Chapter 6

When he woke the first thing that came to his mind was his own comfort – he supposed that was from all the time he had spent being mortal. Even the most selfless humans tend to think of themselves and their own well being first, even if when they eventually act it isn't in their own best interest. Which, as he slowly regained consciousness, he could tell he had done.

"Cas?! Cas!" Dean's hands were on his face, lightly slapping his cheeks. He grimaced as the wave of headache hit him suddenly; his body ached but especially his right shoulder and side.

"I'm ok Dean." He murmured, wincing at the sound of his own voice. There was a ringing in his ears that could be confused with a badly miked amplifier. His eyes opened and he saw Dean's concerned green eyes first, still searching him over as if he had missed an injury. He was kneeling at his side – Sam stood behind him, rummaging through his bag frantically.

"I think I have some pain killers in here somewhere…."

"Really – I'm fine…" Castiel took a deep breath and forced his body to sit up. It was incredibly painful but he was able to do it – he had to admit his stolen grace had some serious perks. He felt a tickle at his nose and touched it – blood pooled on his finger tip.

"You don't look fine." Dean was frowning at him, but helped him to his feet nonetheless when Cas struggled to stand. He stood close, like he expected him to fall over at any moment – Cas wasn't sure that he wouldn't.

"What happened?" Castiel asked, grabbing a handkerchief from Sam's hand as he offered it.

"Booby trap number two." Dean pointed over Castiel's shoulder and there, dangling from the ceiling wrapped in rope was a person sized rock. It still swung lightly, like an afterthought, in contrast to the stillness of the rest of the room. From the position Dean was in when it was released, it could have very well killed him.

"That hit me?"

"Well, yea. Because you were stupid enough to DIVE INTO IT."

"I was trying to save you Dean." Really? This guy can turn anything into an argument.

"What he means to say is 'thank you'" Sam chimed in, and held out a bottle of painkillers. Truthfully Cas was already starting to feel better – he was far more resilient than they gave him credit for. Still, it was nice to be cared for by the Winchesters; in their own strange way they were excellent, albeit often argumentative, caretakers. He waved off the offer.

"I'm really fine, thanks Sam." He brushed himself off. "We should keep moving."

"If you're feeling ok - but you took a serious hit, man. If you want to stop we'd understand."

"No, I'm alright." Dean looked skeptical but Sam nodded as he slung his bag over his shoulder and took lead, walking briskly through the two cat statues.

They trudged further into the temple, again losing the light from the room behind them. The walls were lined with cobwebs and they heard a new dripping noise from somewhere unseen. The more they walked the more humid the air got – it was almost getting hard to breath. None of the men talked as they pressed on but Cas could hear the other two struggling to get air into their lungs. Dean was wheezing for sure.

Now it was getting harder to see as well – the air was thick with steam. Their flashlights, reflecting off the opaque air, were nearly ineffective as they trudged forward, moving closer to each other to become a singular walking unit.

"Well this *wheeze* is *wheeze* buckets of *wheeze* fun." Dean's words were hardly out before he started coughing furiously. They couldn't keep going like this….

Just when Castiel was about to turn them around, the corridor opened up again to another room. Though still steamy it was a bit easier to breathe and see. The room was enormous and still fairly dark – their flashlights panned around the interior. It was almost entirely compromised of single pool of water which had a cloud of steam over the top of it. In the center was a cylindrical stone pedestal and on top of that pedestal – a simple silver crown.

"That must be it!" Dean set down his bag and started taking off his shoes. Sam followed suit cautiously, still looking around the room.

"I don't know Dean, that just seems too easy. And how the hell is this water heated?"

"Easier than two booby traps that nearly killed you and Cas?" Dean scoffed. "Look, I don't see anything but hot water between us and the angel crown. And I know I could use a bath. Besides, we're probably on a natural hot spring or something." The other two men frowned at Dean's devil may care attitude, but they didn't stop him – what choice did they have?

Cautiously, Dean stuck a toe into the water – he hissed, snapping his foot back. "Shit that's hot!"

"What was your first clue Dean? The steam?" Sam stuck his foot out and placed it in the water slowly. "It's really not much hotter than a good Jacuzzi. I think if we wade in slowly we could get used to it."

