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The last night on earth was an experience in itself.
A picture was taken and Ellen drank herself under the table for the first time in her life.
But the moment when everyone slept and Castiel watched over his friends was the moment that would stay with him forever.
These were his friends and his charges. He would protect them to the bitter end.
“This is so creepy when you just watch us sleep,” Dean grumbled.
Castiel was surprised that his friend was still awake.
“Angels don't sleep and I have nothing better to do. I'm watching over you. Get some rest, Dean.”
Instead, Dean just continued to sit up.
Cas tilted his head, as he often did when he was trying to solve a puzzle.
All too often, the puzzle was humanity itself.
“You're worried,” he stated.
Dean laughed and shrugged, “Of course I am. Aren't you?”
Castiel nodded, but decided to share his worries. He would never have allowed himself to do that with his old family.
“We will kill my brother tomorrow and if we don't succeed, he will kill us. I'm okay with death, but that doesn't mean I wish you dead.”
Dean frowned, but whatever it was about the statement that bothered him, he didn't address it.
Instead, he focused on another statement, “You shouldn't call him your brother.”
Cas was only more confused: “But that's exactly what he is. Lucifer is my big brother, Dean. And I still love him, even though he wants to destroy humanity. That's a fact.”
Pain creased Dean's face, “I never wanted you to have to kill your family because of me, Cas.”
“I know,” Cas agreed, ”And it's ... unfortunate. But it's not your fault. I chose this because it's the right thing to do. I want to protect my father's creation. I want to protect my friends. I want to protect you, Dean. Even if I have to commit fratricide to do it.”
Dean nodded. But just the idea that he could say the same thing about Sam one day turned his stomach.
“So all the angels are your siblings?”
Cas nodded.
There was silence long enough for Castiel to make sure Dean hadn't fallen asleep again.
Dean cleared his throat and looked everywhere but at Castiel. A sure sign that the question made him uncomfortable.
“If I die, will I end up back in hell?”
Oh. Castiel's heart broke. After all this time, Dean still thought his soul was unclean.
“No. You'll go home to heaven,” he tried to reassure his friend, ”However, the angels will bring you back to life. After all, they need you alive so that you can give your consent.”
Dean's mouth twisted, “I guess the same goes for Sam. But what about Jo and Ellen and you? What's going to happen to you all?”
“Jo and Ellen also have a place in heaven. They'll rest there for eternity.”
If possible, Dean became even more tense: “And you?”
Castiel avoided his gaze, which was more unsettling than if he'd suddenly pulled a gun.
“Cas? What happens to angels when they die?”
Castiel briefly considered flying away. Just like he had done last time when the brothers wanted an explanation about his resurrection.
“Hell and heaven are resting places for souls. Angels don't have souls. We just cease to exist.”
Dean wanted to shake and slap God. How dare he care for humanity but not consider his first children?
As if he could read his mind - and maybe he could - Castiel replied, “I like the idea that it just didn't occur to God that we might die.”
I don't like the idea that he just didn't care what happened to us.
Castiel sighed, “Go to sleep, Dean. Or I'll make you.”
The threat was made in jest, but since Dean had no doubt that Castiel had the means to make it happen, he lay back down.
He dreamed of his only angel friend being erased as if he'd never existed.
It was a ghost town.
That much was certain.
Dean and Sam looked around uncertainly as they waited for their three companions to arrive.
They didn't have to wait long.
Ellen pulled up right next to them and got out with Jo.
Castiel didn't get out, but he was suddenly standing next to Dean anyway.
“Where are all the people?” Ellen asked.
“The town's deserted,” Jo sounded worried.
“No,” Castiel disagreed and looked around.
Almost immediately, the hunters around him went into battle formation.
“What do you mean, no?” asked Dean, ”Is this a trap? Did Crowley set us up?”
Castiel shook his head, “There are no humans here. But the whole town is full of reapers.”
Even if none of the experienced hunters wanted to admit it, the thought shook them.
“The last time I saw a gathering like this was at Pompei,” Castiel continued unperturbed, ”They only gather like this in times of great disaster. It's not a good omen.”
“Oh, you think so?” Dean laughed.
Sam wasn't the only one who could hear how feigned his confidence sounded. The attempt to lighten the mood with humor had failed, but Sam still gave his brother credit for trying.
“Just a moment. I'm going to talk to Doug.”
“Doug?” asked Sam incredulously, ”You know him by name?”
Castiel gave him an offended look, “Of course. I know every one of them.”
