Title: One Soul Condemned To Heaven And Hell{4-60}
Author: Emono
Rating: FRM
Fandom: Supernatural/RPS
Pairings: Sam/Jared, Dean/Jensen
Disclaimer: I do not own the souls of J2, or Sam…or Dean…or anyone…not even my own *le sigh* It's all Kripke and McG, the lucky bastards
Summary: Sam meets an interesting young man, and soon finds out that he and one Jensen Ackles are more than mere actors.
Beta: gil_follower
Warnings: Post-Hell!Dean, very AU, SLASH!!, post-Season 3, Demon!Sam, whumping, angst, OOC-ness, SPOILERS!!!!
One Week Later
The morning crept upon Vancouver like molasses, slow to drift over the trees and lingering onto each leaf with remorse. The blazing crimson line of sunlight hadn't quite reached one house, lived in by two men. Deep within it was Jensen Ross, who slept peacefully upon the coverlet. He was half-tangled in stark sheets, chest bare and soft plaid sleeping pants clinging to his hips. He didn't snore, but his breaths were almost loud in the near-silent room.
There was one other figure in the room. Tall, dark haired, pale. He was clad in a tan trench coat, his appearance very formal. The usual solemn mask he wore was broken, adoration shining through. The angel looked upon the sleeping form, knowing things were about to change.
But Father had expressly stated that the Winchester brothers and their Balances were to be kept apart no longer. For Samuel and Jared had already encountered each other by pure will, and had easily fallen in love. Jared was introduced into the occult world by force, learned all about the Winchester past, found out about his soul link with a stranger, and was generally thrown for a loop.
Thankfully, he himself had been teaching Jensen of the occult since he was very small. He had been preparing the man for this day for so long, the day he would be reunited with the rest of his soul. He had woven stories of the Winchesters out for the boy like webs, clear and shiny. It was in Jensen's teenage years that he had truly come to understand his importance, and had been restlessly eager ever since.
He knew Jensen would be ready to tackle the next part of his life, strong and able.
The angel sat down beside the man in the bed, voice hushed, "Wake up, little one."
Jensen stirred obediently, eyelashes fluttering open to reveal brilliant emerald orbs. It took a long moment before the man realized what was happening. He turned in the bed, staring up at the dark haired man curiously. Once he properly ripped through the layers of consciousness, those eyes focused and a smile curled his lips.
"Castiel?"
"Jensen" Castiel gave the man a smile "Wake up now."
"What are you doing here?" Jensen yawned, sitting up in the bed and leaning against the headboard "You haven't changed hosts."
Castiel looked down at himself, "I had to go Home for some time, and this man offered himself. That, and I have become truly attached to this vessel."
"He is a handsome face" the actor teased "I haven't seen you in months."
"Things have been hectic" Castiel replied vaguely, then straightened his posture "It's time."
Jensen looked confused only a moment before realizing what the man was talking about, "Oh! Already?"
"It's been almost 30 years, enough time has passed" Castiel almost sounded as if he were teasing "Soon, you won't just play Dean Winchester. Soon, you'll meet him face to face."
"Jay's already met Sam, loves the guy" the actor scratched his head, an adorable drowsy look on his face "I was wondering when it was my turn."
An anxious expression came up on the angel's face, "I'm afraid Dean won't be pleased when he finds out I'm involved in all this. He's a having a hard enough time with this, he doesn't need the added pressure of my presence."
"He'll be fine" Jensen assured him. He scooted closer, taking the angel's hand in his and laying his head on his shoulder. "Don't worry about it, Castiel. Dean's been though Hell, there aren't a lot of things that do please him."
"I shouldn't have waited so long to pull him from Hell, I should have fought harder" Castiel sighed, letting the warmth of the human soak into him "But hopefully you'll heal him, young one. You'll be his salve and bandage for me, won't you?"
"I'll try" Jensen pulled back, but seemed unsure "I've been sore for months, ever since you returned him and told me he was back. It's like…like my soul aches. It wants to comfort Dean…I want to be with him."
"And so you shall" Castiel dropped a kiss on light hair "Soon, my little one."
A small, content smile curled Jensen's lips.
Soon.
()()()
Dean really should have been paying more attention to his surroundings, honestly he should have. But he was trying to tune everything out, seeing as his brother was up there doing his look-alike. Dean was leaning against the Impala, debating whether going out and getting drunk was worth it or just saying fuck it and rent a motel room to get some sleep.