"Why don't I just transport myself to the middle of the lake and grab it?" Cas asked, with his hands on his hips. He didn't mean to look like a petulant child, but he was sick of the other two treating him like he was their lame third wheel, when he was more powerful than the both of them times ten.

"No!" They both answered emphatically, as they took off their pants. Sam set down the flashlights so they pointed upward and lit most of the room.

"We don't know what will happen if you touch the crown." Dean grumbled, pulling off his shirt. "You could lose complete control and reign fiery terror down on all of the world." Cas gave him an exasperated look – what the hell did that even mean?! He just shrugged in his black boxers. "I don't know! It could happen!"

The two brothers began to wade into the water cautiously, complaining and hissing as they went deeper. At some point, when they were about halfway across the pond their caterwauling turned to contentment.

"We really need one of these at the bunker!" Sam stretched and popped his neck – the water was about to the middle of his chest. "I can actually feel the knots loosening in my back."

"You know, for once I agree with you. You should get in the water Cas, it's really nice." Dean turned back and motioned for the angel to join them, who was standing at the shore, arms crossed and frowning.

"No thanks. I still think something is not quite right." Castiel continued to search the room, looking for any signs of a trap. No rope, no out of place stones or sigils – just a murky, steamy room. In a natural hot spring. In Saudi Arabia. Yeah, none of this was making sense…

As the hunters reached the stone pedestal they paused, decided quickly that Dean should be the one to grab it as he was shorter, and then he began to try to climb his brother. It was quite a sight – Sam struggling to help Dean onto his shoulders as Dean tried very hard not to be as manly as possible and not touch his brother too much.

Castiel might have actually relaxed for a moment if he hadn't seen movement out of the corner of his eye.

"Guys – hey guys…" But their bickering was loud – it fell on deaf ears.

"Angel – how dare you set foot in this temple!" A female voice boomed from all places at once around Castiel – it hurt to hear it. He threw his hands up to shield his ears. But the Winchesters didn't respond, and continued arguing as Dean tried to swing his leg onto Sam's shoulder - did they not hear the voice?

"Do you not know the power of the crown? I can inflict pain within you – they'll never even know." And suddenly she was there, looming over him, straight out of the water – a woman, ghostly, pale, with long dark hair and no eyes – just holes. She looked human except for her mouth – the jaw gaped with too many teeth, sharp and discolored. Castiel was frozen on the spot and couldn't move – not from fear, but because none of his muscles responded to his commands. The crown was obviously in her control right now – and she intended to use it.

"Now – stop them!" She bellowed, and soared to the left as Castiel, against his will, ran full speed into the water. It scalded him to the touch and even with his clothes dragging he was fast, climbing towards the brothers. The splashing sounds turned them finally to face Cas with surprised expressions – Dean sitting on top of Sam's shoulders like they were playing a game of Chicken.

"Cas, what the hell?" Dean threw his arms up, throwing his balance off and falling backward off of Sam's shoulders, flailing and crashing into the water. Sam started to laugh casually, not at all worried at the angel charging towards them. The older brother popped his head out of the water with a gasp, smiling at his clumsiness.

Guys – I can't control myself! Look at me! Help!

Castiel made short work of the distance and went directly at Dean, grabbing his head and shoving it under the water. Dean went down easily, then struggled to make his way back to the surface, arms circling underneath the water. Sam was still laughing as Cas stood like stone, unmoving and expressionless.

Sam! Look at my face damnit! I can't stop this!

"Cas, that's enough." Sam chuckled and rested a hand on his shoulder. "Very funny."

"That's right….hold him under…just a bit longer…." The woman was back again, whispering into his ear. His muscles tightened and he struggled harder to resist as he felt Dean begin to scratch at his skin. Bubbles popped up with accompanying sounds of him yelling into the water. Sam's expression turned suddenly to panic.

"Cas – Cas stop now!" He grabbed at Castiel's arms to move them but they wouldn't budge. "What the hell?! Why are you doing this?" Sam shook the angel's shoulders roughly. "Cas, are you in control right now?"

Please don't make me do this! I'm killing him!

