DCBB Fic (Dean/Cas): In, Out of the Dark (Chapts 17-18/20+Epilogue)
Title: In, Out of the Dark
Author: heavenlyxbodies
Pairing: Dean/Cas
Rating: NC17
Spoilers: let’s just call it S5 and be done with it, yeah
Feedback: Makes me happy, just play nice
Disclaimer(s) can be found here
Beta: the lovely kimisgirl *hugs*- anything still wrong is probably me ignoring her advice
Alpha: my dearest kyokohitsuji
Warnings/Squicks: ANGST, pre-het, depictions of Hell, did I mention the angst
Masterlist for crystal_line 's beautiful art!
~~~~~~~~~Chapter 17~~~~~~~~~
Castiel blew into Heaven, more than a little worn and ragged from their escape from Hell. He’d seen that the remaining angels got to their garrisons or the medical attention they needed. Not much could damage an angel, but Hell and its denizens weren’t your average things. “Gabriel?” he called feeling the archangel nearby.
“In here.”
The flood of relief that ran through him at his brother’s voice was surprising, even to him. He found Gabriel kneeling over Sam’s body, “How bad is it?”
Gabriel looked up at his brother, noticing his vessel’s ribs were cracked and broken in several places along with his arm, and his leg had seen better days, and snorted. Fortunately the majority of Cas’ injuries seemed purely outward. “Well, you won’t be winning any beauty pageants like that.”
Cas gave Gabriel a sly not quite annoyed look from under his lashes.
Gabriel didn’t miss a beat, before answering Cas’ original question. “He should be a blathering idiot, well, more than usual.” Gabriel’s flippant tone and the obvious smirk in his voice told Castiel more than any words could. “But he’s not, he needs a bit of work,” he looked over his shoulder at the younger angel. “Could use your help.”
Cas, injured as he was, was at Gabriel’s side in an instant.
Gabriel smiled, “Just wanna make sure all those synapses are there to zap to it when he’s ready.”
Cas smiled at his brother, he’d already done so much, even knowing how little the Winchesters thought of him, but what he’d done and was doing, he was doing for family- just like Dean would.
He must have chuckled outwardly because, Gabriel was asking, “What’s so funny?” with a concerned look on his face.
“You,” Cas admitted, still smiling.
“I am awesome aren’t I,” the former Trickster smirked causing Castiel to laugh outright, before composing himself back to the task at hand, namely rebuilding Sam Winchester.
~~~~~~~~~
“Hey there, Deanster, how ya doin’?”
Dean looked around for a moment looking for the annoying archangel. “Gabriel?” he asked angrily.
“Who else would be talking to you through your stereo? You really need to update your music. You do know half these people are dead?”
“What do you want, Gabe?”
“I come in peace, Dean-o, just delivering a message from your favourite angel,” he answered jovially.
“Cas? Is he okay? What happened?” Dean’s voice was starting to get a touch of frenzy, Cas had been gone for almost two weeks without a word and now Gabriel was delivering messages. It made his stomach sink.
“He wants you to meet him at Bobby’s as soon as you can.” With an audible pop the radio went back to static.
Gabriel’s non-answer wasn’t lost on Dean.
“Gabriel,” he shouted. “What the Hell happened to Cas?”
Dean grabbed his phone, dialing Bobby’s number, his breath caught in his throat as every possible scenario and a few impossible ones filled his vision.
The phone rang. And rang. And rang.
Dean was about to hang up and try again, when Bobby’s warm voice answered, “Hello?”
“Bobby! Christ man give a guy a heart attack,” Dean huffed into the phone.
“What’s got your panties in a twist?” Bobby asked.
“Is Cas there?”
“Why would your angel be here? Shouldn’t he be with you?”
Dean tried to stay calm, at least whatever happened Cas wasn’t hurt badly enough to seek asylum at Bobby’s. “Gabriel,” Dean answered simply.
Dean could hear Bobby’s brow furrow as his eyes pinched together, “What does that featherbrain have to do with anything?”
“He told me Cas wanted me to meet him at your place.”
“Well, I ain’t seen your angel or anybody else’s since the last time you visited.” Bobby was getting a little confused, but given what the archangel/Trickster had done to the boys in the past it didn’t surprise him. More gently he asked, “That mean ya coming?”
“Yeah Bobby, be there in a couple hours.”
Bobby grunted good-naturedly and hung up the phone. The moment the phone was in the cradle, the air shifted and Bobby turned, “What the Hell!?!”
~~~~~~~~~Chapter 18~~~~~~~~~
It took a lot to fluster the old hunter, he’d been around long enough, and around the Winchesters long enough that not much surprised him anymore. But the sight of a beaten and bruised angel carrying the still form of one Sam Winchester covered in soot and something he assumed was blood was enough to throw even Bobby off his game.
