Strings Attached

Chapter 64

Castiel looks around the room. Everyone is watching him, and he can see that they're as terrified as he is. He looks up at Dean, who gives him a small, reassuring smile. He takes Castiel's hand and squeezes it lightly. Castiel looks over at Lucifer, who gives him a slight nod, telling the younger boy that it's okay to choose him.

Finally, Castiel returns his gaze to Hendrickson. "I choose me."

Hendrickson just laughs. "Oh, you silly, naïve little boy. I'm doing this so you stay alive! That's the whole point of this! Your choices are Lucifer or Dean. So choose."

"If you're not going to kill me, what leverage do you have?" Castiel challenges. "You can't make me choose."

"Can't I?"

In one swift movement, so fast Castiel can't register what has happened, the gun is suddenly pointed at Castiel's foot. The only way to describe what he feels is an explosion; his foot explodes with pain as the bullet digs its way inside. Castiel bites his lip, but even that can't stop him from crying out in pain.

Instantly, Dean's arm is around him, steadying him and holding him up so Castiel doesn't have to stand on that foot. Though it helps, it isn't a total relief. His foot is pounding, throbbing. It hurts in a way Castiel has never felt before.

"You son of a bitch!" Dean growls. "Just shoot me and let everyone else go."

"Ah ah ah! No can do. Where's the fun if Castiel doesn't choose for himself?" Hendrickson smiles, as if the thought of what he's doing is the happiest one he can think of.

"'Fun'?" Dean echoes. "You think this is fun? Oh, you poor, sorry son of a bitch. What, mommy and daddy didn't love you enough, so you decided to make sure no one had a happily ever after?"

Hendrickson chuckles at his boldness. "I killed my mom and dad," he replies, his grin making it clear he thinks of this as a good time. "And you know why? The same reason I'm here right now. Because I could. And sure, I could kill everyone in this room. But I could also have some fun with it, make it a game. So that's what I did. And now, all I need is for Castiel to play his part." He looks back to Castiel. "Well?"

"I'm not choosing," Castiel says through gritted teeth.

"Oh, but you are," he replies. "It just might take a little nudge in the right direction. Hmm... I've heard the kneecaps are fun. Want to try it?"

"Go ahead."

Castiel says it with confidence, with authority. He doesn't believe Hendrickson will do it. He still wants Castiel in working order. That makes the shock when he feels a piercing pain in his knee that much worse. He cries out, staggering slightly on his one leg. He may have fallen completely, had he not had his human crutch.

"Cas, just pick me and stop it!" Dean practically yells, though Castiel can barely hear it.

Castiel could deal with the pain of a shattered foot — he has no doubt the bullet shattered it. The kneecap is worse, and that's something he just cannot ignore. He feels tears well up in his eyes, and though he tries to fight them, he can't.

"Well, Castiel?" Hendrickson prompts.

"No," Castiel manages to get out.

Hendrickson sighs. "Then let's try it this way. Choose, or I'll shoot them both."

That's all the incentive Castiel needs. "Alright, I'll pick," he concedes. He looks between the two boys. He needs them both too much for this. How is he supposed to choose? But he knows he has to; he's not letting them both die.
He looks over at Lucifer, who says with a sad sort of smile, "Pick me. Destiel must go on, no matter what."

Usually, Castiel finds any mention of the ship annoying, but now, it brings a slight smile to his sad face. It's oddly comforting, knowing that no matter what, Lucifer is himself. Nothing changes with him, even is a situation like this.

Castiel looks at Dean next, silently begging for help. Dean squeezes his shoulder in a reassuring way.

"It's okay," Dean whispers. "You can pick me. Keep your family together. I don't mind."

"Come on, Castiel," Lucifer is practically begging now. "Either a soon to be pro football player, or the guy who has to memorize the entire Bee Movie script just to pass physics. It's not a hard decision."

"Cas, look at me," Dean pleads. "Pick me. It'll be okay. You can stay with your family. It's what you deserve. Please, Cas. Pick me."

Castiel can't choose. He loves these two so much, and here they are, asking him to let them die. How is he supposed to do that? How is it even possible that he choose one? He wishes it could be him that dies. If only that were an option, but it's not. He actually has to pick.

He hesitantly raises his gaze to Hendrickson. He knows what he has to do. He knows who he has to pick, and he knows how this will play out. He takes a deep breath, mentally preparing himself for what he's about to do. He's going to choose.