[Fic] Sin with a Grin - Chapter 13/18+Epilogue
Title: Sin with a Grin
Author: Stolen Childe
Disclaimer: Supernatural and all associated characters belong to Kripke and Co. I make absolutely no claims on any of them.
Special Thanks to dapperscript for the wonderful beta! Thank you!
Please see Master Post for Notes, Cover Art and Further Information
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“Jake Talley. Served in Afghanistan for a year and a half,” Ellen slapped the file on the table in front of Castiel.
Castiel nodded numbly.
“Son…”
Castiel shook his head and pushed away from the table, not letting the woman finish. He couldn’t take the warmth in her gaze right now. He couldn’t take the grief there. One of Castiel’s own brothers-in-arms had turned and committed such a heinous act. Castiel felt sick to his stomach as he closed his eyes tight shut at the wave that threatened to overwhelm him.
“I can’t be here, Ellen, I need… I need to be…” Castiel muttered.
“I know, I know. Gabriel’s out front waiting for you,” Ellen nodded. “You go on. Two weeks, Castiel. You have two weeks and you aren’t fighting me on this.”
“Ellen, this is my fault, I can’t sit here for two weeks while-”
“Talley’s dead, Castiel, you already killed him. Two weeks. Dean as well, you hear me?”
Castiel nodded and slumped out of the room.
Gabriel was waiting at reception for Castiel, Balthazar at his side. Both were dressed in sombre black suits. Gabriel handed Castiel his overcoat as the other man approached. Castiel took it numbly and slipped it on. He stuck his hand in his pocket and pulled back as if he’d been burnt. There, sitting nestled and neatly wrapped, was the engagement present Dean had Castiel pick up only a few days before the shoot-out.
God, Dean.
Castiel closed his eyes and had to steel himself for the upcoming encounter. He needed to be the strong one right now. Sam was his partner and his friend, but Sam was Dean’s brother. They were as close as two people had ever been. Balthazar came over and slung an arm around his brother’s shoulder, pulling the shorter man tight against his side and kissing his temple.
“We’re here for you, Cassy, all right? You be there for Dean, but know we’re here for you.”
Castiel didn’t want to admit how much he needed the gentle comfort and words just then. He merely leaned into his brother’s side and nodded as they exited the building.
xx
Castiel sat in the back as Balthazar drove them to their destination. The agent leaned his forehead against the cool glass of the window, watching people go about their lives as if nothing was wrong. Happy, flush-cheeked faces, bundled in winter best as mist curled free from their red lips. Shopping, preparing and getting ready for a Christmas that for them would be a happy one. Castiel hated each and every person out there just then. What right did they have to be happy?
His eyes burned again and Castiel caught the sob in his throat as he ducked his head away from the glass. His gloved hands were clenched tight in his lap.
“Almost there, Cassy,” Gabriel said gently.
Castiel nodded and wiped his eyes quickly, he couldn’t fall apart. He’d have his chance later.
When Balthazar’s black Bentley eased to a halt, Castiel turned terrified eyes up to the building before them. He sat in the car, unable to move until Gabriel opened it for him and gently urged him out. Balthazar nodded and went to find a parking spot.
“I can’t go in,” Castiel whispered.
“Castiel,” Gabriel said sternly, glaring into his brother-in-law’s eyes. “You have to. For Dean.”
“Why do people around me get hurt?” Castiel asked quietly. “Why do they always get hurt? What do I do?”
“Castiel, this isn’t your fault. This shit happens. It’s not fun, it’s not nice, and I wish to God that it didn’t, but it just does. You have to go in there, you have to be strong for Dean, you hear me?”
Castiel swallowed. “Sam was going to get married. Jessica… Jessica’s going to have a baby.”
“Castiel, you have to go in there right now. Dean needs you,” Gabriel was insistent this time; Castiel nodded dazedly as Gabriel pulled him through the entrance. The smell and the hum of voices did little to bring Castiel back to himself, but when he saw Dean, that’s all he needed.
“Dean,” Castiel whispered. The younger man looked up then and Castiel came to his side immediately.
Dean was smiling.
“He’s stable, Cas, it was real touch and go there for a bit, but he’s finally stable. He almost woke up this morning but they kept him under to give his body more time to heal. They managed to get the infection under control and his temperature is down. Brain waves are good. They aren’t sure about him walking yet, but he seems to be responding and the doctor thinks he’s probably gonna be all right.”
“Oh thank God,” Castiel whispered, slouching down in the chair next to Dean in the ICU’s private waiting room.
“Mom and Dad are in there with him right now, but we can go in and see him in a little bit,” Dean nodded firmly.
“Dean, Dean I’m so sor-”
“Cas, stop. We went over this when you brought him in. Sure I was pissed then, but look, Sam’s fine now. You didn’t do this to Sam, all right? Sam’s not gonna blame you. I don’t blame you. Mom and Dad don’t blame you. It’s part of the job, right? We shouldn’t talk about it again.”
“He’s truly going to be all right?” Castiel asked meekly.
“That’s what they think, yeah. They’re pretty sure.”
“The man who hurt your brother was Jake Talley. He was an ex-soldier, served in Afghanistan for a year and half,” Castiel said, after a few moments.
“He’s dead, right?” Dean asked darkly.
“Yes, I killed him myself. He’s dead. I just… With this knowledge that Crowley and Lilith are recruiting ex-soldiers… It’s very unsettling and I feel as if we are both going to have to be a lot more careful. These are trained men, well trained, and if they’re on the opposite side…”
“I know,” Dean nodded grimly.
“The building Sam and I infiltrated. There’s evidence that it was to be used as a home base of sorts for the sex trade.”
“Isn’t that the branch of Lilith’s company you shut down two years ago?”
“Crowley’s, but yes. Lilith’s is still up and running as far as we know.”
“So, Crowley’s made a deal with Lilith to get his own sex trade back up and running and as she’s the forerunning dealer in flesh around… Why would she welcome the competition?”
“She probably gets a cut of the revenue. Crowley supplies the victims, Lilith rents out corners and space to Crowley. She covers more area but doesn’t have to work as hard. In the end it’s all going to fall to Jesse anyway, so maybe she sees this as ensuring his future.”
“God, that poor kid. Now that I know Sam’s going to be all right, I really need to get back out there. Jesse was just starting to trust me… You don’t think he knew anything about this, do you? The factory? The business? He mentioned people were going to get hurt.”
Castiel opened his mouth to reply but shut it quickly as several people wandered past the open door of the waiting room. After a moment he said, “This isn’t the place to discuss all this. But as for you going back there, you can’t. Ellen’s demanded we take two weeks off because of what happened with Sam.”
Dean flickered anxious eyes towards Castiel. “That was before, though, she doesn’t know he’s going to be all right. We should tell her… I need to get back to those kids, Cas. If this is really going on, anyone looking to weasel into the market could be after Jesse as a potential bargaining chip. I mean, if Crowley and Lilith complete this merger, there’s going to be no space for anyone else. Sounds like a good motive to me.”
Castiel sighed, “For now, let’s wait until Sam is completely in the clear. He’ll be fine,” Castiel was quick to say, “but that doesn’t mean we can’t take the time to be with him.”
Dean gnawed his lip for a moment, clearly torn between his duty as a teacher and - more importantly - his duty as a big brother. He’d had his moment of anger and panic. Sam was fine, though. He was fine. Jesse might get hurt, he was still in danger after all. Perhaps more so now than before.
Castiel, sensing Dean’s anxiety, reached out and gripped his hand. Dean flinched slightly, still working towards forgiving Castiel for his role in Sam’s injury, but realizing intellectually that it could have just as easily been Cas lying in that hospital bed, again. Dean would never begrudge Sam’s role in something like that and he needed to treat Castiel the same.
They were both reckless and one of them got hurt, but neither of them had any more responsibility in the matter than the other. Besides, it had been Jake Talley who’d stabbed Sam. Jake Talley was dead and Azazel would be rounded up any day.
The other man, Wayne, had fled out the back door, but he hadn’t run far enough. He had been arrested and was surprisingly forthcoming after some FBI-brand persuasion.
That saga of their crazy lives would be wrapped up neatly, but the bigger threat of Lilith and Crowley still loomed.