Dean didn't really want to tell his brother this, but John had stopped in a few days ago. Thankfully, Sam had been out at the library. John had needed some money, and he wouldn't take no for an answer. The bastard got away with half of the money Sam had got for the Supernatural idea (which John did not know about -- thank you Baby Jesus), so Dean had to find a way to stretch the remainder of the money so it took on the illusion he still had it.
That's all he needed, to make the rift between John and Sam greater.
He could probably hit Jared up for the money, God knows the guy was good for it. But apparently Jared had a roommate, his co-star on Supernatural, and four would just be crowding it. Especially with those damn dogs that they had, Harley and Sadie. They had jumped him as soon as he got to the doorway, stopping him from going in. He had been about to shove them out of the way…
But then Jared and Sam shared that heartbreakingly tender look, and he just couldn't be there.
"Oh, a '67 Chevrolet Impala" a smooth voice rattled off "Sweet. Our copy doesn't compare, man. None of them do, actually."
Dean perked up instantly, fingers tightening around the knife handle in his belt. He turned, crouching in a defensive position. The street lights revealed a lone figure in the dark of the Vancouver night, but not a menacing one. The man looked no older than him, delicate glasses on his face and a dumb grin on his lips. He was just a bit shorter than him, hair a lighter color, and his form was a bite more sparse.
"Dean Winchester?" the man held out a hand, pale in the light "Jensen Ross Ackles, man."
"Padalecki's co-star? The one that plays me?" Dean raised a brow, taking the hand and giving it a firm squeeze "Yeah, you don't look a thing like me."
"Don't be so sure, Dean" Jensen pulled off his glasses and ruffled his hair a little, mirroring the man's pose. Dean's eyes nearly bugged, at once noting the differences and similarities between them. He had bulk on Jensen for sure, and he was more rugged. But the actor held a tantalizing prettiness to him, skin smoother and a shade lighter. His jaw wasn't so hard, and his eyes were a less intense shade of green and more warm.
"Don't doubt me" Jensen narrowed his eyes, hesitantly leaning against the car "I'm bulking up for the show, by season two I'll be there."
"Wow" Dean tried not to gape "We look…alike, but not the same."
"Like Sam and Jay" Jensen gestured vaguely "Jared's like a big puppy, and Sam's like a puppy that bites."
Dean couldn't stop his grin at this, but sobered, "You're taking this pretty well, Jensen. The whole, 'A Higher Being decided it's be fun to see if they could blend four souls and have them meet' thing, or whatever. I know I freaked, and ended up dousing Jared in holy water before I believed them."
Jensen sputtered comically, "Holy water? Oh man!"
"Sam didn't appreciate that" the hunter huffed "Damn near threw me into the wall."
"Don't touch Sam's Jared" Jensen warned "I just let them go at it, be themselves. They look happy. Jared's never as content as when he's in Sam's arms…or playing him on set."
"I saw some of the show…" Dean looked down at the ground, toeing at a pebble on the ground "You're uh, you're a pretty good Dean."
"Thanks" Jensen's smile was so warm, so unlike the expressions that decorated his own face from time to time "You are too."
"I'd hope so" Dean chuckled, a question stewing in his gut "Are you going to write in everything about our lives? I know Sam signed over creative license to Kripke, but they exchange e-mails all the time. I told him to hold it back, but I'm not sure he listens."
Jensen bit at the side of his lip, "Kripke uses a lot of what Sam sends him, but he tweaks it. Some things will get left out…some things are added…"
"And Sam's demon blood?" hardened jade eyes pierced the actor "What are they gonna do about that?"
"They're adding it" Jensen couldn't lie to this man, his heart wouldn't let him "Jared wanted it in there, and Kripke couldn't deny that he was drooling for it. But it won't be until a lot later!"
"Oh" Dean clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth, but didn't look surprised "Well…I guess Sam wants it to be accurate. It's a way for him to vent, to deal with all this."
"I can't imagine what you guys have been through, what you've been through" Jensen looked around, lips pursed for a moment. He moved to stand in front of Dean, smiling brilliantly. "Are you hungry? I'm hungry. Starving, actually. Let's get something to eat."
Dean's brow furrowed, "It's almost midnight."
