A Moment of Weakness (Chapter 10)
Sometimes Dean hated conversing with Castiel. Especially when Castiel would just sit or stand there and say nothing while Dean vomited words.
This time, Castiel sat on the bed in the master bedroom as Dean paced back and forth in the open floor. He explained the entire situation, all the while feeling like he was speaking too fast. The more he talked about it, the more agitated he became, and the faster he spoke.
By the end of it, Dean’s chest was heaving as if he had run a marathon. He looked to Castiel who sat at the edge of the bed, staring at him. He wanted to walk over to Castiel and shake him to goad some sort of reaction from him.
Seconds, or minutes, passed and Castiel stood up. He put a hand to Dean’s cheek and sighed. He told him how he understood the need to work with Crowley and it wouldn’t upset him. Especially since he saw how torn he was about doing it. He then told him that he didn’t want to be there when they summoned him.
He wasn’t able to be in the same vicinity as the demon. Not yet.
So when the time came for Dean to summon the demon, Sam, Bobby, and Jody took Castiel into town for food and other mindless, time-consuming activities. Balthazar tagged along to protect them if a threat came long.
Dean set up everything they’d need to summon Crowley while Gabriel drew a trap on the floor. It was simple, but if the trap didn’t work, they had three archangels to keep the demon where they needed him.
Gabriel read the summoning spell while Dean mixed some leaves and bones together. Then he threw a match into the bowl.
As soon as the smoke died down, Dean groaned. He did not want to do this. But there Crowley was, standing in the middle of a trap and rolling his eyes as soon as they made eye contact.
“Fantastic,” he said. He turned to look at the other people in the room with them. “Even more fantastic.”
Gabriel smiled. “It’s good to see you.”
Crowley smirked. But as quickly as it appeared, it vanished. “I’m sorry, I can’t understand a word you’re saying.”
Michael sighed and rolled his eyes. He didn’t have time for this. Especially from him. “You’re wasting our time, Ra-”
Crowley raised a hand to stop him from talking. “Excuse me, but if you angels are going to just talk in your angelic speak, you don’t need me here.”
Michael leaned closer to Gabriel, all the while keeping his eyes on Crowley. “What is he doing?”
Gabriel shrugged. He was just as lost as the oldest archangel. He knew that if Michael didn’t get it, then there was no way he would. “I don’t know.”
“Crowley,” Dean said, impatient. He could pick up on the angel’s irritation. They probably didn’t want to be around a demon longer than they had to.
“Nice to see you again, Dean.”
“Can’t say the same.” After Castiel ‘died,’ he made a promise to himself to never work with demons again. Especially Crowley. It was just unfortunate that their paths crossed again with Sam’s marriage. And now this.
Crowley was about to step toward Dean, but he looked down and saw the chalk outline around him. “So, how is it babysitting an angel? Can I hire you to watch over a few of my demons when you’re done?”
Dean charged forward. “You know what, Crowley, I should-”
“What?” Crowley said with a laugh.
Dean was about to say something, but he knew that Crowley was trying to rile him up. It almost worked. Instead, he turned to the angels. “I told you it was a bad idea working with him.”
“Hurtful, Dean. Don’t forget that I’ve helped you from time to time.”
“Yeah, and what did that cost me?”
“I don’t think I need to justify that question with an answer.”
Dean walked around the trap to where the angels stood. He put himself between them and Crowley. “Just get rid of him. He’s useless to us.”
“Oh, I don’t know. I haven’t heard what you guys need me for yet.”
Dean rolled his eyes and continued speaking as if Crowley hadn’t said anything. “He’s been avoiding the Leviathans, why would he know where he is?”
“Who? Dick?”
Dean turned around to face the demon. He knew he wouldn’t shut up until he was in the know. “No.”
Gabriel put a hand on Dean’s arm and pushed him off to the side. “Have you heard from Belial?”
Crowley raised an eyebrow. He did not expect that question from the archangel. “The angel? No. I’ve heard stories, but I haven’t had the pleasure of crossing paths with him.” He clapped his hands once before he crossed his arms over his chest. “I’ve also heard the rumors that Satan is on Earth.”
“Was,” Michael corrected.
“Was?” Crowley repeated, impressed and surprised. “Well, if Satan isn’t on Earth, Belial may start throwing a fit soon.”
“That’s what we suspected,” Michael said.
“You guys keep saying that, what does that mean?” Dean asked.
“It means whatever plans they had involving the reason why they had four Crowned Princes on Earth isn’t going according now that one is incapacitated. There’s a reason they raised the Crowned Princes and not the Seven Princes.” Crowley turned his body to face Lucifer who had been quietly standing in the corner since he had arrived. “Speaking of Crowned Princes, why are you playing house with big brother?”
“Father got to me first.”