Dean squeezed Castiel’s hand and the agent offered a shaky smile.
“Cas, I’m glad you made it,” a voice sounded from the doorway.
Castiel looked up and smiled at Mary and rose to embrace her tightly. “Of course I did. Sam means a great deal to me, I consider him my brother. I’m very glad to hear he’s doing well.”
She released him from the hug but didn’t let go of his arm; she smiled and brushed the hair out of his eyes. “I’m glad you’re his partner, Castiel. If it hadn’t been you… Sam may have…”
Castiel closed his eyes. “I am sorry, Mary. This shouldn’t have happened at all. We were both so anxious to get out in the field again that… I’m very sorry.”
“No, it’s all right. Sam knew what he signed up for, you both did. He’s going to be all right and that’s the important part. John’s just coming out now so you and Dean can go in and see him. I have to go pick up Jessica from home. I made her go and rest, for the baby’s sake.”
Castiel nodded and squeezed her hand once before they released each other entirely.
Dean whispered quietly to his mother before dropping a kiss on her cheek and following.
Castiel took Dean’s hand in his own and the younger man clasped it gratefully.
“He’s going to be fine,” Castiel whispered into Dean’s ear. Dean nodded and the two passed John in the hallway. Castiel gave the older man a tight nod and John nodded back before they pushed passed the doors of Sam’s room in the ICU.
xx
“My God, would you shut up, Sammy? And I thought Cas was the worst patient in the world,” Dean tossed a light, fluffy pillow at his brother. The younger man was sprawled and pathetic looking across the couch in Sam’s and Jess’s apartment. Dean wrinkled his nose. It really did smell like a gym locker in here. Their dad hadn’t been kidding.
“You talk to Cas like that when he was hurt?” Sam shot Dean his big wet puppy eyes and Dean had to groan.
“Yes.”
Sam gave him blank look. “Doubt it.”
“Shuddup.”
“You know you don’t have to stick around. I’m fine, Dean,” Sam huffed and rolled his eyes, wincing only slightly as he shifted in place.
Dean snorted, “Sure, Sam.”
“Dean, I mean it,” Sam protested.
“Sure, Sam.”
“God, you’re so annoying. Why did I get stuck with you as a big brother?”
“Oh please, I’m awesome and you know it. Who else would stick around to look after your sorry ass until your wife came home, huh?”
“Not wife yet.”
“Good thing too, 'cause if this is your marital home… Damn, Sammy,” Dean shook his head as he looked around the dank apartment and scowled. “No place to raise a kid. That’s for sure.”
Sam gave Dean a mysterious little grin. “Don’t you worry about that.”
Dean raised a brow, but didn’t press. “All right… Anyway, I’m not here just to look after you or to brighten up your life with my awe-inspiring presence. I’m heading back to the Academy early tomorrow. Thought I’d make sure you were good before I go. So you good?”
“Aside from the hole torn into my back? Swell… But heading back already, Dean? With what we just found out?”
“Already? It’s been two freakin’ weeks! I’ve waited this long, so I’m heading back. I was just starting to make a break-through with Jesse when you and my idiot fiancé decided to play hero and nearly get killed.”
“We didn’t do it on purpose,” Sam muttered.
“Yeah, well, next time make sure you two use your thick heads before charging half-cocked into a would-be abandoned building crawling with criminals. Got it?”
“Cas get this speech too?”
“You bet his sweet ass he did.”
Sam wrinkled his nose. “Eww.”
“Grow up,” Dean tossed another pillow at his brother.
Sam started to catch it. “Ow!”
Dean snorted.
“Dean…” Sam began hesitantly.
Dean paused in rearranging the pillows on the chair he was sitting in and turned towards his brother. “Yeah?”
“Look, you’re a grown up and everything and I know you can take care of yourself, but I just… I don’t want you trying to prove anything, all right? We have all kinds of information and you probably don’t even need to go back. Just stay, yeah?”
“Sam, you really don’t think what’s going on is about more than a bunch of hookers?” Dean asked, incredulous.
“I dunno, Dean, but I really don’t think Jesse’s gonna give you more than we already got. He said people were gonna get hurt, people would have gotten hurt.”
Dean shook his head. “Sorry, Sam. Can’t leave it like that. I have to go find out for myself… You know me.”
“Yeah, yeah… I know you,” Sam sighed. He waited a beat before looking up at his brother and said hesitantly, “Just, do me a favour?”
“Sure, Sammy.”
“Don’t drag this out longer than it needs to be. Just, give it only until after the Christmas break. If you don’t have anything by then, come back, all right?”
Dean huffed and sat in the small space in front of his brother on the couch. He squeezed Sam’s knee and smiled gently. “All right, Sam. Only until after Christmas.”
Sam’s expression was full of relief as he flashed his brother a grin. “Thanks, Dean.” Dean squeezed Sam’s knee again and looked away.
Could he really walk away now?
Dean stood and smiled, ruffling Sam’s hair before heading back to the chair. He slumped across it and scooped up the remote, turning the volume back up on the television as he settled back in to wait for Jess.
xx
“He’s out,” Dean whispered as Jessica crept into the apartment after her shift that evening.
Jessica grinned gratefully at Dean and came over to greet him with a hug.
“Thanks for staying with him. He hates that I asked you, but I just… After almost losing him, the thought of leaving him alone and hurt… I just can’t take it, you know? With what I see every day, it’s a wonder I let him leave the house at all. He’s always teasing me that as soon as the baby’s born I’m going to lock them away in a bubble and not let them out of my sight.”
“Your kids are all good though, right? Not a bad day, I hope,” Dean bit his lip as he asked hesitantly.
“No, my kids are fine. Though one little girl came in today…” Jessica trailed off as she collapsed down in the chair across from Dean. “My parents think I’m crazy for wanting to be a pediatric nurse, and sometimes, like today, I don’t blame them.”
“I hate fucking bastards who hurt kids,” Dean muttered angrily.
Jessica wrapped her arms around her stomach, resting over the cheery blue material of her scrubs with the white and pink bunnies parading across it.
“You and me both,” Jessica replied, her tone just as dark.
Dean stood and walked over to drop a kiss on Jessica’s loosely bound curls. “We’re working to stop that though, right? You and I are gonna help as many kids as we can and do as much as we can… It’s all we can do and that little boy or girl you’re carrying may get a chance to grow up in a world where this bad shit isn’t in their face twenty-four hours a day in neon colour.”
“Beautiful lie, Dean,” Jessica smiled up at him sadly.
“Let’s say hopeful dream instead,” Dean winked.
“You perving on my girl, Dean?” Sam muttered blearily from where he was buried among blankets and cushions.
“He wakes,” Dean commented. “Come on, Gigantor, let’s get you to bed. Ready to stand?”
“No,” Sam whined, burrowing down further.
“You gotta, Sammy, you stand up for me and get to bed and I’ll give you more drugs. Deal?” Dean replied.
Jessica chuckled and stood as well, coming over and carding her fingers through Sam’s shaggy locks. “Come on, Sam. I don’t wanna sleep alone tonight.”
“Dirty trick,” Sam muttered and shifted as best he could to allow Dean to gingerly help him to his feet.
“Let’s go, Kiddo,” Dean guided Sam down the hall once the three of them managed to navigate him to his feet. The older Winchester eased the younger down on the bed and Jessica followed soon after with a glass of water and a pill in hand.
“Move aside, Dean, I’m a professional,” Jessica grinned.
Dean chuckled, “Yeah, I suppose comparing Sam to a sick little kid is an apt description. I’ll leave you to it then. Night Sammy, Jess.”
“Mean,” Sam muttered. “Bye.”
“Safe trip tomorrow, Dean,” Jessica said, squeezing his arm as he moved passed her.
“Thanks Jess. Night you two.”
xx
When Dean came home that night it was to a glorious stomach-rumbling smell. Following his nose, he wandered into the kitchen to see Castiel bent down and just retrieving the roast from the oven. It looked like he had mixed potatoes, onion, and carrots in the pan as well.
“You’re an angel,” Dean murmured as he came over and took in the scent of the meal at closer range.
“No, just named after one,” Castiel flashed a grin. “Pretty far from any angel I’ve ever heard of.”