He took a few steps away from his friends without realizing how they were following him with almost awestruck looks.
“Hello, Doug,” he said.
Doug was a short man with a beard and crescent moon glasses on his nose. He knew the most crude jokes that Castiel would never understand but Dean would surely enjoy.
“Hello, Castiel,” Doug replied without moving or turning his head, ”I understand you've been cast out of Heaven.”
“Indeed I have. But that doesn't change our relationship.”
“We could do something about that,” Doug said, and Castiel heard the reaper wink at him, but the wink itself wasn't visible. Doug was still motionless.
“What are you all waiting for?” Castiel didn't respond to the approach.
“For our boss. The summoning is underway. Soon they'll walk among us again and they'll be angry.”
Castiel could imagine that. Who liked being summoned? He was just glad it had never been tried on him before. (Bobbys attempt had been more of a friendly invitation.) He imagined it would be very unpleasant.
“Who likes to be put on a leash? Especially by Lucifer himself?” continued Doug, ”It's too kinky even for me.”
Castiel flinched imperceptibly, but of course his friends didn't miss it.
“Are you all right?” asked Sam worriedly.
“Thanks, Doug,” Castiel said goodbye before returning to his friends.
They looked at him expectantly.
“The good news is that Crowley wasn't lying and my brother is actually here.”
Ellen hardly dared to ask: “And the bad news?”
Castiel looked at them in turn, “The bad news is that he's in the process of summoning Death and binding them to his will.”
Shocked, the hunters looked at their angel and didn't know what to say.
“Fuuuuuck,” Dean drawled, for the first time really saying what everyone was thinking.
A laugh made everyone wheel around.
There he was. In the middle of the street.
Lucifer.
“You're too late. You can't stop it now.”
It just seemed to amuse him, the way they all reached for their weapons.
There was nothing behind Lucifer but Meg.
If anything, she only incited the hunters' anger further.
Dean drew the Colt and pointed it at Lucifer, “Wanna bet?”
“Oh, no,” Lucifer breathed in horror, but it sounded fake, ”What am I supposed to do?”
Sam and Dean exchanged an uncertain look.
“Please, guys,” the devil rolled his eyes, ”A little toy like that can't kill me. To be fair, it really can kill a lot, but I'm still the devil.”
Dean pulled the trigger and Lucifer fell over backwards.
As Meg roared, he shot her too.
The air crackled with tension. Had Lucifer told the truth?
“He's still alive,” Castiel answered the question.
Everything tightened inside Dean and Ellen stood in front of her daughter.
The devil stood up again. Meg didn't.
“I'd say I told you, but I'm not that childish.”
“Since when?” Sam laughed.
Lucifer's gaze turned icy and then soft again as he turned to Castiel.
“Hello, little brother.”
“Hello, Lucifer,” Castiel nodded to him.
Dean gave him a sharp look. He hadn't forgotten their conversation and was worried that this words might be too much for his friend.
“You're Castiel, aren't you? The Angel of Death?”
Castiel nodded as all his friends looked at him in surprise.
“You're an Angel of Death?” Jo asked in a whisper.
Castiel frowned: “Of course. Only angels of death can bring souls back from the dead. Didn't you know that?”
“No,” Dean hissed, ”Because there are no books about angels.”
Sam wanted to object, but he saved that for a time when the devil wasn't standing by in amusement.
“I really must thank you,” he said with a smile.
Everything in the hunters and the angel tensed up. The instinct to flee spread through them and all that stopped them was the fact that they didn't want to turn their backs on the devil.
“For what?” Sam asked uncertainly, ”For Meg?”
Lucifer waved it off, “One demon more or less really doesn't matter anymore. No. I thank you for bringing me the one thing that was missing for the resurrection of Death. A vessel.”
“What are you talking about?” Dean asked, annoyed that they had lost control of the situation.
“No,” Cas breathed.
When Sam turned to him, the angel was pale as a sheet and his eyes were the size of dinner plates.
“So you get it,” the devil said almost gently, ”You really are a clever little fellow, little brother.”
Castiel took a step back, “You can't do that. I'm your brother!”
“What's wrong, Cas?” Dean wanted to know worriedly, but it was as if the angel couldn't hear him.
“Yes, you are. Otherwise the spell wouldn't work either,” Lucifer agreed, looking almost guilty, ”I'm really sorry too, but I'm sure you'll understand that the apocalypse has to happen.”
