[ Though Castiel doesn't answer the raspy raising of Dean's obviously strained voice, he does at least put more of a rush to his steps on the way out. Of course Dean decides to sass the only friend he currently has on the outside, but that's fair, in Castiel's mind. He shouldn't be treated like this. No one should, not even an animal. It's barbaric. Certainly, this isn't what God wanted for Dean, no matter how brashly or violently Dean might have behaved. The members of the community are violent and brash on occasion themselves, after all. Castiel himself has been, as recently as... Well, however long he was in that hospital. No, someone, somewhere, was mistaken about Dean.
Castiel doesn't immediately seek out the key, and though he can hear Dean's complaints in the back of his mind, they go ignored. Their community is built on a foundation of trust and obedience in their elders and those above their station. He needs information first, to find out who is responsible, and who is unaware of Dean's position. He goes first to Balthazar, who is clearly making himself available in the common areas, no doubt expecting Castiel's approach. His avoidance of the issue is the same as before. He's afraid also, Castiel realizes, and excuses himself from Balthazar's company quickly after that. There's no point questioning anyone lower, so he goes higher a step: to Uriel.
He finds Uriel bunked down in his quarters despite the hour, and though Uriel spins the conversation towards Castiel, Castiel forces it repeatedly back towards Dean, demanding answers. "I'd be careful about the questions you're asking, Castiel." Uriel warns. "Despite your failure to fully apprehend Dean Winchester, by God's good graces, you've been welcomed back into the fold. It would be a shame to see you cast out again so soon." The threat, Castiel knows, is a warning out of Uriel's kindness, and Castiel thanks him for that. He needs to be careful, but this is something higher up than his garrison.
Reluctantly, Castiel goes to Naomi's office, and there he finds his answers. "Dean Winchester needs to be broken," she tells him, and Castiel recoils, questions, strives to believe what seems so untrue of the man who held him, and shared his drink, and would have shared even his own blood, if given the chance. "He's a holy creature, but life on Earth has corrupted him. His soul must be ripped apart before it's stitched back together. He needs to be reborn." ]
And this is how you mean to save him? By isolating him, starving him, and keeping him in the dark?
[ Naomi is chilly in contrast to Castiel's heated emotions. "He's chosen this," she tells Castiel. "Ask him. If he'd cooperated with us, there would have been no reason to chain him. Or shoot him. Would there, Castiel?" ]
He'll cooperate with me. Release him into my custody.
[ "We don't trust you," she says, and more than anything Naomi has ever said to him, it cuts. If Castiel were truly mistrusted by his family, and cast out for it... Where would that leave him? What else does he have? This is his home, his life. Everything. He swallows back the guilt and shame and waits for Naomi's decision. She looks at Castiel with her chin raised as if weighing his heart on a scale, before she reaches into her desk, unhooks a key from a chain and slides it across the polished wood. "Tell him we need to trust him, and you, and we'll go from there." She smiles when she says it, and that smile is like a knife, because it's a task she believes Castiel will fail. He stiffens and holds his breath before leaning forward and taking the key. ]
I will. He'll surprise you.
[ Castiel promises, and there's real hope besides the fear as he turns his back to Naomi and feels her eyes following him as he walks out the door. His walk back to the cellar is less that hurried. He doesn't know what to say to Dean, and he knows whatever he says, Dean won't like it. But he has a key. It's something. ]
Dean?
[ Castiel calls when he breaches the cellar hallway again, and he walks directly to the door he'd found Dean behind. He tries the lock beneath the handle. It clicks, and when Castiel pulls the handle back, the heavy door creaks open. ]
no subject
Castiel doesn't immediately seek out the key, and though he can hear Dean's complaints in the back of his mind, they go ignored. Their community is built on a foundation of trust and obedience in their elders and those above their station. He needs information first, to find out who is responsible, and who is unaware of Dean's position. He goes first to Balthazar, who is clearly making himself available in the common areas, no doubt expecting Castiel's approach. His avoidance of the issue is the same as before. He's afraid also, Castiel realizes, and excuses himself from Balthazar's company quickly after that. There's no point questioning anyone lower, so he goes higher a step: to Uriel.
He finds Uriel bunked down in his quarters despite the hour, and though Uriel spins the conversation towards Castiel, Castiel forces it repeatedly back towards Dean, demanding answers. "I'd be careful about the questions you're asking, Castiel." Uriel warns. "Despite your failure to fully apprehend Dean Winchester, by God's good graces, you've been welcomed back into the fold. It would be a shame to see you cast out again so soon." The threat, Castiel knows, is a warning out of Uriel's kindness, and Castiel thanks him for that. He needs to be careful, but this is something higher up than his garrison.
Reluctantly, Castiel goes to Naomi's office, and there he finds his answers. "Dean Winchester needs to be broken," she tells him, and Castiel recoils, questions, strives to believe what seems so untrue of the man who held him, and shared his drink, and would have shared even his own blood, if given the chance. "He's a holy creature, but life on Earth has corrupted him. His soul must be ripped apart before it's stitched back together. He needs to be reborn." ]
And this is how you mean to save him? By isolating him, starving him, and keeping him in the dark?
[ Naomi is chilly in contrast to Castiel's heated emotions. "He's chosen this," she tells Castiel. "Ask him. If he'd cooperated with us, there would have been no reason to chain him. Or shoot him. Would there, Castiel?" ]
He'll cooperate with me. Release him into my custody.
[ "We don't trust you," she says, and more than anything Naomi has ever said to him, it cuts. If Castiel were truly mistrusted by his family, and cast out for it... Where would that leave him? What else does he have? This is his home, his life. Everything. He swallows back the guilt and shame and waits for Naomi's decision. She looks at Castiel with her chin raised as if weighing his heart on a scale, before she reaches into her desk, unhooks a key from a chain and slides it across the polished wood. "Tell him we need to trust him, and you, and we'll go from there." She smiles when she says it, and that smile is like a knife, because it's a task she believes Castiel will fail. He stiffens and holds his breath before leaning forward and taking the key. ]
I will. He'll surprise you.
[ Castiel promises, and there's real hope besides the fear as he turns his back to Naomi and feels her eyes following him as he walks out the door. His walk back to the cellar is less that hurried. He doesn't know what to say to Dean, and he knows whatever he says, Dean won't like it. But he has a key. It's something. ]
Dean?
[ Castiel calls when he breaches the cellar hallway again, and he walks directly to the door he'd found Dean behind. He tries the lock beneath the handle. It clicks, and when Castiel pulls the handle back, the heavy door creaks open. ]