Title: Freedom comes naturally. Chapter 3
Rating: T (this part)
Author's notes: I must tell you guys that this fic is going not the way I planned it, but I hope that's a good way.
Also, I promised one of my readers here, 67impala, that I would include "embarrassing things" Dean says to Cas in my new fic. So here it is, I hope you like it :)
Once again, the fic is un-betaed. Reviews are love.
Chapter 3
It is all Sam's fault.
If only he let him hunt with them, Dean wouldn't be stuck right now in the middle of nowhere which happens to be the town of Canaan searching for a friggin' witch in what looks like an abandoned warehouse.
And maybe it's reckless to come here on his own but its not like he has much choice. He has struggled with this idea ever since Sam told him about it three days ago but finally gave in. He just couldn't stand being useless, couldn't stand the idleness when everybody else has a shitload of work. Nobody, even his brother, has any right to tell him what to do.
So here he is walking through a dark and empty corridor just like in old times and there is this familiar rush of adrenaline, the buck fever and it feels good, it makes him feel alive.
But time passes and nothing happens and Dean already starts having doubts – maybe he is mistaken and maybe there is no witch in here.
His thoughts are suddenly interrupted by a flash of bright light and he is sent flying to the opposite wall and hits the back of his head against it on his way down. His vision blurs and he feels that he's losing consciousness but he manages to reach for his cell phone and press the speed dial.
Sam picks up on the second ring and Dean with a faltering tongue manages to tell him where he is before he blacks out.
Sam calls Castiel – there is no other way to get in Canaan fast enough other than with the angel's help.
They search the empty rooms of the warehouse for an hour before Sam finds his brother lying on the floor, his face bruised, and blood clotting at his temple.
"Dean? Dean!" he is both relieved and pissed when Dean opens his eyes and stares up at him blankly. "You're okay, dude?"
Dean blinks at him a couple of times and smiles weakly with recognition. "Sammy."
"Can you get up?" Sam asks and takes him by the elbow.
Dean nods and sits up slowly, staring in front of him.
"Did you see who knocked you out?" Sam turns his flashlight to light up the corridor. Whatever it is, it could still be here.
Dean ignores his question. Instead, he reaches out, wraps his arms around Sam and says "I love you, Sammy."
Sam startles "Dean? Are you alright?"
Once again Dean ignores that, only tightens his grip around his brother. "You are the only family I've got, Sam. You're my little brother and always will be, no matter what you do. I will always take care of you." He ruffles up Sam's hair with affection.
"Okay, you're obviously not alright." Sam says trying to get himself our of Dean's grip.
He figures Dean was put under some kind of spell but it would take time to find out what exactly it is.
He helps Dean to stand up, but his legs are still weak so he has to lean on Sam so that he wouldn't fall.
"Thank you, Sammy. You're such a good brother, always saving my ass." Dean mumbles almost incoherently.
"Yeah, don't mention it." Sam says. He hears footsteps behind his back and turns around to see Castiel. "I found him, Cas. He's here."
"Did I say that I love you, Sammy?" Dean asks again.
Sam rolls his eyes at him. "Yeah, I heard that already."
"Is he alright?" Castiel approaches them, worry in his eyes, looks Dean in the face.
"Physically, yes but I think he is under some kind of spell." Sam explains.
Castiel frowns. "What spell?"
Dean notices the angel and his face brightens up instantly. "Cas!" he grins and makes a step forward to put his arms around Castiel.
"That kind of spell." Sam chuckles. "He's hugging around."
"Hey, Cas." Dean mumbles, holding him tightly.
"Hello, Dean." Castiel looks at him with surprise.
Sam almost cracks up laughing at the sight. Castiel is standing awkwardly with his hands pressed to his body and looks like he's being strangled.
Dean probably feels it, because he draws back a little, looks him in the face and says "I missed you."
"Can you do anything about it?" Sam asks.
The angel looks thoughtful when he presses two fingers to Dean's forehead. The next second there is no blood there, and the skin is free from bruises, but Dean is still leaning on Cas and still looks like he would fall if he lets go of the angel's shoulder.
"Did it help?" Sam asks. "How do you feel, Dean?"
Dean smiles at him sheepishly. "I'm good, Sammy. I'm awesome." He turns back to staring at Castiel.
"I guess that's a 'no'."