"But they were trying to steal my property!" She circled around the three of them, Sam oblivious to the ghoul and looking only at Cas. He put his hands around the angels face, searching for some sign that he was there. All Cas could do was plead with his eyes and hope that Sam could figure out he wasn't in control. Something in the hunter clicked – probably his sense that Dean had been under about a minute now – and he drew back and punched Cas straight across his face.

The hit momentarily stunned him, enough so that his grip on Dean was slightly released, and he kicked Castiel's legs out from underneath him, sending him splashing face first into the water. Dean sprang to the surface and gulped air.

"What the fuck Cas!?" he bellowed as Castiel resurfaced and swung back at Sam, who blocked his punch.

"It's not him!" Sam yelled, "I think it's the crown!" He threw another punch but Cas was ready, and he blocked and countered, landing a punch in Sam's side. Dean jumped on his back, wrapping his arms around him tight and locking his hands together at his chest. He pressed his body up against him, his mouth at his ear.

"Damnit, stop!" Castiel struggled against him, grunting and trying to throw him off. Internally he couldn't believe what he was doing – he couldn't control any of his strength. He was a slave to that woman that neither of the brothers seemed to be able to see. "Cas, fight it!"

"I think we need to get the crown – he seems to be trying to keep us from doing it." Sam started to climb the pedestal himself, Dean keeping a hold of the angel.

"NO!" The woman screamed. "Get him! Get him now!"

Castiel used all of his strength and threw Dean off of him with a splash, charging towards Sam who was only about halfway up. He grabbed at Sam's leg and yanked; he crashed to the water with a cry. Luckily Dean was quick, grabbing Castiel across his shoulder and landing a punch square across his jaw.

Good Dean! Beat me down until I can't move!

They tore into each other full force, kicking, punching, dunking. They've had their violent moments, but this was really something – each landed punch hurt worse than ever before because of what they had most recently shared. The look of horrification in Dean's eyes was palpable – he looked like he was going to throw up. Cas could only imagine what his face looked like – cool, calm, unaffected. Not at all the way he actually felt.

"Cas – please wake up!" Dean pleaded, blocking another punch. "I don't want to do this!"

From behind them Sam had emerged from the water and had begun to climb again. This time Castiel was sufficiently subdued by Dean's repeated hits, one after another, to go after Sam.

"NO!" She was at his ear again, screeching. "Kill them both!"

But he could do nothing – Dean had gotten the upper hand and landed jab after jab. It was as if as his body was weakened by the hunter so was her hold on it.

"Keep…..hitting…." Cas sputtered out, as Dean upper cut his jaw. "Get…crown…."

"Sam!" Dean yelled, still hitting Castiel but differently now, not trying to defend himself so much as subdue Cas. "Get the damn crown!"

Sam finally hit the last few inches of the pedestal and reached, gripping the crown in his hand. "Cas, stop!" he yelled and instantly, the angel's body stopped moving. So did Deans, who paused mid punch, breathing hard. He had a cut above his eye, and blood pooled under his nose. His eyes searched Castiel's as he approached slowly, reaching out to him.

"You ok? Is that you?"

Castiel found that he could nod at least – the rest of his muscles screamed at him in pain but at least were his to manipulate. The sound of the woman was gone, but he had a sense that she had only gone into hiding now that her trinket had been taken.

"Yeah, I – I couldn't fight it Dean – I'm so sorry…"

"Oh thank God." Dean moved forward and pulled Castiel into his arms tightly. His body was weaker than he expected, and he slumped in his embrace – maybe the control took more out of him than he thought? He buried his nose in the crook of Dean's neck, still breathing hard. His arms hurt so bad he couldn't raise them to return the gesture.

Sam splashed into the water behind them. "Let's get the hell out of here guys – Cas can you move?"

"I think so."

But truthfully he just wanted to sink into the warm depths of the water around him. I can't believe I let her get to me like that…

Wordlessly and gingerly, Dean picked up Castiel's arm and put it around his shoulders, picking him up around his waist and hobbling towards the other side of the temple. He could see the blood dripping off of his face and into the water as his head bobbed from lack of strength. Sam was right behind them, helping Dean pull Cas out of the water and setting him on the shore. His body was heavy with wet clothing, and Dean helped him out of his wet overcoat. He wringed it out and stuffed it in his bag.

