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The door looms dark and solid in the night.
Castiel hesitates.
Castiel does not hesitate. To hesitate is to doubt; to doubt is to question; to question is to rebel. Castiel is loyal. He will not rebel.
Castiel hesitates.
He knows why he was ordered to release Sam Winchester. Beyond human vision, the room's wards shine like a supernova. No demon could find the man, let alone touch the cold, heavy iron of the door, but Bobby Singer wasn't afraid of angels when he built this house. And in this, in preparation for the end, the two parties are agreed. Bobby and Dean are resourceful; under their care, Sam Winchester will either be purged of the demon blood that taints his veins, or he will die, and the battle will be delayed yet again and their Father will not return. That is unacceptable.
He could unlock the door without even touching it. It would be safer, perhaps, if he had refrained from bringing his vessel here at all. But something in him respects the gravity of the moment. It is not a hesitation.
Castiel reaches forward, feels the solidity of the metal under his fingertips. A shaft of moonlight illuminates the ragged edges of a sigil, and behind the door Sam Winchester's breathing is labored and uneven. Castiel grasps the handle, feels its rough surface, feels his vessel's muscles engage as he throws his weight against that of the lock.
He murmurs a thanks to the heavy door, for the part it has played in their Father's plan. Even the smallest pieces of Father's creation are equally worthy of praise. It is not a hesitation.
Dean Winchester has obeyed. He will serve Michael, the loyal son. Now is the time to act. The angels' position is strong, stronger than Lillith knows. If Sam Winchester is released now, the demons will play their part, and, long millennia of waiting overcome, their Father's will will prevail.
Here, now, the final domino falls. Castiel's fault.
-fault? Why did he think "fault"? Fault is a word of judgement, blame. It does not imply loyalty or duty.
Action replaces uncertainty. Castiel spins the lock, hearing the heavy clunk as the mechanism inside retracts. His awareness expands through the house, and he clicks open the cuffs binding Sam Winchester. Then he retreats into the darkness under the stair. The moonlight is too revealing.
There's a pause, a rustle of movement inside the room. This is taking too long. With a twitch of his fingers Castiel sends the door creaking open. Dean and Bobby are stirring upstairs. Dean doesn't understand-
The face of Sam Winchester appears in the door. Under his skin, demon blood flows, driving his mind to desperation even as the blood's physical presence fades.
"Someone here?" the man whispers. Castiel does not answer.