"Sorry Dean you've been flagged," Bobby the usually-nice lady behind the desk (whose purpose was to take paperwork) apologized.
Dean had been trying to submit her vacation in-house and now this shit. "Flagged for what?"
"I have to call," Bobby gave an inelegant one-armed shrug.
"I only smoked a little pot," Dean joked. "No work impairment I swear."
"What? Oh that's not funny Dean," Bobby gasped as Dean laughed. Bobby started murmuring to the man on the other end of her line while Dean wondered if she should have stopped by the mandatory medical check-up Lumberjack big-wigs got picky about.
"Yes I'll tell her," Bobby hung up. "Orders are ya stay here 'nd wait for agents to escort you."
"Son of a bitch," Dean grumbled throwing her hands up. "So how are the cats?"
"They're at the point where they want nothin' ta do with Jody. Poor girl still feels motherly," Bobby fondly described the stray pregnant calico she'd adopted a few months back at Dean's suggestion. "There out huntin' the expanse of their house."
Bobby was the only person Dean had met that bought a house for her cats; well Dean herself had bought her house for a cat. Bigger house bigger cat.
Dean looked up as the door opened to see one of the few Lumberjacks she really never wanted to see peek his head inside. "Get yer ass in gear Little Fucking Red Bitch!" He taunted pulling his Colt.
The only thing that kept Dean from drawing her sword and lopping off his hands was Bobby who had at some point between Dean's glance at the doorway pulled a shotgun from somewhere beneath her desk. "I suggest ya take a step 'r two back outta my office sir."
Dean grinned as she walked out past Bobby and the older woman gave her a wink. "See you later."
"I'll keep your request until ya get back," Bobby promised as the shotgun disappeared under her desk.
Dean followed Alistair Heyerdahl as he led her down the hallway. Alistair was a good friend of Samantha, one of the crowd of older Lumberjacks. They stuck together and were all of the opinion that they were all better than the younger members (even if that member happened to be a kin).
"You think you're better than everyone else?" Alistair asked as he paused to wait for the elevator.
Most Lumberjack bases were hidden in large estates, most of the action taking pace below ground. The above-ground structure was where the more mundane business took place.
"Just you Heyerdahl," Dean murmured off-handedly her mind was wandering and the destination wasn't surprising. I wonder what Castiel's doing...
"In your dreams woman," Alistair sneered.
"You're not allowed in my dreams Heyerdahl you don't meet the qualifications," Dean stepped into the elevator and entered her personal pin number. At her code the elevator controls were revealed from under a metal panel. She flipped Alistair off and gave him a sweet smile, "Dick has to be bigger than this."
Alistair glared at her as the elevator doors closed and he pushed the button to descend. "I could be hung like a porn star and it'd still be like fucking a train tunnel."
Dean rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest, "Speaking of...How's Rachel by the way?"
Rachel Heyerdahl (Alistair's only daughter) had just finished training and was doing the family name good with her work. Rachel had decided to reserve professional judgment on Dean until they worked together since they were friends from long ago when they'd gone to Lumberjack Summer Camp together. Although most of them had younger kids in the Order the older clique hadn't yet succeeded in continuing the Dean-hating tradition.
"Watch your mouth slut," Alistair snapped.
"Take your own advice bitch," Dean didn't hesitate a moment when the elevator doors opened she stepped through them and headed for the medical wing.
The main triage center was lined with medical beds, the lighting stark white but soft much like the bedding that swathed each narrow resting place. They were all empty save one.
"Long time no see," Ellen Harvelle said from a bed as Dean walked in.
"What are you doing in here?" Dean asked the Lumberjack with concern she was the only older member that didn't despise her.
"They're starting injections," Ellen shrugged. "I'm just lucky enough to be the first to have a bad reaction to the serum."
"I didn't realize how far along it was," Dean looked over her shoulder as Alistair entered the room.
"Daily injections until it builds up enough in the system, then once a month," Another voice explained emerging from one of the only open adjoining doors along the opposite wall. A few moments later Kevin Tran, doctor to the Lumberjacks, appeared.
The Strength Serum had been in development stages for years. "It's ready?"
"We've done all the testing we can without injecting humans," Kevin nodded. "So far Harvelle here is the only patient with side effects."
"Lucky me," Ellen shrugged looking haggard and pale. "Looks like I won't be retiring my power suit anytime soon."