“Please, anyone who looks as great as you and can cook food that smells as great as this has to be an angel. Why the big to-do anyway?”
Castiel shrugged. “You’re heading back to the Academy. I’m heading back to work. Sam is well on his way to recovery. I thought we deserved it. Can I trust you with the gravy while I get this cut?”
Dean snorted, “Please, how hard can it be?”
Castiel grimaced, visions of lumpy, powdery gravy flashing through his head. “On second thought, why don’t you cut this up and I’ll make the gravy. You’ll probably make less of a mess at it than I will anyway.”
It was Dean’s turn to grimace as he remembered the last time Castiel carved a chicken he had made and the flecks of meat and grease that had subsequently been left behind on the counter. “I like the way you think.”
The meal passed in perfect domesticity and Dean relished in the rightness that had settled over them once again. Their relationship had been strained for a while now and sometimes Dean worried it would go too far to fix. He loved Cas with every fibre he possessed, but sometimes that could only take a couple so far. They were getting married though, and that thought settled warm and comfortable in his chest as he leaned across the small diagonal between them to press a gentle kiss to receptive lips.
“Hey,” Dean whispered against the pink flesh.
“Hello,” Castiel answered amused. “Jess and Sam are well?”
Dean leaned back and nodded. “Yep, Jess was a little upset when she came in tonight but I managed to talk her around. I just wish she was able to properly share, you know? I’m sure she talks to some of the people at work, but sometimes when you’re at work that’s the last thing you wanna talk about.”
Castiel smiled gently and cupped Dean’s face. “I know, and I agree. It’s remarkable how similar you and Jessica are. I wonder if Sam realizes.”
Dean laughed, “I think he’d probably be weirded out if he did. Jess and I already share a birthday as it is. I wouldn’t say we’re all that much alike, though.”
“No, I suppose you wouldn’t see it. Regardless though, Sam is lucky to have her.”
“I’m lucky to have you,” Dean murmured, leaning in for another kiss.
Castiel returned it, then pulled away, chuckling, “You’re giving me cavities, Winchester.”
“Har, har,” Dean said but flashed a grin. “Dinner was great, Babe, thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet,” Castiel cautioned.
“Why?” Dean asked suspiciously.
Castiel grinned. “You get to clean up.”
xx
“Oh my god, who taught you how to cook?” Dean huffed as he flopped down next to Castiel reading in bed. “I have never seen one person make so much of a mess in my life.”
Castiel snorted, “It wasn’t that bad.”
“No, it was.”
“I beg to differ.”
“You can beg all you want, it’s not gonna change the fact that you leave disaster in your wake and the kitchen was crying by the time I had it clean, it was so grateful.”
“Inanimate objects cannot cry, Dean.”
“Ah, they so can, Cas. You really need to make it up to me ‘cause I am beyond awesome for getting that mess sorted out.”
“Oh?” Castiel closed his book with a dull snap and placed it delicately on the side table. “How do you propose I make it up to you?”
“Sexually,” Dean grinned.
“Well I gathered that,” Castiel chuckled. “Anything specific in mind?”
“Well there’s always the old standby…”
Castiel gave Dean a flat look at that one. “I am not giving you road-head on the way to the Academy.”
“Damnit… All right… Naked message?”
“Oil on the sheets.”
“Oh god… you are just the destroyer of all my fantasies tonight, aren’t you? Um…”
“I have an idea…”
Dean made a sharp sound of protest. “Hey, Mister, this is you making it up to me, why do you get to have ideas?”
“Because, my dear, mine are always infinitely better than yours.”
“Ass…” Dean muttered.
“Do you want to hear my idea or not?”
“No,” Dean retorted petulantly.
“You’re lying.”
“Dick.”
“That is part of the equation, yes.”
Dean rolled his eyes. “Lame, but okay, let’s hear it.”
“Well…” Castiel rolled closer and pushed himself up until his mouth was hovering just over Dean’s own.
“I say, we start with this,” Castiel pressed down, a deep, penetrating kiss ravishing Dean’s mouth for a moment before trailing light-as-air kisses down Dean’s jaw and neck until he found the soft patch of sensitive skin that had Dean moaning out a sigh.
“And…” Castiel continued, cool puffs of air sending jolts down Dean’s neck and spine, “see where things go from here.”
“Okay,” Dean breathed out. “Just keep doing that thing with your tongue.”
Castiel chuckled, the sound of it rumbling through Dean’s skin. “You have to be more specific. There are an awful lot of things I do with my tongue.”
Dean groaned and with a playful growl flipped Castiel onto his back.
Castiel chuckled as the air was gently pushed out of him at the abrupt movement, which devolved very quickly into a moan as Dean began licking and kissing the sensitive jut of Castiel’s collar bone and licking a moist path up to the other man’s ear.
“I can taste your aftershave,” Dean murmured against Castiel’s soft skin.
Castiel chuckled again. “Interesting observa-” his breath hitched halfway through as Dean found a particularly sensitive spot, “-vation… to make whi…while… doing that.”
“Mmmhmm… just thought I’d share. Smell good, though, even if you taste like bug spray.”
“I don’t - ah! fuck Dean - don’t make a habit of sampling bug spray so I’ll… Jesus… take your word for it.”
Dean found the spot on Castiel’s shoulder that made the older man rear up against Dean. Soon, Dean found himself flat on his back with Castiel’s lips and tongue attacking whichever patch of skin he had managed to reveal.
Dean moaned loud and throaty as Castiel’s teeth grazed over a nipple, and as cool air followed immediately in the wake of warm, damp breath. As Castiel trailed lower and lower, kissing and nipping at Dean’s belly button and abdomen, Dean scrambled with the button of his jeans and quickly moved to kick them off.
“Hey, hey careful,” Castiel laughed, stilling Dean’s legs and helping the green-eyed man out of his jeans. “You get me just right and this party will be over.”
“Sorry, been so long,” Dean managed to mutter. “Now get back down there.”
“So bossy.” Castiel, though, was more than willing to comply as he peppered kisses along Dean’s abdomen once again and trailed lower until he was nipping and sucking at the rounded jut of Dean’s hipbone.
Dean moaned, the sound reverberating through the room as his hips lifted of their own volition.
“You keep those still,” Castiel murmured against the soft skin of Dean’s hip, giving him a gentle, teasing, open-handed smack on the curve of his thigh.
“Cas… Castiel,” Dean panted out.
There was an unspoken plea in the simple utterance of Castiel’s name in full and, complying, Castiel bent and took Dean’s hard, waiting cock deep in his mouth. Dean groaned louder still and Castiel felt the twitch of muscle against his hands but obediently Dean kept his hips still. Castiel rewarded him with his tongue and Dean was soon panting overhead, soft breathy moans escaping as Castiel took his time sucking and licking eagerly at Dean’s cock. Dean’s strong fingers convulsively tightened and relaxed in Castiel’s hair as he fought to keep his hips still against every instinct, which was screaming at him to move.
Cas enjoyed the heavy flesh in his mouth, the convulsion of fluid through the thick vein on the underside and the tangy salt taste of Dean leaking ever-so-slightly into his mouth. Castiel moaned around the taste and Dean whimpered from the headboard.
Sensing the impending release, Castiel pulled back and gradually slowed before allowing Dean to slip free from his mouth with a wet, sucking pop.
Dean blinked dazedly down but made no demands and asked no further questions as Castiel snaked back up Dean’s body and kissed him slow and sensual, keeping the pleasure at a comfortable even thrum as he reached beside them and pulled out a familiar tube.
“You going to help me with this, or are you going to watch?” Castiel asked and teasingly wiggled the tube.
Dean closed his eyes. “Fuck.”
“Smart boy,” Castiel drawled, his voice rough and sex-laden.
“But you…” Dean drifted.
“Your night, Sweetheart,” Castiel murmured, gently kissing the younger man and trailing lazy kisses down his jaw and up his neck again.
Quick, precise motions had Castiel stripped and flat on his back in seconds, leaving the blue-eyed man blinking dazedly up for only a second before he groaned and closed his eyes as slick, cool fingers danced around his entrance.
“Right to it, then,” Castiel breathed out.