"We'll find something" Jensen reached out, lightly tugging at the sleeve of the man's worn leather jacket "Please, Dean? I'm locked out of my own house, and I'm off tomorrow. Let's stay up late and gorge ourselves on stuff that will keep us from seeing our eighties. 'Kay?"
Dean just couldn't say no to this guy, "Yeah, ok. Hop in."
Jensen nearly moaned at the thought, "I get to ride in the genuine Impala."
Dean knew right then that they were going to get along fine.
()()()
Jared watched Jensen go over his lines, pacing back and forth in their living room. His lips worked silently as he read, feet wearing a line forward and back in front of the couch. Sadie was following the brunette obediently, though getting a bit dizzy herself.
Harley sat by Jared feet, looking up at him with those beautiful eyes as if to express how crazy the shorter actor seemed to be.
"Jen? Buddy?" Jared called, leaning back on the kitchen chair. His fingers curled around his beer, his own script laid out before him. "You ok?""He's not like I thought he would be" Jensen replied, feet stilling.
Jared had to think hard, "What?"
"Dean" Jensen's voice was low, emerald eyes nearly hidden behind his glasses. He pushed them up casually, the light catching on the polished glass.
"Dean isn't like you'd thought he'd be?" Jared pushed "What did you think he was like? All I told you was that he was Sam's older brother, broody, and bipolar."
"He's more than that!" Jensen snapped, glaring at his room mate "Castiel said he'd be kind of-"
The widening of Jared's eyes stopped the actor, who simply put his eyes back on the script. His jaw clenched, what he had done was a big mistake. Castiel had said that he hadn't been the most positive of figures in the Winchesters eyes, and Jared was Sam's lover for goodness sake.
"Castiel?" Jared stood, eyes narrowing "As in the 'Castiel' that pulled Dean from the depths of Hell with his bare hands? The immortal angel 'Castiel' that likes to mind-fuck Dean?"
"He doesn't do it on purpose, there are rules" Jensen defended his guardian before he realized what he was doing, he bit off anything else he might say "Jared, please…"
"That's who you were talking to" the younger man tisked "I should have known. I heard someone in your room, I just thought one of your friends came in and I didn't hear them. But he just flew in here, didn't he? In your bedroom, while you were asleep."
Jensen threw down his script, he saw where this was going, "It's not like that, Jay."
Jared arched a brow, "Oh really? Because from the tone of your voices, you sounded like-"
"Stop it!" Jensen all but screamed, calming down instantly when he saw the fear register on his friend's face "That's just…sick. Castiel is like a father to me, if anything."
Jensen was horrified at what had been going through his friend's mind, he could still see it in his eyes, "I've known him since I was small."
"Tell me" Jared approached slowly, pushing Harley out of the way and sitting on the couch "I'm your best friend, Jen. You can talk to me."
Jensen flopped down bonelessly beside him, all but pouting, "You won't understand. Dean and Sam sure won't understand, they'll hate me because they hate him."
"Make me understand, I would more than anyone" Jared spoke softly, lowly "If I understand, maybe I can convince the brothers as well. Dean will listen to his brother, and Sammy's mine. I'll convince him…but first you have to convince me, Jensen Ross."
Jensen swallowed thickly, realizing he wasn't getting out of this.
"When I was eight, I met a demon."
()()()
Back-Flash
23 Years Ago
(AN: I write this based on the logic that I believe that any angels that stay on Earth go through vessels every few decades or so.)
The Texas sun was obscured by grey clouds, casting the decent size Ackles farm in dull grey gloom. The wind whipped fiercely, declaring a storm would soon come. Young Jensen Ross spun a yo-yo in the backyard, watching the silver plastic go up and down. Touching his palm, brushing the grass, then his palm again. He was clearly entertaining himself, which annoyed his 11 year old brother Josh.
The boy stormed over, ripping the toy from his brother.
"Josh!" Jensen squealed, a frown marring his young face.
Josh's grin was positively wicked, "Mine now, kid."
Jensen pouted, "Why do you have to be a brat?"
They had been fighting like cats and dogs ever since Mackenzie was born, not even a year ago. All their mother's attention had been focused on the baby, which Josh never got over. Their dad was gone on a film or something, off being an actor. They only had themselves for company, and Josh had been sour company.
