Unexpected Destinies Chapter 2
Title Unexpected Destinies
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: up to and including Exile on Main St., AU from the end of season 5
Warnings: AU
Word Count: 1,861
Summary: Dean gets a visit from someone he'd never expected to see again.
PAST
The hot water felt good on his sore muscles and Dean stayed in the shower until the water started to cool. Getting out, he carefully dried himself, once again cursing the damn poltergeist. He was going to feel this hunt for at least a week and a half, not to mention that it would put him out of commission for the next few days. Although Dean wanted to do nothing more than to just throw himself into the next hunt, he knew he couldn't. Shit like that would just get him killed and he couldn't do that to Sammy. If he died, there'd be no one to get his brother out of that goddamn cage.
The mere thought caused Dean's stomach to clench and he tied the towel around his waist with more force than necessary, absently wondering why he even bothered. It wasn't like there was anyone present who cared or would mind if he waltzed into the room butt naked. But he couldn't, it felt too much like admitting that Sammy was never coming back and that he just couldn't handle. It might take him a while, but he was getting his brother back, promise or not. It wasn't like Sam had kept his promise not to use his powers, so Dean felt no guilt breaking his. Besides, it wasn't like he was entirely to blame. He had gone to Lisa and given it- the normal life- a go and found that he just wasn't any good at it.
Dean opened the bathroom door, stepped out into the main room and froze in shock. There, standing calmly at the end of the two queen beds (he couldn't bring himself to ask for a single yet) as if he'd never left, was Castiel.
"Hello, Dean," Castiel said, turning to look at him.
"Cas," Dean replied, dumbly.
What the hell? What on Earth was Castiel doing... well, on Earth? The angel had made it quite clear just before he'd left that he was needed in Heaven and that there was a lot of work to do up there. And Dean got it, he really did now. It had actually become a comfort after a while, knowing that Cas was up there, taking care of things and ensuring that his brothers and sisters didn't start another Apocalypse. In his mind, Cas had become everything that God should have been and he now regretted his harsh words to the angel that day even if his anger at God hadn't diminished any.
It wasn't until Castiel glanced down at his chest that Dean remembered that all he was wearing was a small, threadbare towel.
"Uh... what are you doing here?" Dean blurted out the first question that popped into his head.
And that was such a stupid thing to say. He hadn't see the guy in two months and the first thing he did was make it sound like he didn't want to see the angel.
"I came to speak with you," Castiel stated.
Clear, direct and to the point, as if his question hadn't been so rude. Yeah, he'd missed that about him, Dean realized. Actually, now that he allowed himself to think about it, he'd missed a hell of a lot more than just that about Cas, including just feeling his presence.
"Oh, been here long?"
"Yes."
Dean blinked, looking up from the clothes he'd pulled from his duffel. "Yeah?"
"The shower turned on just as I arrived."
"I see," Dean said, surprised the angel had waited so long, he'd stayed in there quite a while.
"You told me not to enter the shower anymore when you're in it," Castiel reminded him.
"Yeah, thanks for that."
That had been an awkward scene and Dean still flushed at the memory of it. The worst of it was that if he hadn't been so afraid his body would react and give away his secret, he'd have really enjoyed the startled expression on the angel's face. But then Cas' eyes had looked down, innocently taking him in and he'd started yelling. It had been the only thing he could think of to do before Castiel's close presence started affecting him as it so often did.
Dean had no problem with the desire Castiel awoke in him, he'd known he was bi since he was a teen, but Cas was an angel and his friend and there was no way he was doing that to the poor guy. The angel was still a virgin for God's sake and he remembered only all too well the freaked expression on his face in the brothel. No, Castiel didn't need to deal with Dean's perverted desire for his rescuer on top of everything else he already had on his plate. Unfortunately his yelling had attracted his brother's attention and the Sasquatch had, of course, found the entire situation hilarious while Dean had been left with the task of explaining to Cas why he couldn't just appear in the shower with a human.
The knowledge that it was futile to ask Castiel for some privacy had Dean pulling his boxers on under the towel before he quickly pulled on the rest of his clothes, feeling more like his usual self as he did so. The memory of Sam's laughter the day of the shower incident hurt, especially knowing that his little brother was now doing anything but laughing and he desperately sought to distract himself from it.
"Hey, how'd you find me anyway?" Dean demanded, touching his chest. "Aren't the sigils still hiding me?"