“Mmmhmm,” Dean hummed around his kisses.
Castiel arched and gasped into Dean’s lips as the other man unerringly found the small nub of pleasure within Castiel on the first shot, and soon the inevitable pain of Dean stretching and preparing him became secondary to the jolt that shot through Castiel with each skilled brush of Castiel’s prostate.
“So vocal tonight,” Dean remarked.
“Uhn…” was Castiel’s articulate response as he panted and waited for Dean to just get on with it already and stop teasing him. He was about to make his impatience known clearly when the first press of Dean’s swollen cock at his ready entrance had his eyes rolling back and his body arching up.
“God, Cas… love you like this,” Dean whispered.
“What did we-” another gasp interrupted, following a particularly pointed thrust, “-we say about sweet ta...talk… Winchester?”
“Shove it,” Dean murmured. “True though, ready and willing for me like this… So good.”
“Then show me rather than waxing - fuck! - poetic about it.”
Dean complied, and began slowly thrusting forward, teasing as he peppered light kisses down Castiel’s jaw and up his neck. The blue-eyed man was arching and moaning into him, panting as Dean strained to keep up the steady rhythm and not just go for broke. It may be his night, as Castiel so graciously said earlier, but he wanted Castiel to enjoy this as much as humanly possible.
Dean moaned out particularly harshly as Castiel tightened around him, all slick heat and quivering muscle. Liking the sound, Castiel did it again, wrenching another throaty moan free from Dean.
“Dean…” Castiel whispered against Dean’s shoulder, eyes screwed up tight, the single word begging Dean for what the other man needed.
“Yes, Cas?” Dean whispered, “What do you want? Tell me, Babe.”
“Harder, Dean, fuck. ‘Nough… fucking teasing…”
Dean had held back for about as long as he could anyway, surrounded so completely by the perfect fit of Castiel, and with one sharp thrust he began to quicken his pace. He had Castiel crying out sharply and pleasantly surprised beneath him before the older man quieted again and rode out the feeling. He matched each of Dean’s movements with a counter thrust of his own, hand convulsively grasping at the skin of Dean’s back.
Dean stilled just as suddenly as he began, panting harshly into Castiel’s skin, “Want you to ride me.”
Castiel nodded hazily and with practised movement the older man had them flipped and himself positioned over Dean, waiting and straining.
Castiel breathed in before releasing it slowly and then lowered himself down; he winced only slightly at the sudden angle change but relaxed quickly around the familiarity of Dean’s cock deep inside him, and it was his turn to be a tease.
Dean immediately regretted his request and rejoiced in it all the same as the shift allowed him to sink impossibly deeper inside Castiel.
“Cas, please, fuck me,” Dean panted.
Castiel shifted, braced his hands on Dean’s chest, and began to ride Dean in earnest.
Dean’s gasps turned to moans and faint cries as Castiel moved and once he felt his orgasm approaching rapidly, he slicked his palm and reached forward to take Castiel’s leaking cock in hand.
The move startled a happy groan from Castiel and his eyes fluttered, thrusts jumping for a moment before they found their rhythm again. A few quick, hurried thrusts later, Dean was releasing deep inside Castiel and the warm wash of Castiel’s cum trickled down onto his chest. Dean blinked, breathed, and went limp on the bed, his arms splayed to the sides. Castiel was frozen over him, panting, still with his eyes closed before he cracked them open with a grin.
“Pretty good, huh?” Dean chuckled.
“Yes, quite. Guess what happens now, though…” Castiel teased, eyes dancing. “You’re about to get very, very sticky.”
Dean groaned, not at all pleased this time, and threw an arm over his eyes as Castiel eased himself up and off, collapsing on his back next to Dean, neck cradled on Dean’s still splayed left arm.
“I’ll shower in a minute,” Dean muttered.
“Mmmhmm…” Castiel murmured beside him, eyes drifting closed.
xx
Dean woke up to his and Castiel’s dried semen on his chest and stomach. So much for that shower he had planned on before bed. Regardless though, Dean felt pleasantly buzzed and comfortable, as somehow in the night they had migrated so that Dean was on his side facing away from Castiel and Castiel was pressed against his back, cheek and nose resting between Dean’s shoulder blades. Dean sighed happily, debated on just going back to sleep, when his alarm decided it was time to get his ass out of bed.
“Damnit,” Dean muttered into his pillow.
“Shut that fucking thing up. Alarms should be illegal on Sundays,” Castiel grumbled sleepily from behind Dean, pulling away and rolling onto his other side.
Dean lamented the loss of warmth for a moment while at the same time he slapped his hand on the snooze button of his clock.
Dean relished the quiet for just a beat before nudging Castiel’s back with his own. “You coming with me?”
“Do I have to get out of bed?” Castiel muttered from where his face was half buried in his pillow.
“That’s the general idea,” Dean replied, sitting up and stretching.
There was a full minute of silence before a grumbled, “…Maybe.”
Dean chuckled, “All right. Well, I’m going to shower, feel free to join me if you’re so inclined.”
His only response was more of Castiel’s muttering into his pillow.
xx
Castiel surprised Dean later that morning by slumping to the kitchen, hair damp and dripping from the shower he must have just taken.
“Hey,” Dean smiled, going over to the machine to put more coffee on. He slid his own barely-touched coffee to the older man, who accepted it and lumbered to his usual spot at the kitchen table.
“I have to-” Castiel yawned, “-call my brother and see if he can send me a car for when I come back tonight.”
“Cas, you really don’t have to-”
“Dean, I’m out of bed now. Change your mind on pain of death.”
“All right, all right,” Dean chuckled. “Well, I appreciate it then… I ah… probably won’t be coming home for a while…”
“I assumed as much,” Castiel said neutrally.
“You gonna be okay?”
“I’m a grown man, Dean. I’ll be able to handle a few weeks without you. It will only be until the Christmas party, right?”
“Yeah, you can still make that?” Dean asked hopefully. “You’re gonna have to probably take Friday off.”
“Yes, Dean. Ellen promised,” Castiel nodded.
“Good, ‘cause I promised Sam that after the Christmas holidays, if I hadn’t found anything, I’d back off and pull out of the mission. He seems to think that there’s nothing else to find after you guys busted open that whorehouse.” Dean was leaning back against the counter and watching Castiel carefully.
“You think otherwise,” Castiel stated rather than asked.
“I do.”
“I see.”
Dean was silent while he waited for Castiel to elaborate. When the agent didn’t, Dean shifted anxiously and prompted, “You? What do you think?”
“I’ve always trusted your intuition, Dean,” Castiel replied cryptically.
“It doesn’t always pan out,” Dean reminded.
“Regardless. If you feel there is something more to discover, then I will not dispute that.”
Dean huffed and poured himself a cup of coffee, slamming the pot back harder than necessary.
Castiel quirked a brow. “Do you want me to?”
“What?” Dean asked a little testily.
“Dispute your intuition.”
“Yes, no… I don’t know, Cas! I don’t do this for living like you guys do. What if I’m just beating a dead horse because I’m so desperate to play hero for a change? What if I won’t listen to you two because I want to make my own splash and not just fade into the background like I’ve been doing since I was fucking four years old?”
“Dean,” Castiel blinked, genuinely taken aback, “where is this coming from?”
Dean shook his head. “Never mind. It’s stupid. I just feel like I have to see this thing through and that’s what I’m going to do.”
“I’d expect nothing less of you, Dean,” Castiel said gently, standing and coming over to the green-eyed man. “You’re righteous and true with a beautiful soul and you never want to see any innocent person upset or injured or in trouble.
“You have always seen everything you do right through to the end, be it taking care of your brother or starting a project or whatever it may be. Even if it’s unpleasant or uncomfortable for you. You don’t give up, you don’t waver and you may be so terrified you want to run but you never, ever run.
“So why on Earth would I ask you at this moment to change the very person you are? If you feel there is more work to be done, then I will support you. I brought you into this, Dean, and I owe it to you for more reasons than that alone to see it through to the end with you.”
Dean leaned forward and kissed Castiel thoroughly before pulling back with a smile. “When was the last time you strung that many words together this early in the morning?”
Castiel chuckled, “Shut up.”
“Ah…” Dean grinned, “there he is.”
