips disapprovingly at the angel, when Cas asked, "What are you talking about?"

"Big mouth here told me your clock was about to strike midnight and I was about to lose my chance to save you." Dean explained half-heartedly.

Cas frowned in confusion, "I don't understand."

"Frankly, it's not important. What matters is that it worked." Balthazar said with a dismissive wave.

Dean turned to Sam, "Were you in on this?"

Sam shifted uncomfortably, "I had to trap Cas."

Dean gave his little brother a stern look when Crowley interrupted, "Well- this is all incredibly fascinating. However I must go, I have a Leviathan problem to deal with. Do I have any takers on helping me kill the bastards?"

Cas stepped to Dean, "I would like to go after them, Dean."

Dean felt as though Cas was asking for permission to go after them. His heart warmed. They were warriors at the very core and Dean would never say no to a fight. Especially one he knew he could win. And the idea of Cas fighting along his side once more made him practically ecstatic.

Dean's eyes softened as he resisted the urge to display his newfound affection and love for his angel. He wasn't the type of public displays and he had a feeling Cas wasn't either. So he merely nodded, "yeah- you know I'm game, Cas. And if we get to throw down on the monsters that hurt you, then by all means let's kill these sons-of-bitches."

Balthazar smirked, "I couldn't have said it better myself. Darling," he said looking at Sam. "A bit of bloodshed sounds like fun. What do you think?"

Sam responded by grinning boyishly at Balthazar, "Honestly, I don't think these Leviathans stand a chance."

Crowley rolled his eyes dramatically. "Seriously, the amount disgusting love in this house is enough to make a demon want to purge himself. C'mon then, I haven't got all day."

And with that, the hunt began and the angels with their humans in hand, vanished.

**I hope you enjoyed my story! I am truly grateful for all the wonderful feedback & following behind this story! I wanted to finish this up before my semester started & felt it was the best time to end it. I might not be writing fan fiction for a while- so I don't want to say good-bye, but... I rarely get a chance to write once life gets in the way. However, I am open to ideas. If you wish to see one of the characters in a one-shot which I feel I could write (or want to write), plz feel free to let me know! Anything to contribute to u guys! U've been awesome!

BTW- i heard through the Supernatural rumor mill that Misha Collins (Cas) will be returning in episode 17 of this season! OMG! **squee** However, he might be returning in a 'different' form from what the producers have said- whatever that means. So I'm not sure if he will still be Cas/ an angel anymore.

Anywho- let me know if u have any fun ideas for a one-shot with whatever character- Crowley included ;)

Thanks again for the comments & wonderful reviews!

~Lots of luv kidneythieves ;)~