Anon asked: prompt: Crowley and Dean putting aside their differences to help Cas, as a team (because they both love him). They both rescue him, support him as he walks, clean him and up. Dean is awkward about some stuff like undressing Cas because he's still in denial but tending to his wounds is hardly news to Crowley, who was his partner through the civil war in heaven. And his partner through other more fun stuff that involved undressing.
Dean stared out into the night from the rocking chair he was sitting in. They were far away from the city and it was pitch black, except for the stars. He looked back when the door opened, looking out again when he saw who it was.
"I guess I have to thank you. For saving Sam."
"Just another addition to the list of the things you owe me for." Crowley sat down next him, pulling the white collar from his shirt. Dean hesitated before turning towards him.
"Don't suppose I could ask you for one more thing." Crowley rolled his eyes, but inclined his head. "Cas is missing. He called me a few days ago, but I haven't heard from him since. I think he's in trouble."
"You want to save him?"
"I need you to help me save him. Sammy's out of commission and I don't think he can wait until he's better. I can't lose him, I– I just can't."
"I'll see what I can find." Crowley had his phone out, sending a message to his minions.
"Just like that? You're not gonna try to solicit me?"
"I have my own reasons for finding Castiel. I'll let you know when I hear something."
It took a few days, but Dean found himself spared from thinking about it as he took care of Sam and Amara, as well as Jenna and her grandmother. He was rocking the baby to sleep one night when Crowley stepped into the nursery.
"They found him."
~*~
The warehouse was rundown and dirty, but there was no doubt that Castiel was there. Crowley could hear him screaming from tem miles back, his true voice overpowering his vessel's.
"There's only two of them in there now."
"Then we go now." Dean said, angel blade in hand.
They stormed in, and were immediately surrounded. Crowley let his own blade slide out of its hiding place in his sleeve and back to back he and Dean cut the angels down. It felt like hours before they were all dead or had given up, deciding that punishing Castiel wasn't worth their lives.
Dean finally turned to see Castiel and bile rose in his throat. He was a bloody pulp, having been beaten and cut by the angels that had taken him. Dean reached up to let him down from the ceiling but Castiel flinched away.
"No!" He said, his voice hoarse from screaming. "I can't control it."
"He's still under her spell," Crowley said. "We'll need a witch."
He was gone and back in a flash, holding a trembling woman by the arm.
"Remove the spell from him and I'll release you from your deal," He told her, pushing her towards Castiel. The witch slowly raised her shaking hands to Castiel's face, her shipping growing faster and louder as she recited her spell. She kept going until Castiel was screaming again. Then, she stopped.
"It is gone," She said, softly, turning towards Crowley.
"Then get out. Consider your debt paid." She fled from the warehouse with another word.
Dean and Crowley moved toward Castiel as one, carefully lowering him from the ceiling and holding him up when he slumped forward.
"We've gotta get him to the house," Dean said. Crowley nodded and they were suddenly in the last spare room of the farm house.
"We've gotta clean that blood off of him," Dean said, lowering Castiel onto the bed. He was eyeing his clothes apprehensively, causing Crowley to roll his eyes and shove him out of his way.
"Go get a wash cloth, then," He said, removing the tattered remains of Castiel's jacket and shirt. Castiel tried to knock his hands away when they settled on his belt. "Oh, don't act all modest now. It's nothing I haven't seen before."
Dean stood rooted to the spot, watching Crowley undress Castiel with practiced ease. Crowley glanced back at him and his feet finally started moving again, carrying him down the hall to the bathroom. He pulled a clean cloth from the cabinet there and ran warm water over it before hurrying back to the bedroom.
Crowley took the cloth from him and started to clean Castiel's skin and heal the wounds he found, his movements almost loving. Castiel relaxed under his touch, laying back and letting Crowley take care of him. When his skin was clean, Castiel reached out for him.
"Don't leave," He murmured. "Please, not this time."
Crowley tossed the rag at Dean, who was once again frozen, watching them together. Crowley climbed into the bed next to Castiel and pulled him close. Dean realized then that this wasn't the first time that they had done this. They looked too comfortable, their positions too perfected. Dean shook his head and turned to leave, his brain trying to work out what he just learned.
"Dean." Castiel's soft voice made him pause again. "Please stay."
Dean turned to look at them and found that Castiel was struggling to sit up, looking at him with big blue puppy eyes. Dean dropped the rag into the trash can by the door and made his way across the room, tugging off his his jacket and removing his boots before settling behind Castiel.
"Thank you for saving me," The angel said quietly. Crowley ran his fingers through his hair, forgetting about Dean and almost hitting him in the face.
"Always, kitten," The demon whispered back.
"Always," Dean repeated.
They spent the rest of the night tangled together, unsure of what the next day would hold, but finally feeling like they had solid ground underneath their feet.