End Chapter
Previous | Interlude II: Dirty Laundry | Master Post | Next
Author: Stolen Childe
Disclaimer: Supernatural and all associated characters belong to Kripke and Co. I make absolutely no claims on any of them.
Special Thanks to dapperscript for the wonderful beta! Thank you!
Please see Master Post for Notes, Cover Art and Further Information
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“Jake Talley. Served in Afghanistan for a year and a half,” Ellen slapped the file on the table in front of Castiel.
Castiel nodded numbly.
“Son…”
Castiel shook his head and pushed away from the table, not letting the woman finish. He couldn’t take the warmth in her gaze right now. He couldn’t take the grief there. One of Castiel’s own brothers-in-arms had turned and committed such a heinous act. Castiel felt sick to his stomach as he closed his eyes tight shut at the wave that threatened to overwhelm him.
“I can’t be here, Ellen, I need… I need to be…” Castiel muttered.
“I know, I know. Gabriel’s out front waiting for you,” Ellen nodded. “You go on. Two weeks, Castiel. You have two weeks and you aren’t fighting me on this.”
“Ellen, this is my fault, I can’t sit here for two weeks while-”
“Talley’s dead, Castiel, you already killed him. Two weeks. Dean as well, you hear me?”
Castiel nodded and slumped out of the room.
Gabriel was waiting at reception for Castiel, Balthazar at his side. Both were dressed in sombre black suits. Gabriel handed Castiel his overcoat as the other man approached. Castiel took it numbly and slipped it on. He stuck his hand in his pocket and pulled back as if he’d been burnt. There, sitting nestled and neatly wrapped, was the engagement present Dean had Castiel pick up only a few days before the shoot-out.
God, Dean.
Castiel closed his eyes and had to steel himself for the upcoming encounter. He needed to be the strong one right now. Sam was his partner and his friend, but Sam was Dean’s brother. They were as close as two people had ever been. Balthazar came over and slung an arm around his brother’s shoulder, pulling the shorter man tight against his side and kissing his temple.
“We’re here for you, Cassy, all right? You be there for Dean, but know we’re here for you.”
Castiel didn’t want to admit how much he needed the gentle comfort and words just then. He merely leaned into his brother’s side and nodded as they exited the building.
xx
Castiel sat in the back as Balthazar drove them to their destination. The agent leaned his forehead against the cool glass of the window, watching people go about their lives as if nothing was wrong. Happy, flush-cheeked faces, bundled in winter best as mist curled free from their red lips. Shopping, preparing and getting ready for a Christmas that for them would be a happy one. Castiel hated each and every person out there just then. What right did they have to be happy?
His eyes burned again and Castiel caught the sob in his throat as he ducked his head away from the glass. His gloved hands were clenched tight in his lap.
“Almost there, Cassy,” Gabriel said gently.
Castiel nodded and wiped his eyes quickly, he couldn’t fall apart. He’d have his chance later.
When Balthazar’s black Bentley eased to a halt, Castiel turned terrified eyes up to the building before them. He sat in the car, unable to move until Gabriel opened it for him and gently urged him out. Balthazar nodded and went to find a parking spot.
“I can’t go in,” Castiel whispered.
“Castiel,” Gabriel said sternly, glaring into his brother-in-law’s eyes. “You have to. For Dean.”
“Why do people around me get hurt?” Castiel asked quietly. “Why do they always get hurt? What do I do?”
“Castiel, this isn’t your fault. This shit happens. It’s not fun, it’s not nice, and I wish to God that it didn’t, but it just does. You have to go in there, you have to be strong for Dean, you hear me?”
Castiel swallowed. “Sam was going to get married. Jessica… Jessica’s going to have a baby.”
“Castiel, you have to go in there right now. Dean needs you,” Gabriel was insistent this time; Castiel nodded dazedly as Gabriel pulled him through the entrance. The smell and the hum of voices did little to bring Castiel back to himself, but when he saw Dean, that’s all he needed.
“Dean,” Castiel whispered. The younger man looked up then and Castiel came to his side immediately.
Dean was smiling.
“He’s stable, Cas, it was real touch and go there for a bit, but he’s finally stable. He almost woke up this morning but they kept him under to give his body more time to heal. They managed to get the infection under control and his temperature is down. Brain waves are good. They aren’t sure about him walking yet, but he seems to be responding and the doctor thinks he’s probably gonna be all right.”
“Oh thank God,” Castiel whispered, slouching down in the chair next to Dean in the ICU’s private waiting room.
“Mom and Dad are in there with him right now, but we can go in and see him in a little bit,” Dean nodded firmly.
“Dean, Dean I’m so sor-”
“Cas, stop. We went over this when you brought him in. Sure I was pissed then, but look, Sam’s fine now. You didn’t do this to Sam, all right? Sam’s not gonna blame you. I don’t blame you. Mom and Dad don’t blame you. It’s part of the job, right? We shouldn’t talk about it again.”
“He’s truly going to be all right?” Castiel asked meekly.
“That’s what they think, yeah. They’re pretty sure.”
“The man who hurt your brother was Jake Talley. He was an ex-soldier, served in Afghanistan for a year and half,” Castiel said, after a few moments.
“He’s dead, right?” Dean asked darkly.
“Yes, I killed him myself. He’s dead. I just… With this knowledge that Crowley and Lilith are recruiting ex-soldiers… It’s very unsettling and I feel as if we are both going to have to be a lot more careful. These are trained men, well trained, and if they’re on the opposite side…”
“I know,” Dean nodded grimly.
“The building Sam and I infiltrated. There’s evidence that it was to be used as a home base of sorts for the sex trade.”
“Isn’t that the branch of Lilith’s company you shut down two years ago?”
“Crowley’s, but yes. Lilith’s is still up and running as far as we know.”
“So, Crowley’s made a deal with Lilith to get his own sex trade back up and running and as she’s the forerunning dealer in flesh around… Why would she welcome the competition?”
“She probably gets a cut of the revenue. Crowley supplies the victims, Lilith rents out corners and space to Crowley. She covers more area but doesn’t have to work as hard. In the end it’s all going to fall to Jesse anyway, so maybe she sees this as ensuring his future.”
“God, that poor kid. Now that I know Sam’s going to be all right, I really need to get back out there. Jesse was just starting to trust me… You don’t think he knew anything about this, do you? The factory? The business? He mentioned people were going to get hurt.”
Castiel opened his mouth to reply but shut it quickly as several people wandered past the open door of the waiting room. After a moment he said, “This isn’t the place to discuss all this. But as for you going back there, you can’t. Ellen’s demanded we take two weeks off because of what happened with Sam.”
Dean flickered anxious eyes towards Castiel. “That was before, though, she doesn’t know he’s going to be all right. We should tell her… I need to get back to those kids, Cas. If this is really going on, anyone looking to weasel into the market could be after Jesse as a potential bargaining chip. I mean, if Crowley and Lilith complete this merger, there’s going to be no space for anyone else. Sounds like a good motive to me.”
Castiel sighed, “For now, let’s wait until Sam is completely in the clear. He’ll be fine,” Castiel was quick to say, “but that doesn’t mean we can’t take the time to be with him.”
Dean gnawed his lip for a moment, clearly torn between his duty as a teacher and - more importantly - his duty as a big brother. He’d had his moment of anger and panic. Sam was fine, though. He was fine. Jesse might get hurt, he was still in danger after all. Perhaps more so now than before.
Castiel, sensing Dean’s anxiety, reached out and gripped his hand. Dean flinched slightly, still working towards forgiving Castiel for his role in Sam’s injury, but realizing intellectually that it could have just as easily been Cas lying in that hospital bed, again. Dean would never begrudge Sam’s role in something like that and he needed to treat Castiel the same.
They were both reckless and one of them got hurt, but neither of them had any more responsibility in the matter than the other. Besides, it had been Jake Talley who’d stabbed Sam. Jake Talley was dead and Azazel would be rounded up any day.
The other man, Wayne, had fled out the back door, but he hadn’t run far enough. He had been arrested and was surprisingly forthcoming after some FBI-brand persuasion.
That saga of their crazy lives would be wrapped up neatly, but the bigger threat of Lilith and Crowley still loomed.
