Summary: WWII AU.

Castiel Novak is a gay Polish writer in Krakow, 1939. When the Nazi's invade in September 1939, Castiel and many others are forced into the Krakow ghetto. Later on, he and others are taken away to the concentration camp Auschwitz. There, he meets Dean, an ex-Nazi imprisoned for being homosexual. In the face of absolute horror, will their love be enough to save them?

Rated 'M' for; violence, racism, torture, rape and consensual sex.

Alrighty, so this fic came to me a little while ago and I've decided to finally write it out. I'm a little fucked up so, bear with me through the rough bits. I tried to make it as realistic and historically accurate as possible, so I've loosely based it on a survivor's story. I used it to get an inside view rather than the history book version. If that offends you, don't read. This will be brutal, don't read this if you don't have the stomach for violence and torture and all other evil things.

Hope you enjoy, M.

Chapter 1, Invasion

Castiel Novak sat at his desk staring at the flame of the now dying candle he had lit several hours earlier. He had been trying for hours to finish the last chapter of his novel, but simply couldn't find the inspiration. He looked over at the clock on the wall of his bedroom, 2:34am. Castiel groaned and rubbed his eyes, standing up and giving up the writing for the night. He headed to the small kitchen in the flat he shared with his sister Anna. He was surprised to find her sitting at the table holding a steaming mug.

She was a beauty with long fiery red hair and a personality to match. But they were both considered outcasts in the community. She was studying to be an engineer while most other girls were getting married and having children. As for Castiel, well, he was a writer and his sexual preferences made him awkward to be around. So they stuck together after the death of their parents, and that was perfectly fine with them.

"What on earth are you still doing awake?" he asked her as she looked up at him.

"I could ask you the same thing, braciszek." She motioned for him to sit across from her. He obliged, sighing deeply.

"I was trying to finish the stupid book, but I've been just staring at the page for hours. I think I need to give it up as a bad job." Anna smiled at him sweetly, pushing her mug towards him. He took it gratefully and took a sip.

"Chamomile flowers," she said, "They help put you to sleep." She leaned back in her chair and massaged her temples.

"I was studying for my exam next week, but it seems that I have hit a mental block as well."

Castiel began to feel tiredness flow through him and he yawned widely. Anna laughed and took her drink back.

"Well, if I'm boring you, go to bed silly. In any case, you need to get up tomorrow to get more food to store in the pantry." Castiel was about to respond when the room suddenly shook violently.

"What in the world was that?!" Anna gasped. Castiel ran to the window overlooking the streets below. People were opening their doors, all with the same scared expression on their faces. Anna joined him and looked to the skies. She grabbed Castiel's arm and pointed up. He followed her finger and saw a terrifying sight.

"It's the Luftwaffe, Anna; I think the war has finally hit Poland." He whispered to her. The wails of sirens confirmed his suspicions. Anna squeezed his arm painfully.

"They must be bombing the army… Castiel, what are we going to do?" she asked. He closed the window and the blinds, turning to face the kitchen once more.

"We wait for instructions from the city council. There's no sense in panicking, we should just go back to bed and we can go investigate tomorrow." Anna gave a huff.

"There is no way I'll get to sleep now I know the German's have invaded. You are crazy if you can do so." Castiel took his sister into his arms and hugged her. She wrapped her arms around him and they stood listening to the bombardments, wondering what would come of them.

The next morning Castiel woke to the smell of smoke. He sat bolt upright and hurried out of his room and once again found Anna sitting at the table. She looked like she hadn't slept at all.

"Where is that smell coming from?" he asked her. She smiled sadly.

"It's the smell of the countryside burning. The wind has been blowing it through our window all night."

"My god, how long did it last?" he asked.

"Until about 4:30 this morning. I'm amazed you fell asleep, the bombers got rather close at some points." Anna got up and headed to her room. "I have to go to library; I'll be back for dinner."

Castiel went to his room and dressed, deciding he would continue his daily routine as much as possible.

He left the apartment building and walked into the cool September air. The people he passed seemed to all have a worried expression, but who could blame them? War had been a rumor for months, and now it was finally reality. He made his way into his favorite café in Kraków; run by one of the only people he knew who did not seem to care about him being gay. He sat at the counter and was approached by a sweet, yet tough blond woman in her mid-forties.

"Good morning Castiel, the usual?" she asked, smiling warmly.

"Yes, thank you Ellen. How is Joanna?" he asked. Ellen chuckled as she poured his coffee.

"She's just as she ever was, full of life and maybe too rebellious for my liking. However, she's my daughter so who can blame her." Castiel laughed, knowing Ellen loved her daughter more than anything.

