Chapter Text
As light blasts through the place, suddenly Castiel receives flashes and then floods- of memories and thoughts as his Grace returns. He hears himself being told to raise a human from Perdition, recalling then the exquisite feeling of putting him back together piece by piece, and saw a pair of green eyes as lovely as his soul. The brightest soul Cas has ever seen.
He sees himself on earth, talking to this human - sees him try to ward against him, stab him with a demonic weapon. Sees him do everything but run.
And realizes he would follow this human being anywhere.
He sees the other angels, Uriel and- and then Anna, sees himself give her up, betray her- and then she in turn tries to kill this man's parents, his brother... He sees the brother, younger though taller, an abomination by Heaven's terms but a strong man, a good man. Sees how his older brother tries to protect him with everything he has, and Castiel wants to be part of that, wants to protect, and if he deserves it, to be protected -
And with the power of his Grace returned, Metatron lets out a hoarse cry as burning glowing eyes light upon him and he scrambles away only to be stopped forcefully. "You took my memory from me," Cas's voice booms. "You cast all the angels out of heaven- to what, be human? Well if you're only human..." Cocking his head and dropping his voice to a growl, Cas speaks words he learned from Dean "I'd say that means we can blow your friggin brains out."
***
"Cas-" Dean croaks, holding back a groan as it feels like a gigantic hand is squeezing his brain. He gets a ton of memories like a landslide or water breaking free from behind a dam. When the levee breaks, he thinks; but he knows why this ex-angel guy is so familiar to him. Why he felt like he knew Cas- because he did.
Why he cares about the guy, because he does.
"I'll hold them off! I'll hold them all off! Just stop Sam!"
He said they were making things up as they went, and yeah, they were - but they were trying then and are trying now. And Dean gets up, wincing, holding his side as he drags his body more than walks - Jesus, the squelching heat of blood pouring from his side is like a water spigot turned on full blast. He winces as he steps beside Cas and with a grunt offers a weapon- a blade.
An angel blade.
Cas's eyes grow wide "Dean-"
And before Dean can say or do anything besides lift his mouth in the smallest smile, his legs buckle and he drops to the floor.
"DEAN!" Cas catches him, or grabs on, he feels that, but then there's only pain and cold, and he thinks he hears other noises and voices and then feels warmth and sees more bright light, and he hears Cas saying almost brokenly "Don't leave me, Dean, please - I love you."
***
With those words and all the fervent use of Grace, Anna and Naomi - and Balthazar, who'd given his guards the slip to see this - stand together.
"He loves him, the way our father loves," and even if there remains distaste, it's mostly shock on Naomi's face.
"Then help him- we have to help him heal," Anna says softly, in a gentle fashion for her. Normally she would be demanding, as a commanding officer should; but this, she urges for her friend's sake.
"Of course we do!" Balthazar beams. "Gotta keep Cassy's life interesting!"
***
Cas looks down at Dean, his hands laced and beaming grace into him, the wound in his side Metatron had made with a blade concealed within his own coat- rat bastard, Dean would spit. But he doesn't, his face is pale.
So pale.
It is a moment, or many moments, before his beautiful green eyes blink back to clarity.
"Oh, man, that hurt like a bitch," his voice is rough as he clears his throat. "Uh hey, Cas." Dean's cheeks, or rather his entire face goes pink, highlighting his freckles. He shifts slightly, lowering his eyes.
"Dean!" Cas says, and flings both arms around him in an enormous tight hug. Dean chuckles quietly, wrapping his arms around the other too.
"Okay, hey, buddy. Easy." Pressing himself close, his face nestled against the angel's neck as well as his damn trenchcoat, Dean adds a far softer, slightly rushed and nearly mumbling "-I love you too."