Josh sneered down at the silver toy, nose crinkled. He put his arm back and chucked the toy, watching it fly through the air. Jensen made a cry of protest, pathetically grabbing for it, but it was too late. It flew straight towards the bushes, stringing flailing behind it. It disappeared into the tree line, the shadows swallowing.
Jensen swallowed in remorse, there was no way he'd ever find it now.
"Go get it, chicken" Josh challenged, triumphant in his bullying "You won't, will ya? Lil' chicken shit."
"God, you're so mean!" Jensen yelled, starting to walk towards the trees "I never do anything to you!"
When his brother just laughed, Jensen sprinted the rest of the way.
He stopped at the tree line, wondering whether to just break through the bushes or ease his way in. Josh's laughter echoed behind him, steeling his nerves. Jensen ducked through the bushes, instantly surrounded in a thicker gloom. The light was a deep blue here, sunlight changing as it filtered through the thick canopy of trees.
Jensen swallowed thickly, taking in the surroundings. The debris on the ground was made of leaves and twigs, dirt patches with roots swimming through them. There was no more than four feet between each tree, creating a maze and an infinity shot.
Jensen fought off his fear and started scanning the forest floor, trying to find his toy. He kicked aside twigs and leaves, a pout still on his lips. Josh couldn't throw this far could he? He was such a mean big brother lately, he would have never done that when Mom paid attention to them both. Jensen wandered aimlessly farther into their parents land, swirling around trees with his eyes on the ground.
"It can't be this far…" the young boy mused, looking over his shoulder. The break from field to forest was impossible to tell in the thick of the trees, the shadows dancing over the brush and hiding the rest of the world. His little heart sped up like a jack rabbit, pretty green eyes going wide. There was something more in the shadows, something darker. The kind of black you find in a dark hallway, draped over a closed door.
The wind broke through the trees, whipping at his cheeks and the leaves high above his head. Jensen's fear overtook him, and he broke into a dead run forward. His little legs took him fast, dodging by trees and jumping over a fallen branch. His chest heaved, breaths ripped from him in shaky pants as he ran. He had no idea what he was running from, only that he was nearly blind with fear.
A root caught his sneaker, sending him sprawling into the ground. He gave a cut-off scream, palms out to brace himself and getting roughened up. He was nearly dizzy with the sudden fall, so he took a moment before getting to his knees. He kept his hands flat on the ground, lifting his head up enough to see a pair of bare feet before him.
Jensen's breath was still hitching, gaze trailing upwards. Bare feet, black dress pants, pale chest with bold crimson tattoos decorating every inch of flesh. The man had greasy, dirty blonde hair and…and blood eyes…deep purple rings beneath them. He wore a fanged smirk, green horns of sorts protruding from his forehead like cones.
In his clawed hand he held the boy's yo-yo, shining a dull silver in the light.
"Hello, little boy" his accent was thick, Jensen had never heard it before "Is this what you've been looking for?"
Jensen nodded, too scared to move much.
"I did find it, so that makes it mine" Jensen realized the man sounded very Russian, and that scared him since it was so out of place in Texas "What are you going to do to convince me to give it back?"
"I-I…" Jensen's voice wouldn't work for him, and that scared him more than anything else.
"How 'bout I just take something from you instead? A trade" a clawed hand reached out for him, settling on top of his hair "Mmm, such a sweet boy."
Jensen whimpered, throat closing up and chest tightening. There was something wrong, his arms were shaking beneath what little weight he was putting on them. All the strength was sapped from his bones, leaving him staring blearily up at the horrible-looking man. Ruby eyes bore into him, as if knives.
Just when the man was leaning down to him, lips parting to reveal his fangs, something happened. The man was thrown away from him, landing in a heap on the ground. A lone figure stood over him, brandishing what looked like a sword. It glowed in the dim light, the being filled with righteous fury as he struck the creature in the chest. The horned thing squealed and writhed, but soon dissolved into a bit of ash on the ground. This killer stepped away, sword leaving his hand in pure light.
"Are you alright, littlest one?" the man was speaking to him, turning to gaze at him. Warm, dark eyes gazed down at him…short blonde hair, dressed formally. He didn't look menacing at all, simply…friendly.
"What happened?" Jensen was becoming indignant, he pushed himself to his feet and glared at the man "What was that! Who are you?!"
"I am Castiel, and this is yours" the man came over, holding out his hand. Jensen's puny anger disappeared when he saw his yo-yo, giggling as he took it back.
