[Fic] Sin with a Grin - Chapter 14/18+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.
Author's Notes: This is shorter and it's a little plotty but it also feels filler-like to me. Anyway, parts of it were fun so please enjoy!
Special Thanks to dapperscript for the wonderful beta! Thank you!
Please see Master Post for Notes, Cover Art and Further Information
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Dean was a little surprised about how lonely he felt once he returned to work. Coming home to an empty apartment with nothing but his grading and lesson planning to keep him company was a little bit depressing. He was calling Castiel more and figured the older man, fiancé or no, was kind of sick of him by now. Regardless, the weeks flew by when Dean was surrounded by his kids and Christmas was very nearly upon them. It also seemed as if Sam had been right. The only progress that Dean had made with Jesse was academic, which was good for Jesse, of course, but bad for the case. There was still something that niggled at the back of Dean’s mind and twisted uncomfortably, though.
A knock startled him away from the math test papers he had splayed on his lap and he looked over, blinking at the door. Another knock and Dean figured he’d better answer it.
“Good evening, Dean.”
“Hello, Alec,” Dean smiled back, pleased to see the man even though it was an unexpected visit.
“Thought I’d see how you were; you’ve been with us for an entire term now and I just wanted to check in. Also, to see how many guests you will be bringing to the Headmaster’s Christmas Gala. I do hope you don’t mind.”
“Oh, no, not at all. Come on in.” Dean stepped clear of the door and Alec entered graciously. He stood politely until Dean offered him a seat, and once he was down he held out a bag.
“My mother taught me to never arrive at a person’s home empty handed. Do you enjoy scotch?”
Surprised, Dean took the bottle and smiled; it was a little strained, though. “Ah… used to. Yeah.”
“Not a drinker?” Alec nodded.
“No… um… lost my taste for it after University,” Dean grinned, abashed. He felt a little guilty lying so blatantly to the other man but the truth was not at all appealing to share either. “My fiancé enjoys the occasional drink, though.”
Alec smiled. “Glad it will be of use then. How are you finding your classroom Dean? Everything up to snuff?”
Dean sat down after putting away the bottle and telling himself to forget where he put it the moment Alec left.
He was pretty good with controlling himself. He was never really a hardcore alcoholic -
technically only borderline; but that line was incredibly thin and he wasn’t about to risk his life or career by tripping over it. When he was home with Cas, he let himself have a sip or two, but never more than that and it was easy with Castiel watching him with keen blue eyes. His choice to stop was a personal one, a decision he made on his own before he wandered down that path. After what happened with Lisa, he felt it was the best choice for him. Though by himself, a sip could easily become a glass and a glass could easily become two, then more.
“Yeah, it’s great. The kids are fantastic and they’ve always all been brilliant but I do feel as if they are improving even further. I really think I’m making some progress, especially with a few students who were performing at lower levels than their classmates. Also, socially. Many of them were incredibly shy when we first met and they’ve all warmed up to me now.”
Dean knew he was wearing that goofy grin that always had Castiel and Sam sharing a quizzical eyebrow. The man on the couch with him was a colleague though, and the only look Dean was receiving from Alec was one of understanding.
“Excellent to hear it, I won’t delay you much longer, I assure you. I’d just like to know how many guests I can expect you to bring to the party.”
“Not a problem, and just the one. I had planned on more but things… ah… came up, so just one,” Dean said.
“All right, child or adult?” Alec asked.
“Oh, ah… adult. No kids,” Dean said.
Alec blinked. “Oh, forgive me for saying so but I was almost certain you had a child. I must have been mistaken. I do apologize.”
Dean looked down at his toes and answered quietly, “It’s all right.”
“Well you and I will be in the same group then. We’re the minority at this school. I’ve just one adult guest myself. Shall I seat us together?” Alec offered.
Dean grinned, a little relieved. He didn’t want Castiel to have to be surrounded by happy, child-having families. “Yeah, thanks.”
“Excellent. We’ll have great fun. These celebrations always are magnificent. Good night, Dean. Thank you for allowing my sudden imposition.”
“No problem. Really, you can stop by again if you like. I enjoy the company,” Dean walked Alec to the door.
“Well, Dean, I may just take you up on that. Ta!” Alec left with a jaunty wave over his shoulder and Dean waved back.
“See you!”
Dean shut and locked the door, noticing the sudden silence of the apartment as he went back to his test papers. Glancing at his phone, he wondered if it was too late to call Castiel.
xx
The kids were buzzing around the room like frenzied fruit flies and Dean greatly regretted bringing in the cake that afternoon. Apparently, no matter how rich and affluent children were, they still were affected by sugar just like any other group of eight-year-olds.