“If you're willing to do something like this to your own siblings, then you're beyond saving,” Castiel shook his head, sounding like he'd been heartbroken. As if he really hoped that the devil could be converted.
Sam's eyes widened, “Death's vessel? You were talking about Castiel?”
Lucifer gave a small clap, “Right, Sammy. Death has different rules than angels. He doesn't borrow a body, but the body becomes Death. And only someone who has worked with him can become Death. An Angel of Death, especially one who has died before, is perfect.”
Castiel tried to fly, but almost immediately Lucifer dragged him back to the ground with a wave of his hand.
“What happens to our angel then?” Ellen asked worriedly.
Lucifer tightened his mouth: “He's not your angel. He belongs to me. And he won't be an angel for much longer. He will be Death, and Death will obey my words because he is bound to me.”
With that, he started shouting the incantations.
Dean shot at him until he ran out of bullets, but the devil just deflected them.
Sam and Jo had rushed to Castiel's side and helped him up.
“What should we do?” Sam asked worriedly.
Castiel shook his head, “I don't know if there's anything we can do.”
“Are you still going to be you?” asked Jo with tears in her eyes.
Castiel looked at her helplessly, “I don't know.”
His last look was directed at Dean before the devil spoke the last word and everything changed.
The hunters had only blinked for a moment, but both Lucifer and Castiel were gone.
They were all still alive, but Castiel was gone and the devil was still alive.
It was a defeat.
When they returned to Bobby, the mood was dejected.
But when Bobby was about to burn the photo, Ellen stopped him and framed it instead.
“So we know what we're fighting for,” she admonished them all.
And that was the impetus.
Every book on death was picked out and read.
They would save their angel if it was the last thing they did.
“Are you still angry, Castiel?”
“Yes,” Castiel agreed, sitting across from his brother like a statue, ”But for different reasons than before.”
Lucifer seemed almost genuinely sad.
Castiel knew better. His brother wasn't capable of it. Just as he himself hadn't been sorry when he'd tried to have Anna executed. She had seen through him, just as he saw through Lucifer now. Angels weren't sorry for anything, they were far too convinced that they were always on the right path.
But Castiel was no longer an angel.
He was Death.
And no one could lie to Death.
“I hope,” Lucifer said sincerely, ”that when this is all over, you will forgive me and we can be a family again.”
It was the truth, but only because Lucifer had been alone for so long that he longed for companionship. For love from his brothers, even though they had thrown him away.
“Take off my shackles now and you have chances of forgiveness,” Castiel conceded, ”Keep me chained as your slave and I'll never be able to see a brother in you again.”
The chains looked light as a feather and like strands of silk, but they constricted Castiel's free will and he had never wanted to feel that feeling again.
He had fought so hard to stop being a will-less soldier, but here he was again.
Trapped in the will of another.
Lucifer shook his head and stood up: “I can't do that, little brother. But I'm sure you'll forgive me. You've always been more generous than our siblings.”
“Never,” Castiel replied, and he wasn't lying. If he were an angel, then perhaps. But he was Death and had a very different way of looking at things.
And he knew he could never forgive Lucifer.
Lucifer didn't seem to hear it, but that was no wonder. Lucifer was lying to himself because he was a child who only heard what he wanted to hear.
As the Winchesters found out, it wasn't that difficult to summon a reaper.
The hardest ingredient was probably the reaper's name, but luckily Cas had solved that problem for them.
“You know we have no way of stopping him from killing us, right?” asked Sam.
They both thought back to a certain faith healer, but in the end Dean shrugged.
“If he's a friend of Cas's, then he can't be that bad.”
Sam's mouth twisted, “Have you met Cas's brothers?”
It was a good point, but Dean would bite his tongue off rather than admit it. Instead, he tossed the match into their ingredient list and began the incantation.
Not even a second after the last syllable left his mouth, Doug was standing in the room.
Doug didn't look like they'd expected, but since Dean could mostly remember Tessa, his expectations were probably skewed.
“The Winchesters,” Doug said dryly, ”What can I do for you?”
“We want to know how Cas is doing,” Sam wasted no time. Apparently he was really worried that Doug might get into a bad mood if he skipped the small talk.
Then again, Sam had always been the one with the stick up his ass in the family.
“My boss can't be in a bad mood,” Doug replied motionlessly.
Dean's anger made him take a threatening step forward.
“Cas isn't your boss, he's an angel and your friend.”
Doug waved it off: “Work colleague is more like it and he was. Now he's my boss and I'm not going to do anything to hurt my boss.”
