Hello my dears. I would like to thank Guest, NerdySpaceBean and spnfankat81 for the wonderful reviews. I would also like to thank those of you who have followed and favoured this story.
Okay, I just want to confess all I know about the marines is what I have learnt from watching copious amounts of NCIS so I apologise if I get anything wrong.
Anyway here is the next chapter, I hope you like it.
Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural.
Castiel stood once more as Dean's commanding officer came to the front of the church to posthumously award him the Silver Star Medal for his actions in the field, for how he had gone above and beyond to save the men under him. Castiel listened, he knew Dean would expect him to award his officer with the respect his rank deserved. And as he watched and heard the ceremonial words, he swore he saw Dean to the left of the officer, standing to attention, ready to receive his medal. But of course when it came time for it to be presented rather than turning and pinning it to the chest of the image of Dean Castiel saw, the officer turned to him and handed him, as his spouse, the box with all the respect such an occasion was due.
Castiel stared down at the Star held firmly in its case. He slowly ran his finger around the outside of it, wishing that Dean could see it. Wishing that Dean knew the honour he had been given by the ones he served. He wished more than anything that he had lived to hold this in his hand. He hoped he knew. He hoped up there in heaven, Dean knew how he was being honoured on earth, even if he knew Dean would never believe he deserved it. With slightly blurry eyes he looked up again only to see the image of Dean still standing there, though now his stance was relaxed as he smiled sadly at his husband. No. Castiel could not break down, he would be strong for Dean, he would not cry, or imagine things that weren't there. With that he quickly closed the lid of the medal box and shoved it into his pocket as he forced his eyes to the priest rather than the image of Dean. Of course as soon as he did that and he heard the polite meaningless words being spoken his mind once more drifted to his memory of his first meeting with Dean. Of the time he fell in love.
Three years ago…
Dean and Castiel moved to a booth at the back of the bar so they could talk without being overheard by the bartender or anyone else coming into the bar. They had both forgotten they were supposed to meeting someone else, all their attention, all their thoughts were on the man next to them.
"So what department do you work in at the hospital Cas?" Dean asked wanting to know more about this man who seemed to have caught him as no one else ever had.
"I work in the E.R at present. It seemed the most logical area to go into considering my previous career." Castiel replied with a shrug. He was happy to talk about his work, he loved his job. The way he had to help people.
"Why? What was your previous work?" Dean asked confused by that sentence. Hadn't the guy always been a doctor?
"I worked for doctors without borders for about a decade." Castiel responded with a smile. Even if it had been perilous work, going into war-torn countries to help, what he had managed to do there more than made up for it. He had helped so many people, no matter who they were. It fulfilled him in a way he couldn't describe, and the majority of the people he knew couldn't understand. But he had left at the right time. After a decade spent in other countries, constantly in danger, he had felt the need to come home, to settle down to a nice safe life.
"Wow, I think it should be me buying you a drink then Cas. You've done a helluva lot more than me for people." Dean replied with awe in his voice. This man was a freakin' angel. Why the hell was he talking to him?
At that Castiel smiled. He had never had that response to his previous career before. It was refreshing to find someone who understood why he had done what he had. He was glad Dean understood, it made him like the man even more, and most definitely glad that fate had made it so they would meet this evening.
"The military does good Dean, just in a different way. We all have our parts to play."
"Yeah I guess. But still, you must have gone places even marines wouldn't go." Dean replied with a shake of his head at the courage this guy must have. The bravery it would take, it wasn't something he saw regularly in civilians.
"Not always, and there is a reason marines don't go there but doctors do. Anyway enough of that, tell me about you, how long have you been in the marines?" Castiel asked deciding they had discussed him long enough. He wanted to know more about the man next to him.
"Well, I joined when my brother Sammy went to college. I always planed on becoming a marine, just like our dad had been, but I was Sammy's sole career so I had to wait until he could look after himself." Dean responded conversationally finding it strange but also liberating at how easy it was to talk to Cas.
"So you didn't go to college?" Castiel asked trying to get a picture of the man beside him, though he realised as he said the words his blunt speech could offend the man at his side. He hoped not, he was just curious, he did not care if Dean had a degree or not, in fact he didn't care if Dean had even completed high school. He was obviously good at his job, he had raised to the rank of sergeant after all.