"I think we're going to have to carry you Cas – we'll get out of here faster." Sam gave him a good look over while Dean stood back, arms crossed. He was pretty sure he looked like hell, but the physical damage was nothing compared to the damage he felt – it was as if being under the control of the woman using the crown actually hurt his angelic form.

"No! No, I can – I think I can make it. I heal faster than you. It's just, that woman, she overpowered me but she didn't hurt my vessel – she injured my true form." Castiel fumbled through his words, trying to stand – he was unsuccessful, and fell forward into Dean's waiting arms. He hated that this was seeming more and more like one of those romantic comedies Dean hates where he is the woman in distress and Dean the hero who saves the day. Castiel never enjoyed feeling weak – it stirred an anger deep within him. He wanted to burst from his vessel and show just how strong he really was – but everything about him ached.

"Let's just – take this slow." Dean mirrored what he had said to Castiel the night before, under much different circumstances. He raised an eyebrow to the angel which seemed to indicate – I know. I know you hate this. Let me help you. He turned his body to support most of the angel's weight again, and started to move, jerking his head towards his brother. "Cas, we didn't see any woman...tell me about her. Was she hot?"

Leave it to Dean to make a joke about that right now – but damn if that wasn't exactly what he needed to feel normal again, even for a second.

"I wouldn't fuck her, if that's what you're asking." Castiel grumbled, with a small smirk as they made their way through the foggy corridor. Behind them, Sam snickered. "She was horrifying – some kind of ghoul. I think her spirit haunts this temple and she took possession of the crown when someone else placed it here. She knew I am an angel."

"Where did she go?" Sam asked as they made their way into the second room.

"I don't know – once you grabbed the crown and told me to stop, she disappeared." Cas grunted a little as Dean helped him up the steps, one at a time. He really was exceptionally strong for a human. "I guess I'm under your control now?"

"I'll try not to let it get to my head." Sam deadpanned.

The rest of the journey passed without incident, even back to the hotel from the temple. Castiel continued to gain a little strength with each passing moment, but his anger from being weakened was only slightly subdued – he felt so powerless in that temple, a feeling as rare as it was completely maddening. They set Castiel up in his room, leaving only to get food for the three of them, fetch Sam's computer to make travel arrangements and see if they could find out more about how the angel crown worked.

"Get this - it looks like it was once forged for Michael to lead legions of angels into battle. But before it was handed over, it was lost – some seraph stole it and tossed it into the depths of the ocean. The exact whereabouts have been unknown ever since." Sam explained in between bites. "So you really couldn't move Cas? Could you speak to her?"

"I did, or at least I tried to." Cas answered from the bed, sipping a hot coffee. He grunted as he shifted his position to sit up more – Dean was instantly at his side, moving his pillow to be more comfortably underneath his back. "She wouldn't listen to me – it was as if I was a pawn to her, not anything more than a powerful weapon."

"Well now we have it – and it can't be used against you again." Dean put the bottle of beer to his lips – he was polishing off his third. His wounds were swelling, but hopefully the alcohol would keep them from looking too swollen when they flew tomorrow – didn't want to raise suspicion. Castiel had tried to use his angel mojo to heal Dean but he had refused – Cas was to use his own angel mojo "to fix his own self". Truthfully, he was healing as fast as he could – he could move freely now, though still with some pain.

"Again, I cannot apologize enough for the pain I have caused the both of you…"

"Seriously dude? Shut up." Sam chuckled from where he sat at the table, closing his laptop. "It's water under the bridge. I'm going to catch a few hours before we fly out tomorrow – I suggest you both do the same."

"Yeah – I'm right behind you." Dean's voice was oddly calm as he sat on the bed next to Castiel. They wordlessly watched Sam leave and close the door lightly. The room was silent again, save for the sounds of their breath. It was a comfortable silence – at least for Dean. Cas still felt powerless, regretful – and a little irritated.

"I should let you sleep." Dean moved his hand to Castiel's leg, patting it lightly. The act was strange… "Are you comfortable? I can bring you another pillow from my room…"

"Stop fussing over me!" Castiel snapped. He wasn't wearing much (he had taken off his wet clothing and was sitting in a pair of boxers and a t-shirt of Deans) but the heat combined with his anger was making him even more agitated.