"They are, which is what has prevented me from finding you sooner," Castiel stated. "You left Lisa's without telling her where you were going."
"Yeah, well, you don't normally tell someone who's kicking you out where you plan to go, even if you know," Dean muttered.
He really didn't want to talk about this.
"Lisa kicked you out?"
Of course Castiel had never allowed something like that to stop him. Though it was entirely possible that he simply hadn't picked up on the sentiment in Dean's tone.
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Why would she do that?"
It was the sheer incredulity and complete lack of understanding in that question that stopped Dean from snapping at the angel. It touched something deep inside of him that he hadn't even known existed. He'd been faced with so many people who doubted him and thought him weak, including his own brother, not to mention that he'd failed at so much these past few years that Cas' inexplicable and misplaced faith in him was a constant source of wonder. Especially now. He'd been so sure he'd lost it all pulling that stunt with Michael that it was an unbelievable relief to know that he hadn't. On the other hand it showed how completely he'd managed to mess up the angel if he couldn't understand why Lisa had felt it better for Ben if he wasn't around.
"Cas, I'm fucked up," Dean stated, rushing on to explain before the angel could voice his protest. "I drink too much and can't express myself properly. I have nightmares almost all night, every night, waking up kicking and screaming. I could hardly tell her anything of what happened and you of all people know how good I am at letting people in. Factor into that the fact that all I've got is a goddamn GED and no references and all you've got left is a broken shell of a man. I'm surprised she let me stay as long as she did. Lisa and Ben didn't deserve to deal with that shit and it was selfish of me to foist it onto them."
Dean didn't see Cas move, but the next thing he knew, he was pressed up against the wall, the angel's hands fisted in his shirt and Cas' furious face inches from his own.
"You are not broken and fucked up," Castiel hissed.
The tone reminded Dean eerily of their second meeting, in Bobby's kitchen. He could still clearly recall the angel's threat to throw him back into Hell.
"Cas-"
"You are not," Castiel insisted. "Do you really think I would have brought you back wrong?"
"No, I-"
"Or that I can't see your soul even now?"
Dean's mouth froze halfway to starting a response to that question. He'd always suspected that Castiel might be able to see his soul, but he'd never known for sure.
"You didn't know," Castiel deduced, startled.
"Not for sure."
"I can."
"Yeah, I get that now."
Castiel was still standing as close as he had when he'd first shoved him up against the wall and Dean wanted to shift away, to put some space between them, but wasn't sure if that was such a good idea.
"Dean, your soul is as bright and whole now as it was when I first raised you," Castiel declared. "If not more so."
Dean snorted. "So why do I feel so empty?"
The question seemed to hit Castiel like a blow and he stepped back but Dean felt none of the relief he'd expected to with the desired increase in space between them.
"I don't know," Castiel said, tone almost sad.
Dean shift uncomfortably, feeling trapped against the wall but not yet ready to brush past the angel to gain more room. Plus he had this sudden fear that if he moved too far away, Castiel would vanish and never come back like so many others in his life.
"Hey, wait a minute, you spoke with Lisa?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"You were not there and I needed to find you," Castiel explained simply.
"So how'd you find me?"
"Susan Matters."
"Huh?" Dean asked before the name clicked. "Wait, is she that chick I saved last week?"
"Yes."
"How'd she help you find me?"
"She prayed for you."
"What?"
"She prayed for your safety," Castiel said. "She feared for you given your line of work and wanted us to keep an eye on you."
Dean snorted, a reluctant smile tugging at his lips. "How'd you get my location out of her?"
"I visited her in her dreams and after she told me what she knew, I started my search."
"Humans are kinda hard to find that way."
"Yes, but cars are easier, especially one as distinctive as the Impala."
"You found me through my baby?"
"I knew if I found her, you couldn't be far away."
"Why didn't you just call me?"
"The voice says I'm out of minutes."
"Oh, I'll get you some more. If you're going to be around that is."
"I will."
Castiel was frowning and looking around the room now. This was good in that the angel moved a little further away and Dean was able to move away from the wall, but bad in that it was horribly reminiscent of another motel room where Cas had done the exact same thing, looking for any traces of Sam. Dean shut off that line of thinking immediately before he began to think of other things related to his brother.
"What are you looking for?" Dean asked.
"Where is Sam? I don't see any of his stuff."