Dean squeezed Castiel’s hand and the agent offered a shaky smile.
“Cas, I’m glad you made it,” a voice sounded from the doorway.
Castiel looked up and smiled at Mary and rose to embrace her tightly. “Of course I did. Sam means a great deal to me, I consider him my brother. I’m very glad to hear he’s doing well.”
She released him from the hug but didn’t let go of his arm; she smiled and brushed the hair out of his eyes. “I’m glad you’re his partner, Castiel. If it hadn’t been you… Sam may have…”
Castiel closed his eyes. “I am sorry, Mary. This shouldn’t have happened at all. We were both so anxious to get out in the field again that… I’m very sorry.”
“No, it’s all right. Sam knew what he signed up for, you both did. He’s going to be all right and that’s the important part. John’s just coming out now so you and Dean can go in and see him. I have to go pick up Jessica from home. I made her go and rest, for the baby’s sake.”
Castiel nodded and squeezed her hand once before they released each other entirely.
Dean whispered quietly to his mother before dropping a kiss on her cheek and following.
Castiel took Dean’s hand in his own and the younger man clasped it gratefully.
“He’s going to be fine,” Castiel whispered into Dean’s ear. Dean nodded and the two passed John in the hallway. Castiel gave the older man a tight nod and John nodded back before they pushed passed the doors of Sam’s room in the ICU.
xx
“My God, would you shut up, Sammy? And I thought Cas was the worst patient in the world,” Dean tossed a light, fluffy pillow at his brother. The younger man was sprawled and pathetic looking across the couch in Sam’s and Jess’s apartment. Dean wrinkled his nose. It really did smell like a gym locker in here. Their dad hadn’t been kidding.
“You talk to Cas like that when he was hurt?” Sam shot Dean his big wet puppy eyes and Dean had to groan.
“Yes.”
Sam gave him blank look. “Doubt it.”
“Shuddup.”
“You know you don’t have to stick around. I’m fine, Dean,” Sam huffed and rolled his eyes, wincing only slightly as he shifted in place.
Dean snorted, “Sure, Sam.”
“Dean, I mean it,” Sam protested.
“Sure, Sam.”
“God, you’re so annoying. Why did I get stuck with you as a big brother?”
“Oh please, I’m awesome and you know it. Who else would stick around to look after your sorry ass until your wife came home, huh?”
“Not wife yet.”
“Good thing too, 'cause if this is your marital home… Damn, Sammy,” Dean shook his head as he looked around the dank apartment and scowled. “No place to raise a kid. That’s for sure.”
Sam gave Dean a mysterious little grin. “Don’t you worry about that.”
Dean raised a brow, but didn’t press. “All right… Anyway, I’m not here just to look after you or to brighten up your life with my awe-inspiring presence. I’m heading back to the Academy early tomorrow. Thought I’d make sure you were good before I go. So you good?”
“Aside from the hole torn into my back? Swell… But heading back already, Dean? With what we just found out?”
“Already? It’s been two freakin’ weeks! I’ve waited this long, so I’m heading back. I was just starting to make a break-through with Jesse when you and my idiot fiancé decided to play hero and nearly get killed.”
“We didn’t do it on purpose,” Sam muttered.
“Yeah, well, next time make sure you two use your thick heads before charging half-cocked into a would-be abandoned building crawling with criminals. Got it?”
“Cas get this speech too?”
“You bet his sweet ass he did.”
Sam wrinkled his nose. “Eww.”
“Grow up,” Dean tossed another pillow at his brother.
Sam started to catch it. “Ow!”
Dean snorted.
“Dean…” Sam began hesitantly.
Dean paused in rearranging the pillows on the chair he was sitting in and turned towards his brother. “Yeah?”
“Look, you’re a grown up and everything and I know you can take care of yourself, but I just… I don’t want you trying to prove anything, all right? We have all kinds of information and you probably don’t even need to go back. Just stay, yeah?”
“Sam, you really don’t think what’s going on is about more than a bunch of hookers?” Dean asked, incredulous.
“I dunno, Dean, but I really don’t think Jesse’s gonna give you more than we already got. He said people were gonna get hurt, people would have gotten hurt.”
Dean shook his head. “Sorry, Sam. Can’t leave it like that. I have to go find out for myself… You know me.”
“Yeah, yeah… I know you,” Sam sighed. He waited a beat before looking up at his brother and said hesitantly, “Just, do me a favour?”
“Sure, Sammy.”
“Don’t drag this out longer than it needs to be. Just, give it only until after the Christmas break. If you don’t have anything by then, come back, all right?”
Dean huffed and sat in the small space in front of his brother on the couch. He squeezed Sam’s knee and smiled gently. “All right, Sam. Only until after Christmas.”
Sam’s expression was full of relief as he flashed his brother a grin. “Thanks, Dean.” Dean squeezed Sam’s knee again and looked away.
Could he really walk away now?
Dean stood and smiled, ruffling Sam’s hair before heading back to the chair. He slumped across it and scooped up the remote, turning the volume back up on the television as he settled back in to wait for Jess.
xx
“He’s out,” Dean whispered as Jessica crept into the apartment after her shift that evening.
Jessica grinned gratefully at Dean and came over to greet him with a hug.
“Thanks for staying with him. He hates that I asked you, but I just… After almost losing him, the thought of leaving him alone and hurt… I just can’t take it, you know? With what I see every day, it’s a wonder I let him leave the house at all. He’s always teasing me that as soon as the baby’s born I’m going to lock them away in a bubble and not let them out of my sight.”
“Your kids are all good though, right? Not a bad day, I hope,” Dean bit his lip as he asked hesitantly.
“No, my kids are fine. Though one little girl came in today…” Jessica trailed off as she collapsed down in the chair across from Dean. “My parents think I’m crazy for wanting to be a pediatric nurse, and sometimes, like today, I don’t blame them.”
“I hate fucking bastards who hurt kids,” Dean muttered angrily.
Jessica wrapped her arms around her stomach, resting over the cheery blue material of her scrubs with the white and pink bunnies parading across it.
“You and me both,” Jessica replied, her tone just as dark.
Dean stood and walked over to drop a kiss on Jessica’s loosely bound curls. “We’re working to stop that though, right? You and I are gonna help as many kids as we can and do as much as we can… It’s all we can do and that little boy or girl you’re carrying may get a chance to grow up in a world where this bad shit isn’t in their face twenty-four hours a day in neon colour.”
“Beautiful lie, Dean,” Jessica smiled up at him sadly.
“Let’s say hopeful dream instead,” Dean winked.
“You perving on my girl, Dean?” Sam muttered blearily from where he was buried among blankets and cushions.
“He wakes,” Dean commented. “Come on, Gigantor, let’s get you to bed. Ready to stand?”
“No,” Sam whined, burrowing down further.
“You gotta, Sammy, you stand up for me and get to bed and I’ll give you more drugs. Deal?” Dean replied.
Jessica chuckled and stood as well, coming over and carding her fingers through Sam’s shaggy locks. “Come on, Sam. I don’t wanna sleep alone tonight.”
“Dirty trick,” Sam muttered and shifted as best he could to allow Dean to gingerly help him to his feet.
“Let’s go, Kiddo,” Dean guided Sam down the hall once the three of them managed to navigate him to his feet. The older Winchester eased the younger down on the bed and Jessica followed soon after with a glass of water and a pill in hand.
“Move aside, Dean, I’m a professional,” Jessica grinned.
Dean chuckled, “Yeah, I suppose comparing Sam to a sick little kid is an apt description. I’ll leave you to it then. Night Sammy, Jess.”
“Mean,” Sam muttered. “Bye.”
“Safe trip tomorrow, Dean,” Jessica said, squeezing his arm as he moved passed her.
“Thanks Jess. Night you two.”
xx
When Dean came home that night it was to a glorious stomach-rumbling smell. Following his nose, he wandered into the kitchen to see Castiel bent down and just retrieving the roast from the oven. It looked like he had mixed potatoes, onion, and carrots in the pan as well.
“You’re an angel,” Dean murmured as he came over and took in the scent of the meal at closer range.
“No, just named after one,” Castiel flashed a grin. “Pretty far from any angel I’ve ever heard of.”