“We want to rid him of Lucifer,” Sam tried logic, ”Surely he wants that too, right?”
And there was something in Doug's look. For the first time, he seemed human. He felt visibly guilty and uncomfortable in his skin, the way he was playing with his watch.
“He's forbidden us to free him or do anything of the sort.”
Dean laughed spitefully, “But that's probably because Lucifer wanted it that way.”
Doug nodded, “Yeah. But that doesn't change anything. Reapers are bound by the word of Death. If we no longer follow his orders, then we are outcasts. And I'm not prepared to betray my duties for you.”
With that, he disappeared and Dean kicked the bowl of ingredients across the room.
“Bloody hell!”
Sam just watched his brother throw a tantrum.
It sucked that they couldn't do anything to help Cas because they didn't know where he was. And even if they did know, they wouldn't know how to break the spell.
But what was even worse was the fact that they didn't even know if their friend was still their friend or if he had mutated into something else entirely.
Sam was pretty sure Dean hadn't thought about that aspect yet and he certainly wasn't going to give him that thought.
Otherwise his brother would probably get really angry.
Dean would never admit it openly, but he felt a pang in his chest when Anna visited him in his dream.
Castiel was the only angel who had ever done this and it only made him miss his friend all the more.
“Because Castiel is such a loyal friend too,” Anna just said scornfully.
Dean was almost startled by the hatred in her eyes.
“What are you talking about?”
Almost immediately, her eyes softened, “He didn't tell you.”
The sad thing was, when she told him about Castiel's betrayal, he believed her immediately.
He just didn't care.
The guy had just been on the wrong side for a while. The only thing that mattered was that he'd changed his mind. Castiel had chosen Dean and had accepted his own death in the process.
“Do you know where he is?” he asked, almost hopefully.
She frowned: “Isn't he with you? Then who's giving him orders? Castiel is a good little soldier. I can't imagine him existing without orders.”
Dean bit his tongue. Anna couldn't know what had happened. So he couldn't go for her throat just because she was rubbing salt in the wound.
“Lucifer's got him,” he replied curtly, ”He's under his spell.”
Anna's eyes widened: “Lucifer has cast a spell on him? That's... blasphemous.”
Dean wouldn't have chosen that word, but to an angel, it was probably the equivalent of shitty.
“We'll break the spell. Somehow. But I wouldn't resist help.”
He looked hopefully at Anna. It would be really nice to work with her again. And her chances would double too, as Anna had much more knowledge at her disposal than she could fit into her books.
Anna smiled, but it looked forced: “Of course, Dean. Meet me there. Bring Sam.”
With that, Dean woke up with a meeting place in mind.
Anna waited tensely and froze.
There was no warning, but suddenly the most ominous presence she had ever felt was behind her.
Pure power.
Like that of a grim reaper only amplified a million times over.
“Hello, Death,” she tried not to let her worry show and turned around briskly.
It wasn't Death standing in front of her, but Castiel.
How could she have been so sure of herself?
“You weren't mistaken, sister,” Castiel said dryly, ”A lot has happened since we last met. I am Death. I am the end of every life. I am the end of you.”
She took a step back.
“Dean just meant that you're under ... He didn't say anything about that.”
Understanding spread through her. This was still Castiel, but this was also Death.
And he obeyed Lucifer.
“Lucifer ordered my death?” she asked incredulously. Surely the devil didn't even know who she was.
Castiel shook his head, “No. He ordered the death of anyone who would try to kill Sam Winchester. Well, not threats that the brothers can take care of themselves. I really wish I didn't have to intervene.”
Anna wanted to fall to her knees and beg for her life, but she was a fighter.
So she stuck her chin out defiantly and summoned an angel blade.
“Over my dead body.”
“That's the plan,” Castiel agreed.
Anna touched him and died.
The brothers only found her body and no cause of death.
It was as if she had simply dropped dead.
Dean felt pretty hopeless.
Being held by two demons in front of Famine would probably make anyone feel hopeless.
It didn't help that Famine was writing poetry about how dead Dean felt inside.
He knew that himself and to be honest, one sentence would have done the trick.
“Now we're just waiting for your brother. I can't wait to see how he liked my present.”
Dean's blood froze to ice in his veins, but he tried to cover it up.
“While we wait,” Dean began nonchalantly, ”How about you tell me how we break the spell that binds Death.”
The rider started laughing: “You can't do that. You'd have to kill the devil to do that.”
Dean heart slipped into his pants, “That's the only way.”