He thought about asking the angel what happened, but it seemed rather pointless. Instead, he approached the pair, placing a hesitant hand on Sam’s head. “Is he?”
“The journey was hard on all of us, but given time he should recover,” Castiel said solemnly.
Bobby visibly relaxed, letting out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. “Well, come on then, don’t just stand there, the spare room’s upstairs on the right.”
Castiel nodded and left with his cargo.
Bobby watched as the angel set Sam down on the bed gently, “I’ll get some water; you two need to clean up.”
The hunter returned a few moments later with a cloth and a basin of warm water, and began dabbing at the soot covering the younger Winchester’s face.
“He’s very strong,” Castiel soothed, “the mere fact that Lucifer didn’t destroy every part of him attests to that.”
“Yeah, but how much damage did he do?”
“A great deal,” the angel admitted. “That’s why we didn’t return straight away. Gabriel and I had to …rebuild parts of his mind.”
Bobby looked up skeptically, “Rebuild. He’s still him though, right? I’d hate to have to get used to another one of these damn fools,” he snapped, hiding his true concern under a cover of bravado.
Castiel smiled to himself, “Yes Bobby, he is still Sam.”
“Hmph, couldn’t have cleaned him up while you were at it,” Bobby groused.
Smirking, “We were a bit preoccupied. I could do so now, if you wish.”
“No,” Bobby snapped a bit too quickly. He returned his attention to wiping Sam’s face, “I started, I might as well finish.”
Castiel nodded and disappeared downstairs, leaving the man alone to tend to his surrogate son.
He winced as he sat on the worn couch in Bobby’s living room, the bruises and injuries to his vessel were deep, a human vessel was not designed to see those levels of Hell, and it would take time to heal, but he would heal.
~~~~~~~~~
Dean came bursting through the doorway to Bobby’s house, “Bobby? Cas?” he called frantically. He knew Bobby had said Cas wasn’t here, but that was two hours ago. Two hours was a long time. Two hours that he’d spent alone with his own Hell-tinted imagination- there were things Dean could imagine that went beyond even the petty tortures of Alistair.
On the sofa, Castiel stirred. His body had been put through Hell and back, literally, and it called for rest- one of the drawbacks of having a permanent vessel.
“Cas!” Dean all but fell to his knees on the floor by the couch. His hands running over Cas’ body searching for wounds or injuries.
“I’m fine Dean. Merely tired,” he assured, smiling weakly.
Dean countered, “You were sleeping, Cas.”
“From time to time this body needs rest.”
“Bullshit,” Dean answered, not believing his angel. “In all the time I’ve known you the only time you’ve slept was when you were half dead or almost human, so don’t tell me you were ‘merely tired’!” The hunter was beginning to lose his cool. He’d kept himself together over the weeks Cas had been gone, but this coupled with the fear Gabriel’s message had instilled in him were more than he could take.
Cas sat up, pulling Dean to sit beside him. He encouraged Dean’s roaming hands, still checking for injuries that weren’t there. “Dean,” Castiel lifted the man’s chin so he could look him in the eye- those seas of green as bright and mesmerizing now as they had been that first day. Slowly he brought their lips to touch. He let their mouths work lazily against each other pulling wispy sounds of pleasure from them both. Their lips sealed together as their tongues played in a slow dance of love and passion.
Breathlessly, Dean murmured, “You kept your promise.”
“Mmm, and I will again and again and again, until you believe I’m alright.”
Pressing their foreheads together Dean chuckled, “I might be a hard sell, if only to get more samples.”
Cas leaned forward whispering in Dean’s ear, “Then you would miss out on what else I had to offer.”
Dean laughed outright. “I love you, you featherbrained angel.”
Dean and Cas spent several long minutes just being with each other, it had been too long, but Castiel was certain Dean would find their separation worthwhile.
Finally, Dean asked, “Where’s Bobby?”
“Upstairs,” Cas replied trying not to let his anticipation show.
“Better go let him know I’m here,” Dean said, wistfully, not wanting to leave his angel even for a moment.
He started for the hall and the staircase, surprised when his angel followed close behind, reassurance radiating from him like a physical force.
“Bobby?” he called loudly.
Bobby stormed out of the guest bedroom, throwing his arms around Dean, tears in his eyes. The Apocalypse had been averted and he had his boys back, more than he’d ever thought he would get. Pulling away with a couple manly pats to the back, Bobby choked out, “He’s still out of it, but…” he shrugged, how did you say ‘but considering he’s spent the last six months in Hell watching two archangels try to beat each other senseless, he’s doing pretty good’ it just didn’t send the right message.
Dean tilted his head, searching Bobby for any clue as to what he was talking about. When he could find none, he slipped past the older hunter and into the bedroom. “Sammy?”