Chapter 3
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: up to and including Exile on Main St., AU from the end of season 5
Warnings: AU
Word Count: 1,861
Summary: Dean gets a visit from someone he'd never expected to see again.
PAST
The hot water felt good on his sore muscles and Dean stayed in the shower until the water started to cool. Getting out, he carefully dried himself, once again cursing the damn poltergeist. He was going to feel this hunt for at least a week and a half, not to mention that it would put him out of commission for the next few days. Although Dean wanted to do nothing more than to just throw himself into the next hunt, he knew he couldn't. Shit like that would just get him killed and he couldn't do that to Sammy. If he died, there'd be no one to get his brother out of that goddamn cage.
The mere thought caused Dean's stomach to clench and he tied the towel around his waist with more force than necessary, absently wondering why he even bothered. It wasn't like there was anyone present who cared or would mind if he waltzed into the room butt naked. But he couldn't, it felt too much like admitting that Sammy was never coming back and that he just couldn't handle. It might take him a while, but he was getting his brother back, promise or not. It wasn't like Sam had kept his promise not to use his powers, so Dean felt no guilt breaking his. Besides, it wasn't like he was entirely to blame. He had gone to Lisa and given it- the normal life- a go and found that he just wasn't any good at it.
Dean opened the bathroom door, stepped out into the main room and froze in shock. There, standing calmly at the end of the two queen beds (he couldn't bring himself to ask for a single yet) as if he'd never left, was Castiel.
"Hello, Dean," Castiel said, turning to look at him.
"Cas," Dean replied, dumbly.
What the hell? What on Earth was Castiel doing... well, on Earth? The angel had made it quite clear just before he'd left that he was needed in Heaven and that there was a lot of work to do up there. And Dean got it, he really did now. It had actually become a comfort after a while, knowing that Cas was up there, taking care of things and ensuring that his brothers and sisters didn't start another Apocalypse. In his mind, Cas had become everything that God should have been and he now regretted his harsh words to the angel that day even if his anger at God hadn't diminished any.
It wasn't until Castiel glanced down at his chest that Dean remembered that all he was wearing was a small, threadbare towel.
"Uh... what are you doing here?" Dean blurted out the first question that popped into his head.
And that was such a stupid thing to say. He hadn't see the guy in two months and the first thing he did was make it sound like he didn't want to see the angel.
"I came to speak with you," Castiel stated.
Clear, direct and to the point, as if his question hadn't been so rude. Yeah, he'd missed that about him, Dean realized. Actually, now that he allowed himself to think about it, he'd missed a hell of a lot more than just that about Cas, including just feeling his presence.
"Oh, been here long?"
"Yes."
Dean blinked, looking up from the clothes he'd pulled from his duffel. "Yeah?"
"The shower turned on just as I arrived."
"I see," Dean said, surprised the angel had waited so long, he'd stayed in there quite a while.
"You told me not to enter the shower anymore when you're in it," Castiel reminded him.
"Yeah, thanks for that."
That had been an awkward scene and Dean still flushed at the memory of it. The worst of it was that if he hadn't been so afraid his body would react and give away his secret, he'd have really enjoyed the startled expression on the angel's face. But then Cas' eyes had looked down, innocently taking him in and he'd started yelling. It had been the only thing he could think of to do before Castiel's close presence started affecting him as it so often did.
Dean had no problem with the desire Castiel awoke in him, he'd known he was bi since he was a teen, but Cas was an angel and his friend and there was no way he was doing that to the poor guy. The angel was still a virgin for God's sake and he remembered only all too well the freaked expression on his face in the brothel. No, Castiel didn't need to deal with Dean's perverted desire for his rescuer on top of everything else he already had on his plate. Unfortunately his yelling had attracted his brother's attention and the Sasquatch had, of course, found the entire situation hilarious while Dean had been left with the task of explaining to Cas why he couldn't just appear in the shower with a human.
The knowledge that it was futile to ask Castiel for some privacy had Dean pulling his boxers on under the towel before he quickly pulled on the rest of his clothes, feeling more like his usual self as he did so. The memory of Sam's laughter the day of the shower incident hurt, especially knowing that his little brother was now doing anything but laughing and he desperately sought to distract himself from it.
"Hey, how'd you find me anyway?" Dean demanded, touching his chest. "Aren't the sigils still hiding me?"