"Thank you" Jensen stated politely, his little mind working fast "That was a monster."
"That was a demon" Castiel corrected him gently, kneeling down to his level "And he is such an evil thing. There are many evil things out there, Jensen Ross. But you must also remember there are just as many good things, things ready to protect you."
Jensen saw the slight glow to this man's eyes and knew, "You're an angel."
"Yes, I am" Castiel took the boy's hand in his, warming the chilled digits "Let's get you home, shall we? There are so many things that can harm you, my boy. But I'm here now."
Jensen only nodded, but questions were forming in his young mind, "Why me?"
Castiel's smile was genuine, "For you are more important than you can understand. One day, my Jensen… One day you will understand, and I will be able to answer every question you ask."
Jensen's eyes sparkled, "Are you, like, my guardian angel now?"
Castiel chuckled, "I will always watch over you, Jensen Ross."
Jensen nodded, holding the man's hand as he stood. Castiel walked the young boy through the trees, keeping him close.
The boy looked up at the angel, "Just because Josh made me come in here, doesn't mean he has to go to Hell."
Castiel's smile was more indulgent, "He won't, don't you worry."
"Is Hell horrible?"
The angel made a show of frowning, "Just terrible. But you will never know it, my little one."
Something determined hardened in those emerald eyes, but he only nodded again.
()()()
Present
Jared couldn't believe his ears, but from the look on Jensen's face he wasn't lying.
"At first I thought he was just my imaginary friend, I had actual friends with those" Jensen continued "But as I got older, I began to realize Castiel was as real as I live and breathe. He would walk with me to the bus stop, I could tell he watched me on the playground. When I was so small, he would play with me when no one else would. It seems so silly now, he must have been so amused."
Jensen's cheeks were warm, but he was starting to smile, "As I began to get into my teenage years, he helped guide me through peer pressures. He kept me away from poisoning myself with too much alcohol or drugs, and he sometimes helped me with my homework. My dad was never around, Castiel was the best I had. Hell, he even held me after my real dad hit me for the first time."
Jared opened his mouth to exclaim his outrage, but the older man held up a hand.
"It was only once, and I was a complete asshole and deserved it" Jensen explained, then gestured widely "And when I wanted to get into acting, Castiel was there to encourage me. I guess he knew what I was destined for, but back then I thought he was just humoring me again. He's been dropping into my life since I was eight, and he's saved me several times. Probably more, but he never said a word about it."
"Isn't it…strange?" Jared's voice was tentative "The angel that pulled Dean out of Hell is the same angel that's been watching over you since you were a kid?"
"It's all connected, right? Like all of us?" Jensen shrugged off-handedly "Dean and I have a piece of each other souls, that's why Castiel watched over me. He was protecting me until the time was right. You know he used to, uhm…he would tell me stories of The Winchester Brothers, Sam and Dean. He would have a new story for me every week, telling me of some great adventure they had or a huge monster they killed."
"So Sam's been like a bedtime story for you?" Jared pouted "I got propositioned by a demon, where was my guardian angel?"
"You were not deemed in need of one."
Jared jumped three feet in the air, Castiel seemed to fade into view behind his best friend. Jensen was ecstatic, the angel's hand curled over his shoulder.
"Hey" Jensen squeezed him back, a strong familiarity between them.
"What do you mean I wasn't deemed in need?" Jared sounded a little hurt.
"You were such a strong-willed child, there was no need to do more than send an angel to keep tabs on your health" Castiel almost seemed relieved by this, like it was a good thing "You were so bright…demons didn't dare touch you.""Except one" Jared narrowed his eyes "The Crossroads demon."
"Mmm" Castiel let go of Jensen, looking disarmed "That was a misfortune. But you proved yourself capable, there was little need for us to intervene. Now this one…"
Castiel's voice was playful, bumping his shoulder with his charge, "This little brat drew demons like moths to a flame. I couldn't beat them off fast enough…my bright one."
Jensen kind of pouted, "It's not like I asked for it."
"This is weird" Jared declared, throwing his hands up "If you don't tell Dean, I'm going to."
"He'll find out" Castiel assured the young actor "In the right way, in it's own time."
Jared scoffed, "I don't know what Sam sees in you guys, you're just annoying."
Castiel's lips quirked, but he didn't say a word.
TBC
Cause it's you, me
