Author's Note - This fic was written at my bestest matey's request, and I hope you like this, Dany! XD
A stranger in their midst.
The trouble didn't start until the exact moment when Sam came into the motel room leading a dazed and confused Castiel behind him wearing a seemingly different, and decidedly blacker than usual, coat. Sam admittedly looked confused by the differing wardrobe but not as confused as when he saw another Castiel seated inside the motel room with his brother, conversing over the flickering screen of Sam's laptop, familiar tan trenchcoat draped around Castiel's slim build.
Both Dean and Castiel looked up when the door to the motel room opened, taking in first Sam, then the stranger behind him, matching looks of astonishment stamped across their faces at the sight of the man who bore a striking resemblance to Castiel standing beside the uncomfortable looking Sam Winchester.
After many awkward questions asked, the threat of being shot or stabbed by Dean and the actual throwing of Holy water clean in the man's face, recriminations shot towards Sam for endangering them all, they decided it was time they checked the man's ID. The Winchesters ascertained that the stranger in their midst was called Steven Novak, a cousin of Castiel's vessel Jimmy Novak, which at least explained the bizarre and uncanny similarity between Castiel and the new arrival.
That didn't stop Dean's eyebrows lifting, a smirk pulling his lips out into a pout as he said - "Would the real Castiel please stand up? Please stand up? Please stand up!"
He tried to duck Sam's giant hand but he was too slow, receiving a clout around the ear for his efforts at trying to lighten the mood. This left him staring first at Castiel, then to Steven, marvelling over their similarities and also their differences.
Their dark hair curled up in front in the same way, was basically the same length and style, their suits matched, even their skin tones were similar. The only differences between the two was Steven had green eyes instead of blue and a black coat instead of a tan one. Dean was angry that Sam hadn't noticed a glaringly obvious thing as coat and eye color before bringing him into their motel room without questioning him first. Sam merely shrugged at that and looked embarrassed, uncertain as to what to say to his brother.
Steven, when asked by Dean mostly, vaguely remembered snippets of his old life, which mirrored Jimmy's, of being talked to by an angel, of being assured he was a valid angel's vessel, and then nothing for a few years. He couldn't even remember the name of the angel that had been riding him for so long or even if he'd ever known it at all.
Castiel turned a curious gaze onto Dean, before he said - "Dean, can I talk to you a moment?"
"Sure," Dean replied, staring at Castiel expectantly, his face set in a curious look as though he expected the angel to start talking straight away.
"Outside," Castiel prompted, sternly, gaze intent and as stern as his tone of voice.
"Okay, dude, whatever," Dean replied, turning to open the door, feeling the blast of cold air slap him in the face and sending shivers over his previously warm body and raising goose flesh in serried raised bumps across his skin.
Castiel refused to speak until the door had swung shut behind them, casting a look and staring at the curious face of Sam peering out at them momentarily. The younger Winchester disappeared, leaving them alone for the moment. Dean could dimly see Steven Novak moving around inside, and the vague sound of Sam talking to him tersely.
"What is it, Cas?" Dean asked, rubbing his chilled arms with the flats of his hands, stamping his feet slightly to get the circulation flowing once more.
"I was thinking about what that guy was saying about being a vessel," Castiel said, slowly, swinging one pointing finger up and towards the man still housed within the confines of their motel room.
"Being a vessel sure runs in the family, doesn't it?" Dean snorted, without real humor.
"As it does in yours, Dean," Castiel replied, immediately, one thin eyebrow raised as he stared pointedly at the hunter.
Dean backed down at that, knowing the angel's statement to be correct. He himself was the vessel for Michael, and they both knew Sam was the vessel for Lucifer. Disliking the fact didn't take away the truth of their own situation.
"Okay, just say the Novaks are as screwy as our own family, then what?" Dean asked. "Just who is he a vessel for?"
"I don't know, Dean. That's what I was wondering. The only thing I can do is to call the angel down, physically," and Castiel turned back to the motel room, plump lips pressed down into a firm line of dissatisfaction.
"There's still some of that oil left, right? The magical angel juice that called Raphael," and Dean rolled his eyes. "Bang up job with that, by the way."
"He hasn't bothered us since, has he?" Castiel asked, refusing to turn back to Dean.
Dean sighed, and wondered if he'd offended Castiel in any way. He closed the distance between them, cupped Castiel's warm cheek with one chilled hand and turned the angel's face to his for a moment.
"Cas, I'm sorry," Dean murmured, the apology alien on his lips, yet still feeling like he had to do it anyway, for Castiel. "Let's do things your way and hope to Hell it works. If it doesn't - "
Castiel tilted his head to the side as he waited for the hunter to continue.
"If it doesn't, then we're gonna have one more angry angel on our ass," Dean said, with a small attempt at a smile. "Like we haven't got enough of those already after us. We're in this together, remember? Both of us. And Sam is too."
Dean tried another smile, and Castiel's own smile was brief, fleeting but at least it was there, warming his eyes as he stared intently at Dean.
"Yes, Dean," Castiel replied, his voice pitched low and intimate, as his gaze softened, became more tender now that Dean was close at hand, inches away from him. "I suggest we call the angel as soon as possible."
Dean nodded, smiled once more, a lazy uplift to his lips as he closed the distance between them, breath huffing in hot gasps against Castiel's soft lips invitingly. Castiel didn't pull away, just closed his eyes and waited, lips parted in invitation, too distracted now to continue. Dean leant in still further, pressed his lips against Castiel's, enjoying the feel of their soft silken surfaces beneath his own. Castiel responded, one hand pushed through Dean's hair and drawing him in closer, deepening the kiss with encouraging sounds of approval breaking the air between them.
Unknown to them, Steven Novak watched them from the motel room window, curiously, large green eyes blinking in surprised approval. He turned away dropping the blinds closed guiltily as Sam returned from the bathroom, unaware that the stranger had been spying on his brother and his lover.
"You want food?" Sam asked, grimly, uncertain as to whether he wanted the strange man in their midst, or even what he was doing there.
He was suspicious that the newcomer was a spy, and was only faking his lack of memory previously, but one look in those guileless green eyes had Sam convinced that maybe he wasn't lying, at all, and hadn't been sent by agencies unknown to find out their next move. He tried to smile at the man, sighing as he pushed his hand through his hair wearily when the man smiled slightly back.
"Food will be fine," Steven said, agreeably. "I haven't eaten in months."
"You know, I've heard that one before. If you're gonna be anything like Jimmy - " and Sam shuddered in remembrance at the amount of food Jimmy Novak had packed in after Castiel had vacated his body.
Sam still had nightmares about that one moment. He'd never seen one man eat so much, not even his brother and Dean could eat for America if he wanted. He shook his head and forced himself back into reality once more, before he picked his jacket up again from his bed, sighing as he strode to the door to leave.
"Be back soon," he said to the newcomer, wearily. "Just don't eat the bed, okay?"
He left before Steven could provide a response or question his odd choice of words, leaving the staring man alone in the middle of the motel room ...
-tbc-