"I cannot take off the spell unless I know the source of it." Castiel says. "I healed his physical injuries but the spell affects his consciousness and unless I know the nature of it I can't do anything." Dean starts nuzzling his neck while he speaks and the angel stutters. "We… need to find out who or what did this to him."
"'S good to see you, Cas." Dean murmurs in the crook of his neck. "Thought I'd never see you again." Castiel stands stiffly and stares at him in puzzlement, as if he cannot decide what to do.
"Uh, I think we'd better take him to Bobby's." Sam says. It's weird to see Dean like that. Even in the worst state of drunkenness he doesn't do anything of that sort.
Castiel nods his agreement and touches both his and Dean's foreheads and the next second the three of them are standing in Bobby's living room.
"What the hell… "The older man startles. "Castiel, I told you not to zap…" but he doesn't finish because Dean is already hugging him with a happy "Bobby!" and the air is drawn out of his lungs. "What the…" he looks at Sam and Castiel over Dean's shoulder, his eyes wide.
"Yeah, he's been like that since we found him." Sam explains.
"Bobby, you know you're like a father to me, do you?" Dean asks seriously. "Thanks for everything you do for us, Bobby. Sorry if I ever hurt you."
Bobby hardly manages to untangle himself from Dean's embrace. "What happened to him?"
"It's a spell and it's very strong." Castiel says. "It would probably wear off by itself but it's hard to say for sure. We need to go back there."
Dean finally leaves Bobby alone and gets back to hugging Cas. He approaches the angel from behind and wraps his arms around his waist, laying his chin on Cas' shoulder.
"Nerdy angel." he murmurs affectionately. "He's so smart, isn't he?" he asks Sam.
Sam hardly holds himself from laughing. "Yeah, man, he's very smart." Oh, he is so gonna use this against Dean afterwards.
"Whatever it is, Cas, I think we scared it off. We won't find it there now." Sam tries not to smile at how confused Cas looks. "I should probably hit the local library and search for clues there."
Castiel shakes his head. "Whatever it is, it appeared there recently, I don't think…"
But he doesn't finish whatever he was going to say, because Dean suddenly buries his nose in his hair and breathes in the scent.
"You smell like apple pie." he murmurs against Castiel's ear but it's loud enough for everybody else to hear.
Castiel looks horrified. He stands still in Dean's arms and holds his breath as if there's a snake around him that's preparing to bite.
"Hmmph..." Dean practically purrs and plants few butterfly kisses under Castiel's ear.
"Um, Dean, why don't you lie down?" Sam suggests and not only because Dean is pale and still unsteady on his feet but also because hopefully then he would leave Cas alone.
But Dean apparently has another idea. He drags Castiel towards the couch with him and after the angel is forced to sit there he lies down putting his head in Castiel's lap.
Castiel stares down at him and Sam could swear there is a pinkish color touching his cheeks, but otherwise his facial expression is unreadable.
"Hey." Dean smiles looking up at him.
"Why is he groping you so much anyways?" Bobby asks Castiel. "I mean, he groped me and Sam, too, but this… Thank God it's not some kind of sex pollen!"
Sam chuckles "Maybe that's because Cas is an angel? His mojo and everything, maybe that's why." he suggests but then thinks that the explanation is rather far-fetched.
"What worries me is that the spell is very strong." Castiel says doing his best to ignore Dean's head squirming in his lap, trying to get comfortable. "If… if it's really a witch then she's very powerful. And there is only one way for a witch to get such powers."
"Make a deal with a demon." Sam finishes for him.
Castiel nods. "It means that the demon standing behind this is very strong." He can't help but look down at Dean again. Their eyes meet.
"Whoa." Dean suddenly says. "Your eyes are so blue…" he stares at Cas in awe. "They're like friggin' oceans." he reaches up, never tearing his eyes away from Cas', and traces his fingertips along his jaw, then runs his thumb over his lips. "You are beautiful." he whispers.
Now Castiel is clearly blushing, but he doesn't flinch or move away, letting Dean do what he wants.
It is as if he enjoys it, Sam thinks and wonders whether angels feel the need for touch like humans. If they do, then Cas should be suffering from a severe tactile deprivation by now.
Castiel's face, however, remains indifferent and Sam brushes the thought away.
Bobby is the one to break the awkward silence. He shakes his head in disbelief. "I guess that thing hit him really hard. I'm gonna call Rufus and tell him what happened. Maybe they know something we don't." he turns to leave. "And for God's sake, take him home already!"
Sam shakes his head. "We can't take him home."