"To be honest for some Lumberjacks the serum won't take...But we'll have to take each of them on a case-by-case basis to muddle through their specific problem."
"Or you could just put down some of the ornery old cusses like you," Dean said pleasantly to Alistair.
Ellen laughed and applauded while Alistair fumed and narrowed his eyes at the both of them. Dean held her hands up and tried to cover a flinch as a precognitive flash of Alistair drawing his gun angrily on her blinked before her eyes.
She noticed the covert caress Alistair delivered his favorite gun strapped across his chest in a very obvious way, and couldn't keep herself from reaching out to cover the gun with her hand. The very second her fingertips came into contact over the man's hand however Dean felt her tattoo started itching along the top of her eye and it only took a second for Alistair to notice after she touched his gun.
"What the fuck?" Alistair stepped back and had his gun drawn, his eyes darting around the room in a split second.
Just as soon as the itch appeared it faded and apparently the color had flared as well since they'd noticed it. "What the hell was that?" Dean yelled at Kevin whose eyes were still staring wide-eyed at her.
"My mark wasn't triggered," Kevin lifted his left hand where apparently his mark usually flared to life.
Both Ellen and Alistair confirmed that their tattoos hadn't done so-much as itch. "See! I need a damn break even my mark is exhausted!"
Kevin placed a hand on Dean's shoulders, turned her away from him and promptly marched her into a private exam room. "When the system notified me about your arrival it said you were finally putting in for vacation."
Although Dean had never set foot in the medical wing (except for mandatory examinations) Kevin still monitored anything that fell under the general subject of health for all the Lumberjacks in the sector. "I'm fucking fried Kevin. I want to go home and sleep for two months," Dean shrugged his hands off, lycanthropes were into touch but she had developed a standoffish persona that helped keep people off her back (a necessity with so many friends of Samantha).
"Paperwork said you were putting in for six months," Kevin paused to pick up a nearby tablet computer (he was hardly ever without one in his clutches) no doubt he was rechecking.
"Possibly six months. That all depends on how good a night's sleep I get," Dean shrugged again.
"Maybe if you came in more than one check-up a year," Kevin had closed the door and Dean jumped up to sit on the exam table.
"I eat healthy, I don't like hospitals and I don't want to be around them if I don't have to," Dean reminded him nonchalantly; it was a conversation they rehashed almost every time they saw each other. Lycanthropes were immune to sickness, even when the strain of the disease was born to someone naturally it never shared the body with a single other malady.
"I've seen your food expense sheet," Kevin murmured in an offhand fashion as he looked through a collection of bottles in a small case. "You do eat healthy not to mention like a horse."
"Why do I feel like this conversation has more to do with something bigger than a check up," Dean had to have confirmation. "Or you're a stalker. Which one?"
"Funny," Kevin took a syringe full of something from one of bottles he selected. "This is just the first of—on average—twenty-eight injections," Kevin straightened her arm and swabbed a spot on her upper arm.
"Twenty-eight?" Dean didn't fake the grimace as Kevin inserted the syringe and depressed the plunger - it wasn't painful – the Lumberjack just hated needles. He pressed a cotton swab to the puncture giving Dean a meaningful look that she silently obeyed, lifting her other hand to hold it in place as he returned to the counter across the room.
"Some only needed fourteen, one a day," Kevin closed the small case of bottles with one hand as he disposed of the used syringe. "Enjoy your vacation."
"Thank I guess," Dean looked at him as he held out the case. "What?"
"I know better than to try to get a Lumberjack—never mind who you are—to come in dutifully every day. I understand that you're responsible enough to take a shot when you need to," Kevin snapped the silver latch closed and held out the case to her. "Do you need another case of vaccine?"
"I have plenty," Dean shook her head. The Lumberjacks had a vaccine that proved safety against Lycanthrope as long as it was taken before a wound. It didn't give permanent protection so each Lumberjack was given an allotment and Dean's was sitting in her bathroom cabinet gathering dust. She only kept a box in case she needed someone to see it on purpose.
"Don't stretch it Dean!" It was obvious from the instant rise in his ire that Kevin was keeping track of her ratio of missions to supply of vaccine. "I've lost plenty a good Lumberjack because they don't take the injections as they need them."
The vaccine worked through the system and lost effectiveness in six hours on a regular Lumberjack and lots of them tried stretching it out for some reason or another; fear of needles, bad ass attitude or even just forgetfulness. "I'm not."