"They are, which is what has prevented me from finding you sooner," Castiel stated. "You left Lisa's without telling her where you were going."
"Yeah, well, you don't normally tell someone who's kicking you out where you plan to go, even if you know," Dean muttered.
He really didn't want to talk about this.
"Lisa kicked you out?"
Of course Castiel had never allowed something like that to stop him. Though it was entirely possible that he simply hadn't picked up on the sentiment in Dean's tone.
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Why would she do that?"
It was the sheer incredulity and complete lack of understanding in that question that stopped Dean from snapping at the angel. It touched something deep inside of him that he hadn't even known existed. He'd been faced with so many people who doubted him and thought him weak, including his own brother, not to mention that he'd failed at so much these past few years that Cas' inexplicable and misplaced faith in him was a constant source of wonder. Especially now. He'd been so sure he'd lost it all pulling that stunt with Michael that it was an unbelievable relief to know that he hadn't. On the other hand it showed how completely he'd managed to mess up the angel if he couldn't understand why Lisa had felt it better for Ben if he wasn't around.
"Cas, I'm fucked up," Dean stated, rushing on to explain before the angel could voice his protest. "I drink too much and can't express myself properly. I have nightmares almost all night, every night, waking up kicking and screaming. I could hardly tell her anything of what happened and you of all people know how good I am at letting people in. Factor into that the fact that all I've got is a goddamn GED and no references and all you've got left is a broken shell of a man. I'm surprised she let me stay as long as she did. Lisa and Ben didn't deserve to deal with that shit and it was selfish of me to foist it onto them."
Dean didn't see Cas move, but the next thing he knew, he was pressed up against the wall, the angel's hands fisted in his shirt and Cas' furious face inches from his own.
"You are not broken and fucked up," Castiel hissed.
The tone reminded Dean eerily of their second meeting, in Bobby's kitchen. He could still clearly recall the angel's threat to throw him back into Hell.
"Cas-"
"You are not," Castiel insisted. "Do you really think I would have brought you back wrong?"
"No, I-"
"Or that I can't see your soul even now?"
Dean's mouth froze halfway to starting a response to that question. He'd always suspected that Castiel might be able to see his soul, but he'd never known for sure.
"You didn't know," Castiel deduced, startled.
"Not for sure."
"I can."
"Yeah, I get that now."
Castiel was still standing as close as he had when he'd first shoved him up against the wall and Dean wanted to shift away, to put some space between them, but wasn't sure if that was such a good idea.
"Dean, your soul is as bright and whole now as it was when I first raised you," Castiel declared. "If not more so."
Dean snorted. "So why do I feel so empty?"
The question seemed to hit Castiel like a blow and he stepped back but Dean felt none of the relief he'd expected to with the desired increase in space between them.
"I don't know," Castiel said, tone almost sad.
Dean shift uncomfortably, feeling trapped against the wall but not yet ready to brush past the angel to gain more room. Plus he had this sudden fear that if he moved too far away, Castiel would vanish and never come back like so many others in his life.
"Hey, wait a minute, you spoke with Lisa?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"You were not there and I needed to find you," Castiel explained simply.
"So how'd you find me?"
"Susan Matters."
"Huh?" Dean asked before the name clicked. "Wait, is she that chick I saved last week?"
"Yes."
"How'd she help you find me?"
"She prayed for you."
"What?"
"She prayed for your safety," Castiel said. "She feared for you given your line of work and wanted us to keep an eye on you."
Dean snorted, a reluctant smile tugging at his lips. "How'd you get my location out of her?"
"I visited her in her dreams and after she told me what she knew, I started my search."
"Humans are kinda hard to find that way."
"Yes, but cars are easier, especially one as distinctive as the Impala."
"You found me through my baby?"
"I knew if I found her, you couldn't be far away."
"Why didn't you just call me?"
"The voice says I'm out of minutes."
"Oh, I'll get you some more. If you're going to be around that is."
"I will."
Castiel was frowning and looking around the room now. This was good in that the angel moved a little further away and Dean was able to move away from the wall, but bad in that it was horribly reminiscent of another motel room where Cas had done the exact same thing, looking for any traces of Sam. Dean shut off that line of thinking immediately before he began to think of other things related to his brother.
"What are you looking for?" Dean asked.
"Where is Sam? I don't see any of his stuff."
Chapter 3