Though a headache was gradually beginning to throb, Dean still found himself grinning as he watched them zigzag around the room with gleeful voices and happy faces. This was what teaching was, to see these smiles on these faces. Well, most of them.
Jesse was off in the corner at the front of the room, surrounded by cushions and reading with yet another massive novel on his lap. It was still geared towards young adults, though, so Dean didn’t have to be too concerned with it. A final glance around the room assured him that no one was at risk of serious bodily harm and he wandered over to sit next to Jesse.
“Hey Jesse, why aren’t you playing with the other kids?” Dean asked gently.
Jesse shrugged and turned a page on his book. “I don’t feel like playing.”
“You not feel like playing a lot?” Dean asked carefully.
“Father says play is unnecessary. He wants me to learn the family business,” Jesse replied. “Mother agrees. Mother wishes for me to sit quietly while she entertains her… girls and not trouble her.”
Dean winced at that one. “Anyone else look after you, though?”
Jesse was very quiet for several moments before he closed his book and began running his finger absently across the raised letters of the title. “Nannies.”
“You have one in particular?”
“I used to. I really liked her. She was nice to me but a little weird. She used to be one of mother’s girls, but mother saw her talking to me one day and then she became my nanny.”
“Oh? She’s not anymore?”
“No. Ruby died.” Jesse stood then, with no further word, and crossed the room to the closed classroom door. He opened it and disappeared down the hall.
“Jesus,” Dean hissed. The teacher crossed the room in a flash and pulled out his Blackberry, hitting the speed dial for Castiel’s direct work line and waiting anxiously.
“Dean?” The surprised voice came across the line after a few agonizing rings.
“Ruby. The one you have locked up, she’s not dead is she?”
“Dean, aren’t you working?” Castiel asked.
Dean figured this wasn’t the most appropriate conversation to be having while fifteen eight year olds were tramping around his classroom, but the Teaching Gods would forgive him just this once. “Cas, this is important.”
“I’m checking,” Castiel answered distractedly and Dean picked up on the faint clacking of the laptop keys. “No, she’s quite alive.”
“I wonder if…” Dean mused. “Get someone in to talk to her. I think I may have discovered why Ruby was so willing to help after all. Jesse just told me that a nanny he had that he was really close to was named Ruby, and that she died. I wonder if she was sniffing around a little too much and Lilith cut her loose, telling Jesse she died so Jesse wouldn’t fight to have her back… Not that Jesse seems like he’d ever put up much of a fight, but maybe that’s only because he learned his lesson in the past. Not to get too close to anyone. Ruby may know more than she led us to believe, and if we encourage her by using Jesse she may just fess up.”
“All right, Dean,” Castiel agreed without even hesitating. “Excellent work. I’ll see you tonight.”
“Good luck, Cas,” Dean said. “And be careful.”
“You as well.”
Dean hung up the phone and bounced it off his lip for a moment before pasting a smile back on his face and turning to the children. “All right. Story anyone?”
The least Dean could do was try to calm them before their parents and heads of houses came to get them.
xx
“Cas, what did you find out?” Dean demanded as soon as Castiel crossed the threshold of Dean’s faculty apartment.
“Nice to see you as well, Dean,” Castiel smiled wryly.
“Cut the bullshit. What’s up?” Dean asked.
Castiel shook his head and dropped his bag and coat at the front door, walked tiredly over to the chair and sat down in it. Dean picked up the coat and ran the bag to the bedroom before coming over and sitting on the edge of the couch on the end nearest Castiel, anxious hands clasped between his knees.
“Nothing, Dean,” Castiel sighed. “I went to see her myself.”
“Then how the hell did you find out nothing?”
“Dean, Jesse’s nanny was a different Ruby. The Ruby we have locked up hadn’t even heard of her and made it quite clear that she detested children.”
Dean made a face; now he just hated the bitch with more of a fiery passion than before. Dean slumped against the back of the couch and squeezed the bridge of his nose, letting out an explosive sigh. They were at yet another dead-end and no closer to catching Lilith, or finding anything out.
The warehouse could only be linked to Lilith and Crowley circumstantially, and though the investigation did put a bit of a crimp in their ultimate plans, they had the resources to just build it up again once the heat was off. Dean wanted something concrete to put both Lilith and Crowley away with, and he was beginning to fear he wasn’t going to get it.