Hunger shrugged, “You could still strip Lucifer of his powers or get him to break the spell on his own. But I think your chances to do that are even worse.”
Dean agreed inwardly, but maybe there was another way.
“Is it possible for Death to possess someone else? I'm sure the spell would go with it.”
Hunger's eyes flashed and suddenly he looked at Dean with interest again.
“So there's hunger in you after all.”
He held out his disgustingly pale and shaky hand and pointed directly at Dean's heart.
Dean writhed in pain. He wanted to save Cas, but these two goons were holding him down.
Hunger smiled, “You hunger to save your friend. I haven't tasted that kind of hunger in ages.”
“And you never will again,” Dean wonderful brother came through the door.
Dean might be happier if his heart wasn't threatening to burst and Sam's mouth wasn't covered in blood.
“Castiel!” roared Lucifer angrily, ”Death!”
Almost immediately, his little brother appeared beside him.
“What happened?” Lucifer wanted to know.
His servant - some kind of demon - backed away fearfully.
Castiel did not flinch. He just seemed sad.
“The brothers died.”
“You were supposed to stop that from happening! That was an order.”
Castiel wheeled around to him angrily, “Don't you dare, brother! Do you really think I wanted my charges to die.”
Lucifer's anger fizzled out, leaving only disgust instead, “So after everything, you still see them as your charges, your friends.”
Castiel nodded, “Yes, I do. And their deaths are the result of a miscalculation on my part. I thought they could defend themselves against mere humans. Apparently not.”
Lucifer sighed and sank into an armchair: “Very well. Then I guess we'll have to wait until heaven sends them back.”
Castiel didn't like that aspect either. He knew Zachariah's powers of persuasion and did not wish them on his worst enemy.
“You may go,” Lucifer dismissed him.
Castiel sat down across from him instead.
“Do you enjoy bossing me around, brother?”
Lucifer shook his head. His shell was getting worse by the day.
Castiel sighed, “Not much longer and Nick's soul will have to move on. Then the body will be all yours. Not for long, though.”
Lucifer laughed: “Without Nick, I'll tear it apart. He serves as a buffer. I need Sam.”
Castiel said nothing, but it was clear in his eyes what he wanted to say.
Over my dead body.
For the first time in a long time, Lucifer was merciful and didn't rub salt in the wound.
“Hello, Gabriel.”
Gabriel breathed a sigh of relief: “Castiel. That's lucky. I really thought Lucifer had killed me.”
But when he turned around, there stood his little brother, but it was also Death.
For the first time, the smile fell from Trickster's face because he no longer felt like laughing.
“I'm really sorry.”
Gabriel just shrugged, “Nice gesture of you picking me up in person.”
Castiel put a hand on his shoulder reassuringly: “You saved Kali.”
“And my own brother stabbed me.”
Almost panicked, Gabriel looked up after a second.
“But he chained you to his will. I suppose I shouldn't complain.”
Castiel smiled and it looked comical on his usually emotionless face.
“You may complain, Gabriel. But we have to go now.”
“Go where?”
“Spoiler.”
Defeating the plague was surprisingly easy.
He was furious and wanted revenge on the Winchesters.
So much so that he only noticed the reinforcements when Jo cut off his finger and Ellen stabbed his demon bitch.
All that was left was one ring.
“Your boyfriend is in the restaurant,” Crowley said.
Dean barely heard him over the roaring in his ears. He didn't have the energy to respond to the taunting from a demon either.
“Are you sure about this?”
“As sure as a mermaid can't fly.”
Dean nodded and stood as if in a trance.
Why here? Castiel had never eaten before, but suddenly he was visiting a family pizza place in Chicago. That was out of character. Maybe his friend had changed too much after all. Maybe he needed to use plan B.
Sam and he hadn't even had to argue, and they hadn't told Crowley.
Crowley thought Dean was going to cut off Death's finger. But that was plan B.
Plan A was to talk to Castiel. To talk to his friend.
And Sam hadn't disagreed.
Dean had been so sure, so why was he doubting now?
He entered the pizzeria and saw bodies lying everywhere. Plus, the most tantalizing aroma wafted into his nose.
Castiel sat at one of the tables and looked up with a smile.
“Hello Dean.”
Dean nodded at him, “Hi Cas.”
“Please sit with me. I've ordered you a pizza. I'm afraid it's getting a bit cold, though.”
Dean sat down and felt the weight of the gun in his pocket.