"All right," Kevin gave her a hard stare as he nodded. "Inject the serum once a day. All I ask is that you come in after two weeks to see if you need further injections," Kevin moved to open the door. "Charlie has been notified to monitor you to make sure you don't have harmful side effects."
Dean hadn't planned on spending much time around Charlie during her vacation. She turned her face away as the events of early this morning came back to her and she tried not to blush.
"Dean," Kevin pulled the door closed again but leaned on the knob. "Samantha has started saying..."
"Son of a bitch," Dean looked heavenward before meeting the doctor's gaze.
"You're shacking up with someone," Kevin continued unabated. "Must be something to the rumor if you've finally taken all your vacation."
"Are you feeding the rumor mill?"
Shaking his head Kevin gently reminded her, "Doctor/Patient confidentiality."
"He's a friend of mine that needs my help," Dean said truthfully, knowing that even that agreement ended when the patient became infected with lycanthrope.
"I can't let you take that vacation if I know you're using it to go do freelance work," Kevin looked disappointed. "Too dangerous."
"Not Lumberjack help," Dean shook her head at the partial lie. "A regular woman's perspective, my friendship."
"And?" Kevin looked at her with one eye narrowed.
"I suppose my Lumberjack training will help protect him since he doesn't really know the neighborhood."
With a small exasperated sigh Kevin stopped beating around the bush, "So you're sexually active?"
Of all the people that heard the vicious rumors Samantha spread about her; her doctor Kevin knew better even if she didn't come in to visit as much as the others.
"Define "active"?"
"More than none," Kevin shook his head taking that for an answer in and of itself. "You'll need to-"
"I'm fine," Dean hopped down from the table and deposited the perfunctory cotton swab into the trash (the wound had probably healed the instant Kevin had removed the needle). Castiel wouldn't be passing any sickness to her. Lycanthrope was always the big bad.
"You get a check-up every year," Kevin objected.
"I already do. How about I come back in two weeks and you can do it then? I have to go," Dean offered impatiently.
"All right," Kevin knew that was the best he could expect. "Enjoy your vacation," Kevin nodded and escorted her out into the main room. Ellen gave her a wave as they passed toward the exit.
"Good luck," Dean said and was disappointed when she found Alistair waiting in the hall outside. "Have you decided to annoy me today?"
"Just a distraction really."
Dean turned toward him with a glare she wasn't at all in the mood. She was in the mood to go home, and crawl in bed with Castiel. It had been all she'd thought about since he'd left her sight. "I have shit to do what's the deal?"
"You feeling okay?" Alistair asked from his nonchalant lean against the wall. "Take the shot okay?"
"Fine," Dean looked over her shoulder as a familiar smell came to her nose. "What the hell do you want?"
Samantha gave Alistair a dismissive glance, and he nodded leaving them there. "Did you get your shot?"
Dean lifted the box of serum with a silent nod.
"You all right?"
Dean moved to pass her and Samantha followed, "I'm fine."
"I know how fast your metabolism is you'll eat through that serum ten times faster than anyone here," Samantha reminded her. "Five hours tops before it's out of your system."
"And?"
"Not only do I not know what might happen in those five hours, but what happens when you have to prove if it's built up in your system?" Samantha had never professed to care before.
"Why the hell do you care?"
"If they find out your one of them I might take the fall," Samantha said making Dean smile.
"They'll kill me and probably only give you a slap on the hand if anything…How are you supposed to know? Suppose I've hidden it from you too?" Dean growled as Samantha followed her into the elevator.
"I'm a Lumberjack-"
"So are Heyerdahl, Harvelle and Kevin how do they not know?" Dean hissed but they'd had this fight before. Samantha didn't care if she'd repeatedly fooled even Kevin's blood tests; she was paranoid and nothing would calm her. "I'll bend a metal bar for him," Dean didn't hesitate to walk away as the elevator stopped and the doors opened. Samantha still followed.
"Going home to your yummy mystery man? What was his name? Castiel?" Samantha prodded.
"Let me deal with my personal life."
Samantha grabbed her arm and spun Dean around to face her, "This is my business if it gets me kicked out of my Order."
"I don't care," Dean easily pulled out of her grip proving Samantha wasn't using her strength suit. "How far along are your injections?"
"A week," Samantha was suddenly stepping back not as confrontational.