He blinked open green eyes as he felt Castiel settle - warm and familiar - over him, straddling his legs and placing light kisses on Dean’s neck and jaw before he captured Dean’s lips and proceeded to demonstrate just how much Castiel had missed his fiancé.
Despite everything, Dean found himself moaning into the kiss and shifting from his prone position under Castiel in order to gain more friction as Castiel slowly moved against him.
“Hello, Dean,” Castiel said against Dean’s lips.
“Hey, Cas,” Dean grinned.
“It’s been two weeks and four days.”
“It has,” Dean agreed.
“You know how upset I get when I go this long without getting laid.”
“I do.”
“Are you going to do something about it?”
Dean chuckled, “Are you going to stay awake?”
Castiel frowned. “Damn.”
“That’s what I thought. Get up, Gorgeous, let’s go to sleep. You have full permission to wake me up in the middle of the night if you get horny… hornier.”
“Deal,” Castiel nodded solemnly. The blue-eyed man moved to get up but Dean was faster and managed to grab him and throw Castiel over his shoulder, which elicited an ungainly shriek from the older man. Dean laughed as he carried the struggling Castiel to the bedroom.
“Put me down, Dean,” Castiel demanded.
Dean only laughed, then unceremoniously dropped Castiel onto the mattress.
With a squawk, Castiel bounced once and glared up through the gloom at Dean.
“That was unpleasant.”
“Oh, but so much fun for me,” Dean grinned, coming around so he could reach Castiel and helping him free of his clothes.
Castiel watched, amused, as Dean folded each item of clothing and placed them on a small chair in the corner of the room, then paused and turned back to Castiel.
“These clean, or do they need to be washed?”
“I put them on just before I left,” Castiel shrugged.
Dean nodded and didn’t move them again.
Castiel shivered in the cool room and shimmed under the blankets, waiting for Dean to finish puttering around the bedroom and join him. The younger man tossed a pair of pajama pants at Castiel and a long-sleeved T-shirt for good measure.
“Heating in this place sucks,” Dean offered, though he himself only wore pajama pants to bed.
Castiel nodded and accepted the items with a soft thank you. They both belonged to Dean, and the shirt was actually one of his favourites simply because of how ridiculously soft it was.
“So, Sam’s been telling me he’s good, but is he lying through his teeth?” Dean asked, curling around Castiel who lay on his back and stared up at the ceiling.
Castiel trailed his hand down Dean’s arm, relishing the closeness and wishing he was more awake to enjoy the time with Dean, but he had the next four days to enjoy his time with Dean, so it wasn’t at all a loss.
Castiel pressed a kiss to Dean’s forehead. He always forgot how much he hated sleeping alone until he didn’t have to, and nodded into the darkness, stifling a yawn. “No, he’s doing really well. The doctors are always impressed by how quickly he heals.”
Dean nodded. “That’s good. I hate when that kid lies to me. He can’t really get away with it unless he’s on the phone, though.”
“Well I assure you, he’s being honest,” Castiel smiled. “He’s taking to physiotherapy quite well and walking with relative ease now. I had to take him the other weekend because Jess covered a co-worker’s shift. Sam was the best gimp in there.”
Dean grinned, “Good. God, being away from you guys is torture.”
“One more week,” Castiel said.
Dean nodded absently. “Get some sleep, Cas, you’re fading fast and I want you to look good tomorrow when I show you off.”
Castiel chuckled gently, “I always look good.”
“True.”
It wasn’t long before Castiel was out. It was unusual for Dean to be awake later than Castiel, and he felt strange hearing the soft breathing and feeling the still form of his fiancé underneath him. Dean rolled gently away and was met with sleepy protest, but Castiel did not wake up.
Dean stared at the ceiling and blinked into the dark. He failed Jesse, again. Ruby was a damn dead end and Dean was running out of options. He also had a horrible feeling in the pit of his stomach that had been building gradually for the last several weeks. He couldn’t put a finger on what exactly it was, but he was almost certain the shit was about to hit the fan and he was quickly spinning out of control.
Dean groaned softly and tried to stop his thoughts and just sleep. He was grateful that the faculty had the day off tomorrow as a pre-Christmas present; the only condition was that everyone had to show up at the Headmaster’s party tomorrow night unless they had a damn good excuse.
Dean eased out of bed and shucked off his pajama pants, wincing slightly as he opened his drawer with a faint squeak and pulled out a pair of workout pants and his hoodie. He slipped into his scuffed runners and grabbed his set of keys from beside the door.