--- NEXT
--- PREVIOUS
Author: heavenlyxbodies
Pairing: Dean/Cas
Rating: NC17
Spoilers: let’s just call it S5 and be done with it, yeah
Feedback: Makes me happy, just play nice
Disclaimer(s) can be found here
Beta: the lovely kimisgirl *hugs*- anything still wrong is probably me ignoring her advice
Alpha: my dearest kyokohitsuji
Warnings/Squicks: ANGST, pre-het, depictions of Hell, did I mention the angst
Masterlist for crystal_line 's beautiful art!
~~~~~~~~~Chapter 17~~~~~~~~~
Castiel blew into Heaven, more than a little worn and ragged from their escape from Hell. He’d seen that the remaining angels got to their garrisons or the medical attention they needed. Not much could damage an angel, but Hell and its denizens weren’t your average things. “Gabriel?” he called feeling the archangel nearby.
“In here.”
The flood of relief that ran through him at his brother’s voice was surprising, even to him. He found Gabriel kneeling over Sam’s body, “How bad is it?”
Gabriel looked up at his brother, noticing his vessel’s ribs were cracked and broken in several places along with his arm, and his leg had seen better days, and snorted. Fortunately the majority of Cas’ injuries seemed purely outward. “Well, you won’t be winning any beauty pageants like that.”
Cas gave Gabriel a sly not quite annoyed look from under his lashes.
Gabriel didn’t miss a beat, before answering Cas’ original question. “He should be a blathering idiot, well, more than usual.” Gabriel’s flippant tone and the obvious smirk in his voice told Castiel more than any words could. “But he’s not, he needs a bit of work,” he looked over his shoulder at the younger angel. “Could use your help.”
Cas, injured as he was, was at Gabriel’s side in an instant.
Gabriel smiled, “Just wanna make sure all those synapses are there to zap to it when he’s ready.”
Cas smiled at his brother, he’d already done so much, even knowing how little the Winchesters thought of him, but what he’d done and was doing, he was doing for family- just like Dean would.
He must have chuckled outwardly because, Gabriel was asking, “What’s so funny?” with a concerned look on his face.
“You,” Cas admitted, still smiling.
“I am awesome aren’t I,” the former Trickster smirked causing Castiel to laugh outright, before composing himself back to the task at hand, namely rebuilding Sam Winchester.
~~~~~~~~~
“Hey there, Deanster, how ya doin’?”
Dean looked around for a moment looking for the annoying archangel. “Gabriel?” he asked angrily.
“Who else would be talking to you through your stereo? You really need to update your music. You do know half these people are dead?”
“What do you want, Gabe?”
“I come in peace, Dean-o, just delivering a message from your favourite angel,” he answered jovially.
“Cas? Is he okay? What happened?” Dean’s voice was starting to get a touch of frenzy, Cas had been gone for almost two weeks without a word and now Gabriel was delivering messages. It made his stomach sink.
“He wants you to meet him at Bobby’s as soon as you can.” With an audible pop the radio went back to static.
Gabriel’s non-answer wasn’t lost on Dean.
“Gabriel,” he shouted. “What the Hell happened to Cas?”
Dean grabbed his phone, dialing Bobby’s number, his breath caught in his throat as every possible scenario and a few impossible ones filled his vision.
The phone rang. And rang. And rang.
Dean was about to hang up and try again, when Bobby’s warm voice answered, “Hello?”
“Bobby! Christ man give a guy a heart attack,” Dean huffed into the phone.
“What’s got your panties in a twist?” Bobby asked.
“Is Cas there?”
“Why would your angel be here? Shouldn’t he be with you?”
Dean tried to stay calm, at least whatever happened Cas wasn’t hurt badly enough to seek asylum at Bobby’s. “Gabriel,” Dean answered simply.
Dean could hear Bobby’s brow furrow as his eyes pinched together, “What does that featherbrain have to do with anything?”
“He told me Cas wanted me to meet him at your place.”
“Well, I ain’t seen your angel or anybody else’s since the last time you visited.” Bobby was getting a little confused, but given what the archangel/Trickster had done to the boys in the past it didn’t surprise him. More gently he asked, “That mean ya coming?”
“Yeah Bobby, be there in a couple hours.”
Bobby grunted good-naturedly and hung up the phone. The moment the phone was in the cradle, the air shifted and Bobby turned, “What the Hell!?!”
~~~~~~~~~Chapter 18~~~~~~~~~
It took a lot to fluster the old hunter, he’d been around long enough, and around the Winchesters long enough that not much surprised him anymore. But the sight of a beaten and bruised angel carrying the still form of one Sam Winchester covered in soot and something he assumed was blood was enough to throw even Bobby off his game.