"Nothing yet?" Dean laughed no wonder Samantha was extra paranoid. "Maybe they'll let you keep your suit," Dean joked and Samantha glared at her.
"Just because yours is natural-"
"Natural?" Dean had her own strength and if she poured on the lycanthrope energy she had even more. "I thought lycanthropes weren't natural."
Dean grunted as she found herself pressed up against the wall Samantha using her body weight and the element of surprise to pin her there. There had been an actual flash of precognition and Dean had used it by throwing her arm up to block the subsequent switchblade and it dug into her forearm.
As Samantha looked up at her in shock Dean felt the itch across the top of her eye. Samantha backed away and held her blade ready as she scanned the hallway.
The itch faded and Dean examined her arm angrily. "That was almost down to the fucking bone."
"Why did your mark appear?" Samantha asked in an accusatory tone.
"I don't know!" Dean threw her hands up in defeat and winced. "Why did you try to stab me?"
"I hate you," Samantha answered as if it were the most logical thing in the world. "You look so much like the both of them…"
Dean watched as Samantha shook her head and walked away. What the hell? Dean tried her best to put it out of her mind as she turned to enter Bobby's office.
Left to his own devices Castiel found his way outside onto the grounds of Dean's home. As he wandered he figured out what might have drawn Dean to this house in the first place. The grounds were gorgeous he just hadn't noticed until now because he'd been blind.
Around the back of the house Castiel discovered that the backyard was more like a forest and that for a few yards after the overgrown lawn met the trees it was more jungle than forest. Castiel could almost imagine Dean's jaguar, a deep gold with black fringed ears, moving through the undergrowth.
Although she had been in the back of his head constantly Dean now sauntered into the foreground. In the back of his mind she had been a brush of breasts against his back, the memory of her cries while he…well.
Castiel had to actively put her into the back of his mind since he'd returned from the bathroom to find her note about going in to work.
With her now in the forefront however, Castiel felt an immediate pang of yearning followed by the rumble of a displeased growl.
Before he could shove the desire away his acute hearing caught the sound of the compound gate opening and he quickly started back to the front of the house. He reached out with his mind and moved through the surrounding trees until he could see the driveway. {{Dean,}} he heard the tires locking in the gravel as she hit the breaks a little hard on her rented Austin Martin.
{{Where are you?}} Dean thought to him, and he felt his fingers curl as they itched to touch her. The car door slammed, and her feet crunched in the driveway.
He had worried in the corner of his mind about her. He had been told by his mom that he would worry and think on his mate when she was out of his sight. Castiel hadn't believed her until he spied Dean through the foliage, and felt a wave of relief.
{{I can smell you Wolf,}} Dean's gaze caught his in a gap of leaves. The smile he saw flit across her delicious lips brought a surprising brush of fur from his wolf. Dean's eyes went wide as she felt the power, and the fleeting smile returned. {{Miss me?}}
{{You know it Sugar,}} Castiel let her feel the hunger that seeing her created inside him.
{{Come get me then,}} Dean teased as she backed away into the trees across the driveway, and only moments after sinking through the leaves she took off at a dead run. Castiel took off after her spitting up gravel as he fed his wolf's energy into his legs.
Castiel followed her scent through the trees, and around the side of the house. She moved through the thin band of jungle, and back into the forest. He came to a stop as her smell pooled casting his gaze around.
After only a moment of unsuccessful searching he looked up, and Dean laughed softly as she gazed down at him from her perch in the branches of a tree. She gave him a beckoning crook of one finger before disappearing into the leaves further up.
Castiel just missed her as he leapt up nearly ten feet into the branches. He noticed wear marks in the bark of the branches where Dean was fleeing, and Castiel guessed they were from his beloved's continued passing over them. He caught sight of her in the trees swinging through the branches. {{Are you taking me through your own personal jungle gym?}}
The only answer that came was a spill of mirth in his mind, and another brush of her desire to egg him on.
The path worn through the treetops continue on, but Dean disappeared by effortlessly dropping down through a hole in the branches. As he kept to the trees Castiel's eyes kept her in sight as she moved across the ground. Although his wolf wasn't a tree climber he still spilled out to touch the branches as Castiel sped through them.
Now it wasn't necessary for Castiel to constantly look down to keep tabs on Dean since her own kitty energy was flowing out in front of her so she could move through the undergrowth just as fast. Castiel could feel her moving just in front of him and below.