Dean hissed at the coolness in the air as he left the faculty apartment building and jogged across the quad to the main building that housed the gymnasiums, and the headmaster’s apartment. Dean pressed the back of his key card to the small black box, and the click sounded gently into the night as the door opened for him. There was no alarm on the building itself. Faculty were welcome to come and go as they pleased, in case they needed to access the reference room at night, or wanted to do exactly what Dean was aiming for.
He padded across the silent office, the quiet of the school building not at all unsettling for Dean, but rather one of the most soothing places for him. There was the large gym for the kids, but there was also the smaller faculty gym with workout equipment and a fair-sized exercise room. Dean opened his locker and put his scuffed runners away, slipping into his soft-soled gym shoes and pulling out a pair of slender boxing gloves. He made quick work of wrapping his hands and pulled the gloves on.
Dean eased out a few tension-laden breaths as he warmed up, then proceeded to show the punching bag exactly what fifteen years of boxing did for a man. He was breathing steadily and sweating heavily by the time he heard a voice behind him utter a note of surprise.
“Dean!”
Dean turned and blinked, stilling the punching bag and turning. “Oh, Alec. Hi.”
“You box?” Alec asked, though the question was kind of pointless, given how Alec had just found him.
“Yeah, hobby I picked up… Well, it became a hobby. It started as an anger management tool that was court appointed when I was in high school.” Dean winced. Oops. Yes, because admitting your delinquent past to your superior was a smart move.
“You’re angry?” Alec ventured hesitantly.
Dean chuckled, “No, stressed. I’m good, though. Couldn’t sleep. Decided to come here. What brings you around?”
“Oh ah… had some research for my article to do. I find my best work is done at night; I saw the light on and wanted to make sure it wasn’t left on from earlier today.”
Dean stretched out his muscles as he asked, “Article?”
“Yes, yes, silly thing. Child Behaviour in Private education versus Public… Well, it’s much more in depth than that, I assure you, but I’m sure you don’t want to me going into it in the middle of your workout,” Alec waved it off as if he was embarrassed.
“Cool. Honest, though? I haven’t noticed much of a difference,” Dean quirked a grin.
Alec laughed then, “Yes, quite, that’s what I’m theorizing. Children are children regardless of where they come from and they should be treated as such.”
Dean grinned, “I agree completely.”
“I’ll let you get back to it, then. Sorry for interrupting,” Alec smiled.
“Hey, no worries, Man. Good luck with the article,” Dean nodded and realized how damn warm he was. He slipped out of his hoodie and saw Alec blush faintly and flick his gaze away. Dean quirked a brow and mentally shrugged. “Night.”
“Y… yes, good night,” Alec said quickly and hurried out of the room.
Dean finished up shortly after and was sure to hit the lights on his way out. He felt better and tired as hell now, which was fantastic.
Not only did he not have to get up early, he had a very warm, hopefully still sleepy and cuddly Castiel waiting for him back at his apartment. Dean grinned and zipped up his hoodie, even if he didn’t feel the winter wind as prominently on his workout-warmed skin.
When he got into the apartment and shut and locked the door behind him, he heard faint rustling from the bedroom. He entered to see Castiel heavy lidded and pushed half up on an elbow.
“You smell like a baseball team,” Castiel remarked.
“Been with many baseball teams?” Dean teased.
Castiel grinned into the dark, white teeth flashing. “Well there was that one time in sophomore year…”
Dean wrinkled up his nose. “Is this a real orgy story or a fake orgy story?”
Castiel flopped back down and laughed, “I’ve only ever had one orgy. One, and it was four beautiful girls who had a coven and needed a male… um… participant for their ritual. It was extremely spiritual.”
“Dude, you’re the only guy I know who has even ever had an orgy. So straight-laced too…” Dean flashed a grin in the dark. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
“Mmmhmm…” Castiel mused distractedly.
“Stop thinking about your orgy!” Dean shouted over his shoulder.
“You’re just jealous,” Castiel shouted back.
As Dean had assumed, it wasn’t long after he began sluicing the sweat off his skin in the shower, that he felt arms wrap around his torso and lips press to the knobs of his spine.
“I promise to stay awake now,” Castiel murmured against Dean’s wet skin.
“I need to work off the last bit of adrenaline anyway,” Dean said idly, then turned. He smoothly lifted Castiel and pressed him against the wall. Castiel hissed out a breath as the cool tiles made contact with his sleep and water warmed skin.
“I promise to think of you the entire time and not my orgy,” Castiel said solemnly.
“Ass,” Dean murmured. “If I have my way, you won’t be able to think at all.”
“Promises, pro-” Castiel was cut off very pleasantly by the slide of Dean’s lips against his own.