He thought about asking the angel what happened, but it seemed rather pointless. Instead, he approached the pair, placing a hesitant hand on Sam’s head. “Is he?”
“The journey was hard on all of us, but given time he should recover,” Castiel said solemnly.
Bobby visibly relaxed, letting out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. “Well, come on then, don’t just stand there, the spare room’s upstairs on the right.”
Castiel nodded and left with his cargo.
Bobby watched as the angel set Sam down on the bed gently, “I’ll get some water; you two need to clean up.”
The hunter returned a few moments later with a cloth and a basin of warm water, and began dabbing at the soot covering the younger Winchester’s face.
“He’s very strong,” Castiel soothed, “the mere fact that Lucifer didn’t destroy every part of him attests to that.”
“Yeah, but how much damage did he do?”
“A great deal,” the angel admitted. “That’s why we didn’t return straight away. Gabriel and I had to …rebuild parts of his mind.”
Bobby looked up skeptically, “Rebuild. He’s still him though, right? I’d hate to have to get used to another one of these damn fools,” he snapped, hiding his true concern under a cover of bravado.
Castiel smiled to himself, “Yes Bobby, he is still Sam.”
“Hmph, couldn’t have cleaned him up while you were at it,” Bobby groused.
Smirking, “We were a bit preoccupied. I could do so now, if you wish.”
“No,” Bobby snapped a bit too quickly. He returned his attention to wiping Sam’s face, “I started, I might as well finish.”
Castiel nodded and disappeared downstairs, leaving the man alone to tend to his surrogate son.
He winced as he sat on the worn couch in Bobby’s living room, the bruises and injuries to his vessel were deep, a human vessel was not designed to see those levels of Hell, and it would take time to heal, but he would heal.
~~~~~~~~~
Dean came bursting through the doorway to Bobby’s house, “Bobby? Cas?” he called frantically. He knew Bobby had said Cas wasn’t here, but that was two hours ago. Two hours was a long time. Two hours that he’d spent alone with his own Hell-tinted imagination- there were things Dean could imagine that went beyond even the petty tortures of Alistair.
On the sofa, Castiel stirred. His body had been put through Hell and back, literally, and it called for rest- one of the drawbacks of having a permanent vessel.
“Cas!” Dean all but fell to his knees on the floor by the couch. His hands running over Cas’ body searching for wounds or injuries.
“I’m fine Dean. Merely tired,” he assured, smiling weakly.
Dean countered, “You were sleeping, Cas.”
“From time to time this body needs rest.”
“Bullshit,” Dean answered, not believing his angel. “In all the time I’ve known you the only time you’ve slept was when you were half dead or almost human, so don’t tell me you were ‘merely tired’!” The hunter was beginning to lose his cool. He’d kept himself together over the weeks Cas had been gone, but this coupled with the fear Gabriel’s message had instilled in him were more than he could take.
Cas sat up, pulling Dean to sit beside him. He encouraged Dean’s roaming hands, still checking for injuries that weren’t there. “Dean,” Castiel lifted the man’s chin so he could look him in the eye- those seas of green as bright and mesmerizing now as they had been that first day. Slowly he brought their lips to touch. He let their mouths work lazily against each other pulling wispy sounds of pleasure from them both. Their lips sealed together as their tongues played in a slow dance of love and passion.
Breathlessly, Dean murmured, “You kept your promise.”
“Mmm, and I will again and again and again, until you believe I’m alright.”
Pressing their foreheads together Dean chuckled, “I might be a hard sell, if only to get more samples.”
Cas leaned forward whispering in Dean’s ear, “Then you would miss out on what else I had to offer.”
Dean laughed outright. “I love you, you featherbrained angel.”
Dean and Cas spent several long minutes just being with each other, it had been too long, but Castiel was certain Dean would find their separation worthwhile.
Finally, Dean asked, “Where’s Bobby?”
“Upstairs,” Cas replied trying not to let his anticipation show.
“Better go let him know I’m here,” Dean said, wistfully, not wanting to leave his angel even for a moment.
He started for the hall and the staircase, surprised when his angel followed close behind, reassurance radiating from him like a physical force.
“Bobby?” he called loudly.
Bobby stormed out of the guest bedroom, throwing his arms around Dean, tears in his eyes. The Apocalypse had been averted and he had his boys back, more than he’d ever thought he would get. Pulling away with a couple manly pats to the back, Bobby choked out, “He’s still out of it, but…” he shrugged, how did you say ‘but considering he’s spent the last six months in Hell watching two archangels try to beat each other senseless, he’s doing pretty good’ it just didn’t send the right message.
Dean tilted his head, searching Bobby for any clue as to what he was talking about. When he could find none, he slipped past the older hunter and into the bedroom. “Sammy?”
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