"Hey, I'm just trying to help…"

"I'm a fucking angel of the Lord, Dean. I have annihilated hundreds of my own kind. I would blind you if you ever saw my true form. I don't need your help with a pillow on my back." His voice was low, grumbled. Dean's face went from shock to pure anger – it stirred something inside of Cas to see it. Something dark.

"Did it ever occur to you that maybe this makes ME feel better?" Dean yelled back, standing and pacing around the room. "I'm in love with a man who could crush me like a bug! With one tiny flip of a switch, at any time! Do you understand how powerless that makes me feel?"

"Well I'm sorry that my true self is too intimidating for you!" This argument was getting childish fast – even though his rage, Castiel could sense how futile it was.

"I just want to feel like your fucking equal!" Dean growled back, and spun around to leave. Cas was behind him in an instant from the bed, grabbing both of his shoulders.

"Dean – stop." His voice was different, strained. He hated feeling like an invalid to the Winchesters but he hated even more the idea of Dean feeling inferior to him. "It's not a contest."

The hunter didn't turn – his breathing was sharp and he kept his eyes fixated on the door. He paused a beat before speaking. "I don't know how to do this Cas. I'm always the alpha male in everything – but with you I'm like your little bitch."

"What?" Castiel tried to search for the right words – that small confession from him spoke volumes. Neither man enjoyed feeling weak, and both of them had to be the strongest one for so long – letting the other take care of them was such a departure from the norm, he wondered if they would be able to get past it. "Dean I'm upset because I hate feeling weak. But you're not my 'little bitch'. You could break me without even trying."

That made Dean turn, finally. His face was a million different emotions at once – desire, embarrassment, bewilderment. "Cas you could snap your fingers and kill me. We don't even come close to the same playing field."

"And you could have an angel blade up your sleeve, or have a sigil under this bed." Castiel grabbed at his hand, holding it softly. "We are both going to have to deal with the fact that when we're together there can't be one person who is the strong one and the other one is weaker. I don't think that's how relationships work."

"What did you mean, I could break you." The words cracked out of Dean's mouth.

"Damnit Dean, can't you see what you've done to me?" Castiel stepped forward, closing the gap between them. "When it comes to you I'm powerless. I've betrayed my kind, my father, all to keep you safe. I have done things that are against my best interest because I can't stand to see you hurt. I may be physically stronger, but I'm completely under your control, all the time. Even without the crown…"

"I don't want to control you Cas." Dean settled his hand at Castiel's waist, and looked down into his eyes. They paused a moment in each other's gaze, then Dean smiled and winked. "Well, maybe I want to control you a little. But in a sexy way."

Cas smiled back. "What would you have me do?"

"Kiss me – hard."

Castiel's mouth crashed onto Dean's, as he wrapped his arms around his neck. The switch from anger to lust came so naturally to Dean, but for the angel it was a bit more forced – he still felt frustrated. He kissed him like he was trying to pull something from him – a soft moan escaped Dean's mouth but that still wasn't enough. Reaching down he pulled Dean's shirt sharply over his head, and broke away from his mouth to suck his way down his chest. Both men were rock hard already – Castiel embarrassingly so, unhidden in his roomy boxers. He nipped at his clavicle, as Dean ran his fingers through his wild black hair.

"Ugn – God, Cas…" Deans head went back with a moan. Castiel gripped his hips and pushed him gently – or as gently as he could – onto the bed. Still with his mouth on Dean's nipples he unbuttoned his jeans and yanked sharply, pulling them down to his thighs. His erection sprang and Dean gasped, tightening his grip around Castiel's skull. Every noise, every shiver he enticed out of Dean brought him immeasurable pleasure – he needed to know he could make the hunter feel half as mad as he made him feel. He wanted to feel him undone in his hands, moaning and writhing out of control.

Cas crouched in front of Dean – making the sudden decision to take all of Dean into his mouth. He eased his open lips down slowly, dragging his tongue along his length. Dean cried out – and now Cas understood why Dean had been so eager to please him the night before. This was nearly as good as when Dean's ministrations had brought him to an edge he had never experienced. His body ached, still in pain from the day's events but he ignored it completely – all that mattered was Dean's pleasure and making his body quiver.