End Chapter
Previous | 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.
Author's Notes: This is shorter and it's a little plotty but it also feels filler-like to me. Anyway, parts of it were fun so please enjoy!
Special Thanks to dapperscript for the wonderful beta! Thank you!
Please see Master Post for Notes, Cover Art and Further Information
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Dean was a little surprised about how lonely he felt once he returned to work. Coming home to an empty apartment with nothing but his grading and lesson planning to keep him company was a little bit depressing. He was calling Castiel more and figured the older man, fiancé or no, was kind of sick of him by now. Regardless, the weeks flew by when Dean was surrounded by his kids and Christmas was very nearly upon them. It also seemed as if Sam had been right. The only progress that Dean had made with Jesse was academic, which was good for Jesse, of course, but bad for the case. There was still something that niggled at the back of Dean’s mind and twisted uncomfortably, though.
A knock startled him away from the math test papers he had splayed on his lap and he looked over, blinking at the door. Another knock and Dean figured he’d better answer it.
“Good evening, Dean.”
“Hello, Alec,” Dean smiled back, pleased to see the man even though it was an unexpected visit.
“Thought I’d see how you were; you’ve been with us for an entire term now and I just wanted to check in. Also, to see how many guests you will be bringing to the Headmaster’s Christmas Gala. I do hope you don’t mind.”
“Oh, no, not at all. Come on in.” Dean stepped clear of the door and Alec entered graciously. He stood politely until Dean offered him a seat, and once he was down he held out a bag.
“My mother taught me to never arrive at a person’s home empty handed. Do you enjoy scotch?”
Surprised, Dean took the bottle and smiled; it was a little strained, though. “Ah… used to. Yeah.”
“Not a drinker?” Alec nodded.
“No… um… lost my taste for it after University,” Dean grinned, abashed. He felt a little guilty lying so blatantly to the other man but the truth was not at all appealing to share either. “My fiancé enjoys the occasional drink, though.”
Alec smiled. “Glad it will be of use then. How are you finding your classroom Dean? Everything up to snuff?”
Dean sat down after putting away the bottle and telling himself to forget where he put it the moment Alec left.
He was pretty good with controlling himself. He was never really a hardcore alcoholic -
technically only borderline; but that line was incredibly thin and he wasn’t about to risk his life or career by tripping over it. When he was home with Cas, he let himself have a sip or two, but never more than that and it was easy with Castiel watching him with keen blue eyes. His choice to stop was a personal one, a decision he made on his own before he wandered down that path. After what happened with Lisa, he felt it was the best choice for him. Though by himself, a sip could easily become a glass and a glass could easily become two, then more.
“Yeah, it’s great. The kids are fantastic and they’ve always all been brilliant but I do feel as if they are improving even further. I really think I’m making some progress, especially with a few students who were performing at lower levels than their classmates. Also, socially. Many of them were incredibly shy when we first met and they’ve all warmed up to me now.”
Dean knew he was wearing that goofy grin that always had Castiel and Sam sharing a quizzical eyebrow. The man on the couch with him was a colleague though, and the only look Dean was receiving from Alec was one of understanding.
“Excellent to hear it, I won’t delay you much longer, I assure you. I’d just like to know how many guests I can expect you to bring to the party.”
“Not a problem, and just the one. I had planned on more but things… ah… came up, so just one,” Dean said.
“All right, child or adult?” Alec asked.
“Oh, ah… adult. No kids,” Dean said.
Alec blinked. “Oh, forgive me for saying so but I was almost certain you had a child. I must have been mistaken. I do apologize.”
Dean looked down at his toes and answered quietly, “It’s all right.”
“Well you and I will be in the same group then. We’re the minority at this school. I’ve just one adult guest myself. Shall I seat us together?” Alec offered.
Dean grinned, a little relieved. He didn’t want Castiel to have to be surrounded by happy, child-having families. “Yeah, thanks.”
“Excellent. We’ll have great fun. These celebrations always are magnificent. Good night, Dean. Thank you for allowing my sudden imposition.”
“No problem. Really, you can stop by again if you like. I enjoy the company,” Dean walked Alec to the door.
“Well, Dean, I may just take you up on that. Ta!” Alec left with a jaunty wave over his shoulder and Dean waved back.
“See you!”
Dean shut and locked the door, noticing the sudden silence of the apartment as he went back to his test papers. Glancing at his phone, he wondered if it was too late to call Castiel.
xx
The kids were buzzing around the room like frenzied fruit flies and Dean greatly regretted bringing in the cake that afternoon. Apparently, no matter how rich and affluent children were, they still were affected by sugar just like any other group of eight-year-olds.