“Please, anyone who looks as great as you and can cook food that smells as great as this has to be an angel. Why the big to-do anyway?”
Castiel shrugged. “You’re heading back to the Academy. I’m heading back to work. Sam is well on his way to recovery. I thought we deserved it. Can I trust you with the gravy while I get this cut?”
Dean snorted, “Please, how hard can it be?”
Castiel grimaced, visions of lumpy, powdery gravy flashing through his head. “On second thought, why don’t you cut this up and I’ll make the gravy. You’ll probably make less of a mess at it than I will anyway.”
It was Dean’s turn to grimace as he remembered the last time Castiel carved a chicken he had made and the flecks of meat and grease that had subsequently been left behind on the counter. “I like the way you think.”
The meal passed in perfect domesticity and Dean relished in the rightness that had settled over them once again. Their relationship had been strained for a while now and sometimes Dean worried it would go too far to fix. He loved Cas with every fibre he possessed, but sometimes that could only take a couple so far. They were getting married though, and that thought settled warm and comfortable in his chest as he leaned across the small diagonal between them to press a gentle kiss to receptive lips.
“Hey,” Dean whispered against the pink flesh.
“Hello,” Castiel answered amused. “Jess and Sam are well?”
Dean leaned back and nodded. “Yep, Jess was a little upset when she came in tonight but I managed to talk her around. I just wish she was able to properly share, you know? I’m sure she talks to some of the people at work, but sometimes when you’re at work that’s the last thing you wanna talk about.”
Castiel smiled gently and cupped Dean’s face. “I know, and I agree. It’s remarkable how similar you and Jessica are. I wonder if Sam realizes.”
Dean laughed, “I think he’d probably be weirded out if he did. Jess and I already share a birthday as it is. I wouldn’t say we’re all that much alike, though.”
“No, I suppose you wouldn’t see it. Regardless though, Sam is lucky to have her.”
“I’m lucky to have you,” Dean murmured, leaning in for another kiss.
Castiel returned it, then pulled away, chuckling, “You’re giving me cavities, Winchester.”
“Har, har,” Dean said but flashed a grin. “Dinner was great, Babe, thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet,” Castiel cautioned.
“Why?” Dean asked suspiciously.
Castiel grinned. “You get to clean up.”
xx
“Oh my god, who taught you how to cook?” Dean huffed as he flopped down next to Castiel reading in bed. “I have never seen one person make so much of a mess in my life.”
Castiel snorted, “It wasn’t that bad.”
“No, it was.”
“I beg to differ.”
“You can beg all you want, it’s not gonna change the fact that you leave disaster in your wake and the kitchen was crying by the time I had it clean, it was so grateful.”
“Inanimate objects cannot cry, Dean.”
“Ah, they so can, Cas. You really need to make it up to me ‘cause I am beyond awesome for getting that mess sorted out.”
“Oh?” Castiel closed his book with a dull snap and placed it delicately on the side table. “How do you propose I make it up to you?”
“Sexually,” Dean grinned.
“Well I gathered that,” Castiel chuckled. “Anything specific in mind?”
“Well there’s always the old standby…”
Castiel gave Dean a flat look at that one. “I am not giving you road-head on the way to the Academy.”
“Damnit… All right… Naked message?”
“Oil on the sheets.”
“Oh god… you are just the destroyer of all my fantasies tonight, aren’t you? Um…”
“I have an idea…”
Dean made a sharp sound of protest. “Hey, Mister, this is you making it up to me, why do you get to have ideas?”
“Because, my dear, mine are always infinitely better than yours.”
“Ass…” Dean muttered.
“Do you want to hear my idea or not?”
“No,” Dean retorted petulantly.
“You’re lying.”
“Dick.”
“That is part of the equation, yes.”
Dean rolled his eyes. “Lame, but okay, let’s hear it.”
“Well…” Castiel rolled closer and pushed himself up until his mouth was hovering just over Dean’s own.
“I say, we start with this,” Castiel pressed down, a deep, penetrating kiss ravishing Dean’s mouth for a moment before trailing light-as-air kisses down Dean’s jaw and neck until he found the soft patch of sensitive skin that had Dean moaning out a sigh.
“And…” Castiel continued, cool puffs of air sending jolts down Dean’s neck and spine, “see where things go from here.”
“Okay,” Dean breathed out. “Just keep doing that thing with your tongue.”
Castiel chuckled, the sound of it rumbling through Dean’s skin. “You have to be more specific. There are an awful lot of things I do with my tongue.”
Dean groaned and with a playful growl flipped Castiel onto his back.
Castiel chuckled as the air was gently pushed out of him at the abrupt movement, which devolved very quickly into a moan as Dean began licking and kissing the sensitive jut of Castiel’s collar bone and licking a moist path up to the other man’s ear.
“I can taste your aftershave,” Dean murmured against Castiel’s soft skin.
Castiel chuckled again. “Interesting observa-” his breath hitched halfway through as Dean found a particularly sensitive spot, “-vation… to make whi…while… doing that.”
“Mmmhmm… just thought I’d share. Smell good, though, even if you taste like bug spray.”
“I don’t - ah! fuck Dean - don’t make a habit of sampling bug spray so I’ll… Jesus… take your word for it.”
Dean found the spot on Castiel’s shoulder that made the older man rear up against Dean. Soon, Dean found himself flat on his back with Castiel’s lips and tongue attacking whichever patch of skin he had managed to reveal.
Dean moaned loud and throaty as Castiel’s teeth grazed over a nipple, and as cool air followed immediately in the wake of warm, damp breath. As Castiel trailed lower and lower, kissing and nipping at Dean’s belly button and abdomen, Dean scrambled with the button of his jeans and quickly moved to kick them off.
“Hey, hey careful,” Castiel laughed, stilling Dean’s legs and helping the green-eyed man out of his jeans. “You get me just right and this party will be over.”
“Sorry, been so long,” Dean managed to mutter. “Now get back down there.”
“So bossy.” Castiel, though, was more than willing to comply as he peppered kisses along Dean’s abdomen once again and trailed lower until he was nipping and sucking at the rounded jut of Dean’s hipbone.
Dean moaned, the sound reverberating through the room as his hips lifted of their own volition.
“You keep those still,” Castiel murmured against the soft skin of Dean’s hip, giving him a gentle, teasing, open-handed smack on the curve of his thigh.
“Cas… Castiel,” Dean panted out.
There was an unspoken plea in the simple utterance of Castiel’s name in full and, complying, Castiel bent and took Dean’s hard, waiting cock deep in his mouth. Dean groaned louder still and Castiel felt the twitch of muscle against his hands but obediently Dean kept his hips still. Castiel rewarded him with his tongue and Dean was soon panting overhead, soft breathy moans escaping as Castiel took his time sucking and licking eagerly at Dean’s cock. Dean’s strong fingers convulsively tightened and relaxed in Castiel’s hair as he fought to keep his hips still against every instinct, which was screaming at him to move.
Cas enjoyed the heavy flesh in his mouth, the convulsion of fluid through the thick vein on the underside and the tangy salt taste of Dean leaking ever-so-slightly into his mouth. Castiel moaned around the taste and Dean whimpered from the headboard.
Sensing the impending release, Castiel pulled back and gradually slowed before allowing Dean to slip free from his mouth with a wet, sucking pop.
Dean blinked dazedly down but made no demands and asked no further questions as Castiel snaked back up Dean’s body and kissed him slow and sensual, keeping the pleasure at a comfortable even thrum as he reached beside them and pulled out a familiar tube.
“You going to help me with this, or are you going to watch?” Castiel asked and teasingly wiggled the tube.
Dean closed his eyes. “Fuck.”
“Smart boy,” Castiel drawled, his voice rough and sex-laden.
“But you…” Dean drifted.
“Your night, Sweetheart,” Castiel murmured, gently kissing the younger man and trailing lazy kisses down his jaw and up his neck again.
Quick, precise motions had Castiel stripped and flat on his back in seconds, leaving the blue-eyed man blinking dazedly up for only a second before he groaned and closed his eyes as slick, cool fingers danced around his entrance.
“Right to it, then,” Castiel breathed out.
“Mmmhmm,” Dean hummed around his kisses.