"Why the hell not?"
"Do you want Dean to tell Lisa that Cas smells like pie?" Sam retorts. "Because something tells me she wouldn't like that."
Bobby sighs. "Fine. Get him upstairs."
"C'mon Dean lets go." Sam gestures for his brother to follow him.
Dean shakes his head. "I'm not going anywhere without Cas."
Sam looks pleadingly at Castiel.
"I will take him." Castiel says and Dean gets up from his lap.
They practically drag him upstairs, because Dean is weak and stumbles all the time. Surely Castiel could have zapped him there but Bobby is afraid he might get sick and ruin his carpet.
"I need to inform the Host before we go back there." Castiel says watching Sam take off Dean's jacket and shoes.
Sam nods. "I will do some research then." He throws back the blanket and Dean crawls sleepily under it.
Castiel looks at him thoughtfully and then turns to leave, but Dean's voice stops him.
"Cas." He mumbles.
"Yes, Dean?"
Dean looks at the angel with pleading in his eyes.
"Stay." He says quietly and the simple word lingers in the air between them.
"Dean, Cas has more important things to do..." Sam starts objecting, but Castiel interrupts him.
"It's alright, Sam." He says, voice full of resolve. "I'll stay."
Sam stares at him. "Are you sure? Cas, you don't have to…"
Castiel starts taking off his trench coat. "I'm sure."
Sam stares at him in disbelief. "Alright. I'll be downstairs if you need anything." he glances at them once last time and leaves.
Castiel puts his trench coat on a chair beside the bed, then takes off his suit jacket and undoes the knot on his tie. He knows he shouldn't be doing this, has no time or right to be here, knows that the Host would demand explanations for his long absence.
But when Dean looks at him like that all those reasons dissolve into thin air.
"C'mere." Dean mumbles and moves aside to make space for him.
Castiel sits carefully on the bed and a strong arm wraps around his waist, Dean pulls the angel down with him, covering them both with the blanket.
The sensation of being pressed against another warm body is both new and pleasant to Castiel. He doesn't resist when Dean puts a hand on his back and starts drawing small circles with his thumb.
"I missed you, Cas." Dean mumbles once again, looking at him in the dark. "I don't want you to leave."
Castiel feels a strange flutter in his chest. He wishes he could say that he won't leave Dean, but he cannot make promises like that.
He feels Dean's hand moving up along his spine to rest on the back of his head and warm fingers start stroking through his hair. The feeling is so good it sends shivers through Castiel's body and the angel can't help but lean into the touch. He feels guilty for enjoying this because Dean isn't in control of his actions and it is simply unfair. But his touch is so tender and yet so firm and it's something Castiel has never experienced before so he stifles the guilt and finally relaxes in Dean's arms.
"That's better." Dean whispers and closes his eyes. In a few minutes he is fast asleep.
Castiel studies his relaxed features and brings his hand up to touch his face. He traces the soft lines and sharp edges, mesmerized by their exquisite combination. Then he leans in and whispers:
"I missed you, too."
Dean wakes up because his head is killing him. It's throbbing with pain and every move is a pure torture. He opens his eyes: the room looks faintly familiar. It's not Lisa's bedroom, but he has definitely seen these curtains before.
It takes another minute to remember that it's Bobby's guest room, although he has no idea how he got here. Then he remembers the warehouse and a flash of light. He called Sam, that's probably why he's here.
It takes half an hour to get out of the bed and crawl down to the kitchen. His eyes are still half closed because sunlight increases the headache.
"Morning, sunshine." Sam greets.
"Shut up, jerk." He sits down to the table and covers his face with his hands. "My head hurts like a bitch."
Sam raises his eyebrows. "Oh, so Cas was right and the spell did wear off."
"What spell?" Dean spreads his fingers and looks through them at his brother. "Wait. Cas was here?"
Sam smirks. "You don't remember what happened?"
"Last thing I remember is calling you. And then I wake up with the worst hangover ever."
"You were hit by some kind of spell. But we're working on it with Cas." Sam gets up. He doesn't tell more about what happened, he'll do that later when Dean is in a better shape.
"Dude, you want coffee? You look like you need one."
Dean nods. "Thanks."
"Oh, and Lisa called. She's worried about you, you should call her back." He opens the fridge. "Do you want something to eat? I could fix you something."
Dean wants to say 'no' but then hesitates and asks:
"Do we have apple pie?"
