Spoilers: All of Season 4
Disclaimer: Only mine in my dreams. Kripke has my undying gratitude.
Author's Note: This is my only my second story, it was originally going to be just a sex drabble but it's taken on a life of it's own and I can't seem to stop!
Reviews and comments would be much appreciated!
The first time it was curiosity.
Castiel watched as his new charge tossed and whimpered in his sleep. He gently placed two fingers on Dean's forehead and propelled himself in.
That first night there were just flashes. Random images flickering across Castiel's field of vision as if Dean's subconscious was flipping through channels on a television set. Blood splattering… Screams echoing… Blades slashing through soft flesh...
He'd seen enough. Concentrating, he slowly pulled himself out of Dean's mind and back to the dingy hotel room. Cas stood over the hunter and watched as he twitched, brow furrowed, grimacing. He stood there until he sensed Sam returning to the room.
He shouldn't have done that. It wasn't part of his orders.
Cas hoped that those flashes were all Dean would remember, because he remembers hell and he's not sure any human can handle that knowledge.
****
Dean gets worse. He becomes withdrawn… distracted. The nightmares kept him from any restful sleep. He's drinking all day every day. Cas kept vigil each night but he doesn't walk back into Dean's dreams. He told himself that he couldn't interfere with out an order. Then, in throws of a particularly bad dream Dean muttered a pitiful prayer, "please God... please… help me." After a moment's hesitation Cas dove in.
Acrid smoke filled his lungs. The horrifying and distinctive smell of burning flesh assaulting his nostrils. He walked slowly into the dark chamber ahead. He finds Dean strapped to a rack. A demon leering over him. "Please Alistair… don't," Dean chokes.
Cas concentrated on the torturer. Be gone. And he is. Cas moved over to Dean who is stares at him- a mixture of awe and relief etched on his face. The angel reached down, gripped the hunter's arm and gently held him to his chest.
Dean let out a muffled sob. "Where are you taking me?"
"Anywhere you wish" Castiel replied. He searched Dean's memory and selected the first calm, peaceful scene he found. Suddenly, they were back on the park bench where they discussed the rising of Samhain. Dean let out a contented sigh, closed his eyes and tilted his head back to bask in the perfectly sunny day.
Cas withdrew from the dream. He looked down at his charge and saw a faint smile on Dean's lips. Without thinking he softly swept his hand across Dean's cheek. Remembering himself, Castiel snatched his hand away and quickly departed.