"Na, smarts are Sammy's thing, not mine. I'm more action led." Dean replied not at all offended by the words. There were many of his friends and even some of his superiors who wanted him to go back to college, to work on becoming an officer, but that wasn't him.
"Which I imagine serves you well in your chosen career." Castiel responded with a smile. Yes he could see that. He could see Dean as a man who preferred doing things rather than sitting in a classroom or lecturer hall studying.
"It does that. I choose right, I love my job and my unit. We're like a second family." Dean replied with a sunny smile.
"Yes, I always admired that about the marines I met throughout the years." Castiel answered with a smile of his own. This of course led to a discussion to see if they knew any of the same people. And when they found out that they did, a deeper bond formed between them making them feel as if they were the only two people in the bar who truly understood each other. This of course led the conversation to other, none work related topics, music and movies, and likes and dislikes. And even there they found there tastes very similar. It was almost like they were made for each other.
This conversation was interrupted by a very tall man with long brown hair approaching them.
"Sorry I'm late Dean, my client wouldn't leave. Though it seems you've made a friend." Sam Winchester said smiling at the man with his brother. He wondered who he was, wondered if he could be the one who would finally get his brother to settle down, leave the marines and come home. Not that he would ever say that in words. It was just, his brother's profession was so damn dangerous, he didn't want to lose Dean. No he couldn't lose Dean.
"Sammy, this is Cas, Cas, Sammy." Dean replied doing the introductions and smirking when his brother gave him one of his infamous bitchfaces.
Sam held out his hand to the man with Dean while glaring at his brother for calling him Sammy, when would he stop doing that?
"It's Sam. Pleased to meet you Cas."
"You too Sam." Castiel replied shaking the man's hand with a smile. He was about to suggest he join him and Dean, but turning to man next to him he saw he was getting up. His time with the sergeant was over then, well it was good while it lasted, he had enjoyed their time together, and it would be a pleasant encounter he would definitely remember.
Dean got up. He was on leave and he wanted to spend time with his brother, but even if he knew that he felt a twinge inside at the idea that he wouldn't get to talk to Cas again. He debated for a few seconds but then decided what the hell, you only live once right?
"Hey Cas, umm, I'm only in town a few days on leave, but maybe we could meet up tomorrow night if your free? Maybe go see a movie or go for dinner or somethin'?" He asked feeling embarrassed by his words. He just knew Sammy would be smirking at him, but whatever. He would be fine if Cas agreed. Damn, he hoped Cas agreed.
"I would like that very much Dean." Castiel agreed readily, to be able to spend a whole evening with Dean, yes he really would like that.
"Awesome, so what do you want to do?" Dean asked smiling now, his embarrassment having vanished at Cas' agreement.
"You decide." Castiel replied with a chuckle. He would be happy doing anything Dean wanted, because he would be with Dean doing it.
"Okay, I'll pick you up at seven?" Dean suggested hoping that that was okay. The longer they had together the better.
"Seven is fine, here…" Castiel responded pulling one his cards from his pocket and scribbling his address on the back, though he made sure it was very readable. He did not want Dean not to be able to find where he lived because of his spider like handwriting.
"I'll see you then then Cas." Dean replied taking the card and looking at the address before giving the man sitting his most charming smile. He already couldn't wait for the next night.
"I look forward to it." Castiel responded with a large smile of his own which didn't dim as he watched Dean and Sam walk out of the bar. He and Dean were going out again the next evening, though he doubted it was a date, it would still give him more time with the amazing man.
"Well, well, looks like Cassie pulled in my absence." Came a voice pulling him from his happy thoughts, making him glare at the speaker.
"He is just a friend Gabriel. Nothing more." Castiel replied sternly. He did not want his brother anywhere near Dean. That would be a sure fire way for it to all go wrong.
"If you say so little bro, but from where I was standing I would say he wants to be more than that." Gabriel responded with a smirk as he saw hope flare in his brothers eyes.
"Why were you so late?" Castiel asked hoping to change the conversation anyway from Dean. And it worked, not that it stopped his mind from returning to the beautiful green eyes and the knowledge he would be seeing Dean again the next evening. He couldn't wait.
The ending of Castiel's memory coincided with the ending of the funeral service. Therefore no one noticed that he had not been paying attention as they moved outside for the next part. The part where they would commit Dean's body to the earth. Castiel wasn't sure he would be able to get through this next part, to watch the remains of the man he loved sink from sight, but he knew he had to. He had to be strong for Dean.