"Turn up the radio will you Ellen? I love this station." He asked her.

"Of course, who knows how much longer we'll be able to listen now that the German's are here." Who indeed, he thought. He pushed the gloomy thought away and listened.

"And now we return to Prelude in gMinor, performed by Wladyslaw Szpilman on 100.6…" Then suddenly the signal was cut and static replaced to pianist's music. Ellen looked up alarmed and ran to the shop window.

"Everyone get under the tables!" she yelled, grabbing Castiel and forcing him behind the counter just as the windows exploded. Glass and dust rained down on them as they felt the ground beneath them tremble with the forces of bombs being dropped in the city. Through the ringing in his ears Castiel could hear screaming and sirens in the streets. Anna! He thought, panic settling in his stomach, I need to find Anna! He scrambled to his feet, ignoring Ellen's protests and ran to find his sister.

People were running through the streets, screaming for loved ones, holding bleeding wounds or simply standing in bewilderment. Castiel pushed through, determined to get to the library. He nearly tripped on a woman lying on the ground holding a man in her arms, she was screaming for him to open his eyes. Castiel's heart wrenched and he started to kneel to get her up when a hand grabbed his arm and pulled him roughly into a nearby ally, away from the mass of panicked bodies. He was pushed roughly against the wall by a short man with light brown hair.

"Gabriel!" Castiel grunted his now bruised arm still in the other man's grip. "What are you doing? Let go of me, I need to find Anna!" The man released his arm, but didn't let him leave.

"Cas, we've been friends for a long time, which is the only reason I'm putting my ass on the line doing this. Anna is fine; I sent her home before she reached the library. I knew this was going to happen. I can't see you again Cas, things will only be getting worse for you from now on. Go home, and stay there. Good bye, my friend." And he was gone. To say Castiel as confused was an understatement, but he decided to trust him and go home. He avoided the main streets that were still filled with people, and took back alleys to his apartment.

He took the stairs two at a time and fumbled with his key. Anna was waiting for him when he opened the door; she ran to him and sobbed as she pulled him into a bone crushing hug. He returned it and felt a surge of relief as he pet he red locks soothingly. They stayed like that for several minutes before she pulled away and began to speak in a cracked voice.

"Gabriel, he found me and told me to go home. The position he holds in the council, he knows what's coming…he said the Jews are all in danger.." her voice trailed away. Though they were not practicing Jews themselves, they're parents had been, and that was common knowledge. Castiel dreaded what was to come with the red, white and black flag.

Dean stood and watched Krakow burn, the smell of petrol heavy in the air around his truck. He leaned against the side door and lit a cigarette, inhaling deeply to calm his nerves. Why was he nervous? He was not in the city, and he was a German, what did he have to fear? The thought did not sooth him however, even German's weren't always safe from the Nazi regime.

Dean shut his eyes and tried to ignore the screaming of the Poles, but with little success. He was fighting for the right side, wasn't he? It seemed difficult to believe that at times, but he dare not express his feelings to anyone, lest they report him to the commandant. Just as this thought went through his head, a man came striding up to him, smiling wickedly.

Dean nodded to the man, "Alistair."

"Now Dean, is that any way to greet your teacher and higher ranking officer?" Alistair's voice was dripping in slime and made Dean shiver uncomfortably. Dean hated the man, but he held Dean's secret homosexuality away from the others, thus keeping him safe…for a price.

"You know what Deaney? I think I'd like some payment, haven't paid up in a while and this whole burning city thing's got me real riled up." He motioned Dean to get on his knees. Dean pitched the cigarette and reluctantly did as he was bid. He undid Alistair's fly and pulled out his semi-hard member. It smelled bad, as it always did but he had no choice but to suck it. Alistair grabbed Dean's short hair as hard as possible and forced him down, fucking his mouth and throat, ignoring Dean's gags and muffled cries of pain. Just stick it out, he'll be done soon. You've done this before, you can do this. Dean desperately tried to calm himself, and soon it was over, the foul tasting cum shooting down his throat. Dean swallowed, looking up and seeing Alistair's satisfied face.

"That's a good little student." He said, doing up his uniform. Dean stood and grabbed a canteen from the truck and drank deeply, trying to get the taste out of his mouth. Alistair snickered, leaning against the truck. He turned his attention to Krakow, smiling.

"The little Jews and all the other vermin won't know what hit them. Aren't they're screams just so satisfying, Deaney?" Dean could only nod in agreement, anything else would be deadly.

After what seemed like forever, Alistair had enough of watching and turned to Dean, lifting his right arm in salute. "Heil Hitler!"

Dean stood at attention, his heart aching.

"Heil Hitler!"