“Really?” Crowley would have asked why he agreed so easily, but he knew. Everyone in all of creation knew that Lucifer still loved his Father, even after God had sent him into Hell. “He actually showed His face.”
“Surprising, isn’t it?”
“Has He told you how to defeat the Leviathans?”
“That isn’t our mission.”
“Then what is?”
“It doesn’t matter,” Michael said.
He tried to make contact with Michael or Gabriel, but their eyes wouldn’t meet his. Then he knew the answer. “Oh, you’re helping your little wayward angel.”
“Ra… Crowley,” Michael said. They were no closer to getting their answers with the demon veering off the subject.
“I feel like your Father is babying him a little much.”
“Crowley,” Gabriel said, sensing his brother’s annoyance.
“Not like Michael didn’t do it enough.”
“You’re getting off track.”
Crowley knew he couldn’t keep up his attitude any longer. They’d send him away if he didn’t give them answers. “No, I don’t know where Belial is. I don’t know how to summon him. I don’t really care.”
“Why not?”
“He hasn’t done anything to me. The only grudge I have against him is that he’s working with the Leviathans.” He had to wonder why the archangels cared so much. They had been tucked away in their little havens while the world was falling apart. “Can I ask why you’re looking for him?”
“It’s not important.”
“I’m just curious.”
“He let demons touch Castiel’s grace,” Dean said. He wouldn’t be able to say why he told Crowley, but the words fell from his lips faster than he could stop them. As soon as he said it, he regretted it. He had no right telling Castiel’s secret and trauma to another demon.
“Come again?”
“I know you heard me.” Dean really did not have to repeat those words every again, especially since he knew what it meant. He felt like Crowley just wanted him to say it again because he could hear the pain in his tone.
“That’s… I thought that Castiel was dead all this time?”
“The Leviathans had him. Gave him to Satan and Belial. Tortured him.”
“And how’s he doing now?”
Dean could swear that the look on Crowley’s face was one of concern. He figured it had to do with working together for a year. They had to have formed some sort of association with each other. “Better.”
“And he’s the one that’s looking for Belial,” Crowley said as if he were testing the statement.
“It doesn’t matter,” Michael said.
“No, it doesn’t,” Crowley replied, even though the response had given him the answer. Of course the little angel wouldn’t be out for revenge. “I don’t know how I can help you with this situation.”
“Keep an ear out,” Gabriel said.
“What do I get out of this?” Crowley knew better than to agree to something unless he got something out of it.
“You aren’t really in a place to bargain with us, Crowley,” Dean said.
Crowley shrugged. “You never know.”
“Whatever.”
“Do you understand what is going on?” Michael asked Gabriel as he watched the display between Crowley and Dean.
“Not really.”
“So, are you helping us our, or not?” Dean asked.
“What help could I possibly offer you?”
“Let us know if you hear anything.”
“So, I give you information, and I get nothing. That sounds inequitable.”
“You get to live.”
Crowley laughed. “It’s hilarious how you think you know how to kill me.”
“The hell does that mean?”
“It’s not hard to decipher, Dean.” He turned to face the angels. His demeanor changed from nonchalant to serious. He needed the angels to understand the oncoming message. “Be ready for Belial to poke his head out. If Satan isn’t here to keep him steady, he’ll slip up soon.”
“You know this for sure?”
“So do you.”
“Thank you,” Michael said.
“Anything for someone or something that could destroy me with a snap of his fingers.”
“Ra… Crowley.”
“Pleasure doing business with you all.”
“Yeah, whatever,” Dean said. He wasn’t irritated at Crowely. It was mostly because they were again working with a demon. The fact that the demon was Crowley made it a little worse.
Crowley smiled at the Dean, knowing what was going through the human’s head. “Do me a favor, will you, Dean?” He asked looking at the chalk outline on the floor.
“Just step out of it,” Gabriel said with a roll of his eyes. He still had no idea what was going on in front of him.
“If only it were that simple, Gabriel. Dean, here, has actually come up with a trap that was could trap a demon as strong as me.”
“I should leave you here.” Dean crossed his arms over his chest. “At least then I’d know you’re staying out of our way.”
“But you wouldn’t because you know I’m the one keeping the demons out of your way.”
“I won’t,” Dean huffed. As much as he hated it, it was a lot easier to put his attention and focus on the Leviathans, and Castiel, when they didn’t have to worry about demons. “Don’t look so smug.” He stepped forward and broke the sigil with a swipe of his foot.
Crowley smiled and stepped out of the circle. “Well, it was a pleasure to be in the presence of angels that didn’t threaten to smite me down. But I must be going.” He walked to Michael and Gabriel, stopping in between them. Crowley whispered something to Michael and Dean was sure that the demon had spoken Enochian.
[ Chapter 9] [ Masterpost] [ Chapter 11]