Though a headache was gradually beginning to throb, Dean still found himself grinning as he watched them zigzag around the room with gleeful voices and happy faces. This was what teaching was, to see these smiles on these faces. Well, most of them.
Jesse was off in the corner at the front of the room, surrounded by cushions and reading with yet another massive novel on his lap. It was still geared towards young adults, though, so Dean didn’t have to be too concerned with it. A final glance around the room assured him that no one was at risk of serious bodily harm and he wandered over to sit next to Jesse.
“Hey Jesse, why aren’t you playing with the other kids?” Dean asked gently.
Jesse shrugged and turned a page on his book. “I don’t feel like playing.”
“You not feel like playing a lot?” Dean asked carefully.
“Father says play is unnecessary. He wants me to learn the family business,” Jesse replied. “Mother agrees. Mother wishes for me to sit quietly while she entertains her… girls and not trouble her.”
Dean winced at that one. “Anyone else look after you, though?”
Jesse was very quiet for several moments before he closed his book and began running his finger absently across the raised letters of the title. “Nannies.”
“You have one in particular?”
“I used to. I really liked her. She was nice to me but a little weird. She used to be one of mother’s girls, but mother saw her talking to me one day and then she became my nanny.”
“Oh? She’s not anymore?”
“No. Ruby died.” Jesse stood then, with no further word, and crossed the room to the closed classroom door. He opened it and disappeared down the hall.
“Jesus,” Dean hissed. The teacher crossed the room in a flash and pulled out his Blackberry, hitting the speed dial for Castiel’s direct work line and waiting anxiously.
“Dean?” The surprised voice came across the line after a few agonizing rings.
“Ruby. The one you have locked up, she’s not dead is she?”
“Dean, aren’t you working?” Castiel asked.
Dean figured this wasn’t the most appropriate conversation to be having while fifteen eight year olds were tramping around his classroom, but the Teaching Gods would forgive him just this once. “Cas, this is important.”
“I’m checking,” Castiel answered distractedly and Dean picked up on the faint clacking of the laptop keys. “No, she’s quite alive.”
“I wonder if…” Dean mused. “Get someone in to talk to her. I think I may have discovered why Ruby was so willing to help after all. Jesse just told me that a nanny he had that he was really close to was named Ruby, and that she died. I wonder if she was sniffing around a little too much and Lilith cut her loose, telling Jesse she died so Jesse wouldn’t fight to have her back… Not that Jesse seems like he’d ever put up much of a fight, but maybe that’s only because he learned his lesson in the past. Not to get too close to anyone. Ruby may know more than she led us to believe, and if we encourage her by using Jesse she may just fess up.”
“All right, Dean,” Castiel agreed without even hesitating. “Excellent work. I’ll see you tonight.”
“Good luck, Cas,” Dean said. “And be careful.”
“You as well.”
Dean hung up the phone and bounced it off his lip for a moment before pasting a smile back on his face and turning to the children. “All right. Story anyone?”
The least Dean could do was try to calm them before their parents and heads of houses came to get them.
xx
“Cas, what did you find out?” Dean demanded as soon as Castiel crossed the threshold of Dean’s faculty apartment.
“Nice to see you as well, Dean,” Castiel smiled wryly.
“Cut the bullshit. What’s up?” Dean asked.
Castiel shook his head and dropped his bag and coat at the front door, walked tiredly over to the chair and sat down in it. Dean picked up the coat and ran the bag to the bedroom before coming over and sitting on the edge of the couch on the end nearest Castiel, anxious hands clasped between his knees.
“Nothing, Dean,” Castiel sighed. “I went to see her myself.”
“Then how the hell did you find out nothing?”
“Dean, Jesse’s nanny was a different Ruby. The Ruby we have locked up hadn’t even heard of her and made it quite clear that she detested children.”
Dean made a face; now he just hated the bitch with more of a fiery passion than before. Dean slumped against the back of the couch and squeezed the bridge of his nose, letting out an explosive sigh. They were at yet another dead-end and no closer to catching Lilith, or finding anything out.
The warehouse could only be linked to Lilith and Crowley circumstantially, and though the investigation did put a bit of a crimp in their ultimate plans, they had the resources to just build it up again once the heat was off. Dean wanted something concrete to put both Lilith and Crowley away with, and he was beginning to fear he wasn’t going to get it.
He blinked open green eyes as he felt Castiel settle - warm and familiar - over him, straddling his legs and placing light kisses on Dean’s neck and jaw before he captured Dean’s lips and proceeded to demonstrate just how much Castiel had missed his fiancé.