“Don't you want anything to eat?” he asked as he had to force himself harder to get a bite down.
As delicious as it was.
“I don't have to eat anything. And the cook has unfortunately passed away.”
Castiel sounded genuinely saddened and Dean's mouth tightened.
“Why? The people here were innocent.”
Pain was evident in his friend's eyes and Dean almost felt guilty for asking the question.
“Lucifer wants the apocalypse. The whole city won't be standing much longer. I can only delay his orders for so long. It was too late for these people.”
Dean put down the silverware and reached for Castiel's hand.
To the hand where a ring with a rectangular white stone adorned the ring finger.
“How do we undo it?”
Castiel smiled at Dean, “I appreciate you wanting to help me, but the world comes first.”
How could Dean have doubted that this was still Cas. His self-sacrificing friend hadn't changed a bit.
“Besides, I like being Death.”
Dean cringed so hard he almost let go of his hand.
“How can you say that?” He looked around the restaurant.
“The deaths are on Lucifer's dime. He perverts what I actually am. Death is not your enemy Dean. It's just the end of life. And every end is a new beginning.”
“Death is cruel,” Dean objected.
“I'm not,” Cas's eyes turned cold and glowed blue, ”I'm fair. Life deals different cards, but I get to everyone. Human, monster, demon and angel. Even God.”
Dean's breath caught in his throat.
He should take the ring off his finger and run away.
But when he looked into Castiel's eyes, all he saw was his friend.
“I know you Cas,” he agreed, ”You're not cruel. I shouldn't have said that.”
“I understand, Dean. You still need to get used to my new role. But please know that I'm still your friend.”
Dean smiled and jokingly asked, “So would you give me your ring if I asked for it?”
“Yes.”
The answer came without hesitation, sweeping Dean's mind blank.
“Just like that?”
“Yes,” Castiel agreed, nodding at his hands, ”Just take it off. But I'd like it back. Think of it as a loan, as well as the amulet you lent me.”
Dean's eyes automatically jerked to Castiel's neck and sure enough, he could see the chain under the collar.
He pulled the ring off and held it up for Castiel to see.
“When this is all over, we'll trade ring for amulet, deal?”
Castiel smiled again and Dean had to admit that it suited his friend to show emotion.
“Deal.”
Dean stood up and made to leave the room, but Castiel held him back by the sleeve.
“One more thing Dean.”
“Yeah?”
He didn't like how serious his friend suddenly seemed.
“Please think about Sam's offer. I know you have no reason to trust me, but believe me, Sam's plan is your best chance at success. Maybe even your only one.”
Dean's heart sank.
He left the room and wanted to scream that he would never let that happen.
The only nasty thing was that he trusted Castiel very much.
And that was what broke his heart.
It broke Castiel's heart to see Dean.
Kneeling. Bloody. Heartbroken.
Even when he'd pulled Dean out of hell, his friend hadn't been in such agony.
As if Dean had sensed him, he turned around.
“Cas?” he asked incredulously, ”Am I dead?”
Castiel's broken heart shattered into even smaller pieces. Dean sounded almost hopeful.
“No. But I'm free and you could use a friend.”
He leaned over and touched Dean's forehead. At least all the physical wounds were healing. Castiel couldn't do anything about the mental ones just yet.
“Are you an angel again?” Dean asked.
Castiel went to Bobby's body and touched his forehead.
Bobby's soul returned to his body.
“I never stopped being an angel,” he replied to his friend as he helped Bobby up, ”but I'm still Death.”
“That's perfectly fine,” Bobby laughed.
Dean instead looked crestfallen, “So you're going to go? Work?”
Castiel shook his head, “My reapers can do that without me. I only reserve special souls for myself. Besides, we have something important to do.”
Dean's shoulders tensed. He'd just lost his brother and the last thing he wanted to do was jump into the next fight. Or maybe that was exactly what he wanted.
Sometimes Castiel wasn't sure about that. Dean Winchester was too complex a man to understand.
“What's left now?”
Castiel smiled at him, “I have to get into the cage to pull Sam's soul out of damnation. All we need is a body.”
Dean's eyes grew wide, “You can do that?”
“I'm Death. Souls are my business.”
Castiel saw the most marvelous thing he had ever seen in his life.
Dean Winchester beamed and burst out laughing. His soul seemed to take over the entire graveyard.
Two hunters and Death started digging up a corpse that had recently died.
And then they dug up another one.
There were two brothers to save and with Death on their side, Dean finally felt hopeful again.