Castiel arched and gasped into Dean’s lips as the other man unerringly found the small nub of pleasure within Castiel on the first shot, and soon the inevitable pain of Dean stretching and preparing him became secondary to the jolt that shot through Castiel with each skilled brush of Castiel’s prostate.
“So vocal tonight,” Dean remarked.
“Uhn…” was Castiel’s articulate response as he panted and waited for Dean to just get on with it already and stop teasing him. He was about to make his impatience known clearly when the first press of Dean’s swollen cock at his ready entrance had his eyes rolling back and his body arching up.
“God, Cas… love you like this,” Dean whispered.
“What did we-” another gasp interrupted, following a particularly pointed thrust, “-we say about sweet ta...talk… Winchester?”
“Shove it,” Dean murmured. “True though, ready and willing for me like this… So good.”
“Then show me rather than waxing - fuck! - poetic about it.”
Dean complied, and began slowly thrusting forward, teasing as he peppered light kisses down Castiel’s jaw and up his neck. The blue-eyed man was arching and moaning into him, panting as Dean strained to keep up the steady rhythm and not just go for broke. It may be his night, as Castiel so graciously said earlier, but he wanted Castiel to enjoy this as much as humanly possible.
Dean moaned out particularly harshly as Castiel tightened around him, all slick heat and quivering muscle. Liking the sound, Castiel did it again, wrenching another throaty moan free from Dean.
“Dean…” Castiel whispered against Dean’s shoulder, eyes screwed up tight, the single word begging Dean for what the other man needed.
“Yes, Cas?” Dean whispered, “What do you want? Tell me, Babe.”
“Harder, Dean, fuck. ‘Nough… fucking teasing…”
Dean had held back for about as long as he could anyway, surrounded so completely by the perfect fit of Castiel, and with one sharp thrust he began to quicken his pace. He had Castiel crying out sharply and pleasantly surprised beneath him before the older man quieted again and rode out the feeling. He matched each of Dean’s movements with a counter thrust of his own, hand convulsively grasping at the skin of Dean’s back.
Dean stilled just as suddenly as he began, panting harshly into Castiel’s skin, “Want you to ride me.”
Castiel nodded hazily and with practised movement the older man had them flipped and himself positioned over Dean, waiting and straining.
Castiel breathed in before releasing it slowly and then lowered himself down; he winced only slightly at the sudden angle change but relaxed quickly around the familiarity of Dean’s cock deep inside him, and it was his turn to be a tease.
Dean immediately regretted his request and rejoiced in it all the same as the shift allowed him to sink impossibly deeper inside Castiel.
“Cas, please, fuck me,” Dean panted.
Castiel shifted, braced his hands on Dean’s chest, and began to ride Dean in earnest.
Dean’s gasps turned to moans and faint cries as Castiel moved and once he felt his orgasm approaching rapidly, he slicked his palm and reached forward to take Castiel’s leaking cock in hand.
The move startled a happy groan from Castiel and his eyes fluttered, thrusts jumping for a moment before they found their rhythm again. A few quick, hurried thrusts later, Dean was releasing deep inside Castiel and the warm wash of Castiel’s cum trickled down onto his chest. Dean blinked, breathed, and went limp on the bed, his arms splayed to the sides. Castiel was frozen over him, panting, still with his eyes closed before he cracked them open with a grin.
“Pretty good, huh?” Dean chuckled.
“Yes, quite. Guess what happens now, though…” Castiel teased, eyes dancing. “You’re about to get very, very sticky.”
Dean groaned, not at all pleased this time, and threw an arm over his eyes as Castiel eased himself up and off, collapsing on his back next to Dean, neck cradled on Dean’s still splayed left arm.
“I’ll shower in a minute,” Dean muttered.
“Mmmhmm…” Castiel murmured beside him, eyes drifting closed.
xx
Dean woke up to his and Castiel’s dried semen on his chest and stomach. So much for that shower he had planned on before bed. Regardless though, Dean felt pleasantly buzzed and comfortable, as somehow in the night they had migrated so that Dean was on his side facing away from Castiel and Castiel was pressed against his back, cheek and nose resting between Dean’s shoulder blades. Dean sighed happily, debated on just going back to sleep, when his alarm decided it was time to get his ass out of bed.
“Damnit,” Dean muttered into his pillow.
“Shut that fucking thing up. Alarms should be illegal on Sundays,” Castiel grumbled sleepily from behind Dean, pulling away and rolling onto his other side.
Dean lamented the loss of warmth for a moment while at the same time he slapped his hand on the snooze button of his clock.
Dean relished the quiet for just a beat before nudging Castiel’s back with his own. “You coming with me?”
“Do I have to get out of bed?” Castiel muttered from where his face was half buried in his pillow.
“That’s the general idea,” Dean replied, sitting up and stretching.
There was a full minute of silence before a grumbled, “…Maybe.”
Dean chuckled, “All right. Well, I’m going to shower, feel free to join me if you’re so inclined.”
His only response was more of Castiel’s muttering into his pillow.
xx
Castiel surprised Dean later that morning by slumping to the kitchen, hair damp and dripping from the shower he must have just taken.
“Hey,” Dean smiled, going over to the machine to put more coffee on. He slid his own barely-touched coffee to the older man, who accepted it and lumbered to his usual spot at the kitchen table.
“I have to-” Castiel yawned, “-call my brother and see if he can send me a car for when I come back tonight.”
“Cas, you really don’t have to-”
“Dean, I’m out of bed now. Change your mind on pain of death.”
“All right, all right,” Dean chuckled. “Well, I appreciate it then… I ah… probably won’t be coming home for a while…”
“I assumed as much,” Castiel said neutrally.
“You gonna be okay?”
“I’m a grown man, Dean. I’ll be able to handle a few weeks without you. It will only be until the Christmas party, right?”
“Yeah, you can still make that?” Dean asked hopefully. “You’re gonna have to probably take Friday off.”
“Yes, Dean. Ellen promised,” Castiel nodded.
“Good, ‘cause I promised Sam that after the Christmas holidays, if I hadn’t found anything, I’d back off and pull out of the mission. He seems to think that there’s nothing else to find after you guys busted open that whorehouse.” Dean was leaning back against the counter and watching Castiel carefully.
“You think otherwise,” Castiel stated rather than asked.
“I do.”
“I see.”
Dean was silent while he waited for Castiel to elaborate. When the agent didn’t, Dean shifted anxiously and prompted, “You? What do you think?”
“I’ve always trusted your intuition, Dean,” Castiel replied cryptically.
“It doesn’t always pan out,” Dean reminded.
“Regardless. If you feel there is something more to discover, then I will not dispute that.”
Dean huffed and poured himself a cup of coffee, slamming the pot back harder than necessary.
Castiel quirked a brow. “Do you want me to?”
“What?” Dean asked a little testily.
“Dispute your intuition.”
“Yes, no… I don’t know, Cas! I don’t do this for living like you guys do. What if I’m just beating a dead horse because I’m so desperate to play hero for a change? What if I won’t listen to you two because I want to make my own splash and not just fade into the background like I’ve been doing since I was fucking four years old?”
“Dean,” Castiel blinked, genuinely taken aback, “where is this coming from?”
Dean shook his head. “Never mind. It’s stupid. I just feel like I have to see this thing through and that’s what I’m going to do.”
“I’d expect nothing less of you, Dean,” Castiel said gently, standing and coming over to the green-eyed man. “You’re righteous and true with a beautiful soul and you never want to see any innocent person upset or injured or in trouble.
“You have always seen everything you do right through to the end, be it taking care of your brother or starting a project or whatever it may be. Even if it’s unpleasant or uncomfortable for you. You don’t give up, you don’t waver and you may be so terrified you want to run but you never, ever run.
“So why on Earth would I ask you at this moment to change the very person you are? If you feel there is more work to be done, then I will support you. I brought you into this, Dean, and I owe it to you for more reasons than that alone to see it through to the end with you.”
Dean leaned forward and kissed Castiel thoroughly before pulling back with a smile. “When was the last time you strung that many words together this early in the morning?”
Castiel chuckled, “Shut up.”
“Ah…” Dean grinned, “there he is.”
End Chapter
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