Despite everything, Dean found himself moaning into the kiss and shifting from his prone position under Castiel in order to gain more friction as Castiel slowly moved against him.
“Hello, Dean,” Castiel said against Dean’s lips.
“Hey, Cas,” Dean grinned.
“It’s been two weeks and four days.”
“It has,” Dean agreed.
“You know how upset I get when I go this long without getting laid.”
“I do.”
“Are you going to do something about it?”
Dean chuckled, “Are you going to stay awake?”
Castiel frowned. “Damn.”
“That’s what I thought. Get up, Gorgeous, let’s go to sleep. You have full permission to wake me up in the middle of the night if you get horny… hornier.”
“Deal,” Castiel nodded solemnly. The blue-eyed man moved to get up but Dean was faster and managed to grab him and throw Castiel over his shoulder, which elicited an ungainly shriek from the older man. Dean laughed as he carried the struggling Castiel to the bedroom.
“Put me down, Dean,” Castiel demanded.
Dean only laughed, then unceremoniously dropped Castiel onto the mattress.
With a squawk, Castiel bounced once and glared up through the gloom at Dean.
“That was unpleasant.”
“Oh, but so much fun for me,” Dean grinned, coming around so he could reach Castiel and helping him free of his clothes.
Castiel watched, amused, as Dean folded each item of clothing and placed them on a small chair in the corner of the room, then paused and turned back to Castiel.
“These clean, or do they need to be washed?”
“I put them on just before I left,” Castiel shrugged.
Dean nodded and didn’t move them again.
Castiel shivered in the cool room and shimmed under the blankets, waiting for Dean to finish puttering around the bedroom and join him. The younger man tossed a pair of pajama pants at Castiel and a long-sleeved T-shirt for good measure.
“Heating in this place sucks,” Dean offered, though he himself only wore pajama pants to bed.
Castiel nodded and accepted the items with a soft thank you. They both belonged to Dean, and the shirt was actually one of his favourites simply because of how ridiculously soft it was.
“So, Sam’s been telling me he’s good, but is he lying through his teeth?” Dean asked, curling around Castiel who lay on his back and stared up at the ceiling.
Castiel trailed his hand down Dean’s arm, relishing the closeness and wishing he was more awake to enjoy the time with Dean, but he had the next four days to enjoy his time with Dean, so it wasn’t at all a loss.
Castiel pressed a kiss to Dean’s forehead. He always forgot how much he hated sleeping alone until he didn’t have to, and nodded into the darkness, stifling a yawn. “No, he’s doing really well. The doctors are always impressed by how quickly he heals.”
Dean nodded. “That’s good. I hate when that kid lies to me. He can’t really get away with it unless he’s on the phone, though.”
“Well I assure you, he’s being honest,” Castiel smiled. “He’s taking to physiotherapy quite well and walking with relative ease now. I had to take him the other weekend because Jess covered a co-worker’s shift. Sam was the best gimp in there.”
Dean grinned, “Good. God, being away from you guys is torture.”
“One more week,” Castiel said.
Dean nodded absently. “Get some sleep, Cas, you’re fading fast and I want you to look good tomorrow when I show you off.”
Castiel chuckled gently, “I always look good.”
“True.”
It wasn’t long before Castiel was out. It was unusual for Dean to be awake later than Castiel, and he felt strange hearing the soft breathing and feeling the still form of his fiancé underneath him. Dean rolled gently away and was met with sleepy protest, but Castiel did not wake up.
Dean stared at the ceiling and blinked into the dark. He failed Jesse, again. Ruby was a damn dead end and Dean was running out of options. He also had a horrible feeling in the pit of his stomach that had been building gradually for the last several weeks. He couldn’t put a finger on what exactly it was, but he was almost certain the shit was about to hit the fan and he was quickly spinning out of control.
Dean groaned softly and tried to stop his thoughts and just sleep. He was grateful that the faculty had the day off tomorrow as a pre-Christmas present; the only condition was that everyone had to show up at the Headmaster’s party tomorrow night unless they had a damn good excuse.
Dean eased out of bed and shucked off his pajama pants, wincing slightly as he opened his drawer with a faint squeak and pulled out a pair of workout pants and his hoodie. He slipped into his scuffed runners and grabbed his set of keys from beside the door.