Cas kept the movement up, steadily. When he made his way back up he swirled his tongue around the head and Dean hissed sharply. He found that this act was surprisingly simple and straightforward for how much pleasure it brought Dean – he pulled back a moment to close his jaw and lick his lips, moving his hand to stroke gently in his mouths absence.

"Is this ok?" Cas looked up to meet his eyes and smirked – he knew the answer. He wanted to hear him say it.

"Fuck, Cas..."

Dean was really a man of few words, after all. But everything he wanted to know was written all over his face – his mouth slightly open but drawn into a smile on one side, breath coming in sharp spurts, his green eyes lidded. He was in a haze of pleasure, and it was all because of Cas. And that made him feel more powerful than anything he'd done in his life.

"Do you want me to keep going?" Something about hearing Dean speak turned Castiel on, and he wanted to hear filthy things expel from those soft lips.

"Yes..." His voice cracked

"Tell me what you want me to do."

"I want you to suck me, Cas."

"More."

"I need you…to…please…"

His eyes were closed now, and he was biting his bottom lip. Castiel moved forward again and took him into his mouth, his fist still at the base of his dick. He moved his fist and mouth in time, pulling the groans and sighs from Dean with each stroke. The room was sweltering again – he idly thought he will later prefer to have sex with Dean in the bunker, where the air is always cool. He smiled to himself, thinking about doing this again and again with Dean – yeah, he could live with that. Changing it up, he quickened his pace – Dean threw his head back.

"Cas, I'm – ugn – I'm not going to last...if you…"

But he wasn't worried about what happened next. He wanted to feel Dean come undone and that's what happened. One last stroke and he felt something salty in his mouth but kept his eyes open as he watched Dean grip the sheets and writhe underneath him, yelling his name loudly. His face contoured but he smiled slightly as he came – like he was in on some inside joke. Castiel slowed his pace to a stop as he watched Dean climb down from his peak, breathing heavily with his head to one side. Cas stood and then crawled into bed on top of him, latching onto Dean's lower lip and sucking it lightly as he blinked to his senses.

"Where did you…" Dean started to mumble, breathless.

"Did you enjoy that?"

"I – yes." Cas still was above him, looking down. Dean's face was flushed like he had been fighting, but there was a serenity to his features Cas had never seen. It was unbelievably beautiful. He reached his hand up to stroke the side of his face. Of course he had always found Dean attractive but him in a state of post coital bliss – it was damn near heavenly. It was certainly the closest Cas had felt to heaven in some time, and it surprised him as it brought the ghost of tears to his eyes. He blinked – he didn't want to show Dean that much emotion – not yet.

Dean seemed to sense what was going on, but let him hide it. Truthfully he wasn't good at talking anyway – he slipped one hand down between them and grabbed Castiel, still hard. Cas drew in a sharp breath.

"You don't need to do that Dean." But he couldn't help himself as he thrust into Dean's hand softly, unconsciously. Dean's face erupted into a sexy smile.

"I have a feeling I won't have to do much…" Dean moved his hands and flipped them, putting Castiel on his back with a soft thud. Cas was once again aware of his previous injuries and he grimaced briefly, closing his eyes. He felt Dean close in on him, staying a hairs breath away from his lips. "You ok?"

"Mhm"

"Good." His mouth crashed against him again, deepening an open mouthed kiss with his tongue, his hand reaching down to stroke hard, rough. Castiel searched for a place to put his hands and they ended up gripping the hunters strong back. He wasn't going to last long at all – watching Dean come had left him quite literally dripping in anticipation. A few more strokes and Cas was there, arching his lower back and moaning deeply. Dean didn't stop – he let him ride out the high. As he came down, his grip became gentler until finally he just left his hand resting on his dick, his body wrapped tightly close to the angels.

They lay for some time kissing – God only knows what time it was. Cas still ached but Dean kept kissing him like he was water and Dean was dying of thirst. He didn't know that he could feel this good – all of his time with humanity, sex always seemed like such a sticky chore. Strictly procreation, nothing more, and seemingly painful. Laying there, softly moving their hands against each other, he felt – complete. This person, this human, who he had saved from hell had saved him in a million other ways. Slick and uncaring they fell asleep for a few hours to the sounds from the street outside.

A/N - Thanks to ya'll who have been reading! I have one last chapter, and that's it. Let me know what you think!