Dean hissed at the coolness in the air as he left the faculty apartment building and jogged across the quad to the main building that housed the gymnasiums, and the headmaster’s apartment. Dean pressed the back of his key card to the small black box, and the click sounded gently into the night as the door opened for him. There was no alarm on the building itself. Faculty were welcome to come and go as they pleased, in case they needed to access the reference room at night, or wanted to do exactly what Dean was aiming for.
He padded across the silent office, the quiet of the school building not at all unsettling for Dean, but rather one of the most soothing places for him. There was the large gym for the kids, but there was also the smaller faculty gym with workout equipment and a fair-sized exercise room. Dean opened his locker and put his scuffed runners away, slipping into his soft-soled gym shoes and pulling out a pair of slender boxing gloves. He made quick work of wrapping his hands and pulled the gloves on.
Dean eased out a few tension-laden breaths as he warmed up, then proceeded to show the punching bag exactly what fifteen years of boxing did for a man. He was breathing steadily and sweating heavily by the time he heard a voice behind him utter a note of surprise.
“Dean!”
Dean turned and blinked, stilling the punching bag and turning. “Oh, Alec. Hi.”
“You box?” Alec asked, though the question was kind of pointless, given how Alec had just found him.
“Yeah, hobby I picked up… Well, it became a hobby. It started as an anger management tool that was court appointed when I was in high school.” Dean winced. Oops. Yes, because admitting your delinquent past to your superior was a smart move.
“You’re angry?” Alec ventured hesitantly.
Dean chuckled, “No, stressed. I’m good, though. Couldn’t sleep. Decided to come here. What brings you around?”
“Oh ah… had some research for my article to do. I find my best work is done at night; I saw the light on and wanted to make sure it wasn’t left on from earlier today.”
Dean stretched out his muscles as he asked, “Article?”
“Yes, yes, silly thing. Child Behaviour in Private education versus Public… Well, it’s much more in depth than that, I assure you, but I’m sure you don’t want to me going into it in the middle of your workout,” Alec waved it off as if he was embarrassed.
“Cool. Honest, though? I haven’t noticed much of a difference,” Dean quirked a grin.
Alec laughed then, “Yes, quite, that’s what I’m theorizing. Children are children regardless of where they come from and they should be treated as such.”
Dean grinned, “I agree completely.”
“I’ll let you get back to it, then. Sorry for interrupting,” Alec smiled.
“Hey, no worries, Man. Good luck with the article,” Dean nodded and realized how damn warm he was. He slipped out of his hoodie and saw Alec blush faintly and flick his gaze away. Dean quirked a brow and mentally shrugged. “Night.”
“Y… yes, good night,” Alec said quickly and hurried out of the room.
Dean finished up shortly after and was sure to hit the lights on his way out. He felt better and tired as hell now, which was fantastic.
Not only did he not have to get up early, he had a very warm, hopefully still sleepy and cuddly Castiel waiting for him back at his apartment. Dean grinned and zipped up his hoodie, even if he didn’t feel the winter wind as prominently on his workout-warmed skin.
When he got into the apartment and shut and locked the door behind him, he heard faint rustling from the bedroom. He entered to see Castiel heavy lidded and pushed half up on an elbow.
“You smell like a baseball team,” Castiel remarked.
“Been with many baseball teams?” Dean teased.
Castiel grinned into the dark, white teeth flashing. “Well there was that one time in sophomore year…”
Dean wrinkled up his nose. “Is this a real orgy story or a fake orgy story?”
Castiel flopped back down and laughed, “I’ve only ever had one orgy. One, and it was four beautiful girls who had a coven and needed a male… um… participant for their ritual. It was extremely spiritual.”
“Dude, you’re the only guy I know who has even ever had an orgy. So straight-laced too…” Dean flashed a grin in the dark. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
“Mmmhmm…” Castiel mused distractedly.
“Stop thinking about your orgy!” Dean shouted over his shoulder.
“You’re just jealous,” Castiel shouted back.
As Dean had assumed, it wasn’t long after he began sluicing the sweat off his skin in the shower, that he felt arms wrap around his torso and lips press to the knobs of his spine.
“I promise to stay awake now,” Castiel murmured against Dean’s wet skin.
“I need to work off the last bit of adrenaline anyway,” Dean said idly, then turned. He smoothly lifted Castiel and pressed him against the wall. Castiel hissed out a breath as the cool tiles made contact with his sleep and water warmed skin.
“I promise to think of you the entire time and not my orgy,” Castiel said solemnly.
“Ass,” Dean murmured. “If I have my way, you won’t be able to think at all.”
“Promises, pro-” Castiel was cut off very pleasantly by the slide of Dean’s lips against his own.
End Chapter
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