Castiel could have closed his eyes and trusted his wolf to show him each of the gaps, obstacles and turns in his path—Just in front of him was a hole large enough to squeeze through, and Castiel dove for it.
Halfway down he caught her from behind whilst she was mid-leap curling his arms tight around her stomach as their collision sent them rolling across the forest floor. When they slowed to a stop Castiel didn't hesitated to sink his teeth into the tender skin where her shoulder met her neck right under her glorious dark blond hair.
Dean's kitty flared at the gentle, but steady pressure of his teeth. When her energy spiked Castiel's surged and he growled into her skin, his energy setting along his teeth as he dug in more.
Dean really didn't want to move. She lay in Castiel's arms staring up at the sunlight that dappled in through the canopy of leaves above them. The place where he bit seemed as if it were where all of her nerves clustered doubly-so when his energy was flowing in where his teeth bit though the skin.
As it normally would the energy had started out as helpful power, but – as it normally did concerning mates - the constant undercurrent of desire had only gotten considerably warmer due to Dean's playfulness in the trees. There was no mistaking what it had become now that he was holding her so close. Her body was a small weight on top of him her curves fitting tight in just the right places and it was all Castiel could do not to ravish her here in the middle of her personal forest.
She was so still in his arms. Castiel didn't want to let go her skin felt so good in his teeth, but he knew this gesture was much too dominant. Normally with animals it could be considered disrespectful for one dominant to do it to another dominant, but sexual situations were different.
The usual place for this bite was in the front over the jugular. It came in the form of a light press of teeth, one that didn't even break the skin but could easily tear a submissive's throat out if the dominant was angry for whatever reason, trying to prove a point, show that they were stronger, or if they were just a jerk. It was sometimes the natural progression in the interactions of lycanthropes, after sniffing that same spot in greeting.
Castiel wasn't a total expert in kitty lycanthropes, but he figured the back of the neck was their spot. Sort of like a mother taking a kitten by the ruff of the neck, except in this particular situation of course.
Several scenarios began popping into his head as Dean began to writhe against him. In their current position he was pretty sure he could only manage to get her jeans off with her help, but she wasn't going to be much help in her current state. His wolf was already growling suggestions telling him he could bite through, she would heal and he could then take her; or he could keep his teeth where they rested and use the grip of his bite to guide her into a different position. Castiel hadn't known but his wolf—even if it had only had a few months being dominant—knew he could get her to do anything right now.
Castiel was suddenly curious if it were true. Better not…Almost changing his mind twice Castiel eased his bite, pausing to run his tongue along her skin. The lick made Dean give a startled gasp, her back arching and pressing the softness of her ass into his groin.
He moved his hands down to grip her hips and thrust upward. He was already straining against his jeans and the sensation pulled a loud moan from Dean her body trembling under his hands. Castiel took a slow deep breath and tried to let them both relax.
{{That was crazy,}} Even Dean's thought was breathless.
{{I'm sorry I think it gets worse the longer you're away,}} Castiel moved to sit them up, and Dean turned in his arms. He couldn't help but glance at the now red blazing tattoo of the frolicking jaguar and wolf. Castiel wondered if they were up to more than just dancing.
"You can see it?" Dean asked softly, her voice so faint and breathy it stirred Castiel again.
"What?"
"My mark has been appearing where there are no lycanthropes…Well, beside me," Dean explained.
"What do you mean?"
"Once in the medical wing at the Lumberjack Shack," She grinned. "It's a palatial mansion with Romanesque architecture, and they're currently building a fifth sub-floor underground."
"Quite a shack," Castiel leaned in and placed a kiss on the fine-lined jaguar.
"I was taunting an asshole named Alistair Heyerdahl of the old bigoted crowd, buddies with Samantha," Dean grimaced. "He was probably going to attack me…" Dean thought it over, and Castiel leaned back to look into her worried face. "And it flared when Samantha attacked me later on," She lifted her arm, but the bone deep gash was hardly a pink impression.
"Wow."
Dean looked at him, and back at the healed wound. "Ditto," Dean brushed her hand along the skin with a surprised look on her face.
"I would have thought she'd use a silver blade," Castiel commented, puzzled. "Or a percentage with steel works fine."
"It was," Dean nodded at her arm. "Silver just irritates my skin I heal it just as quick as regular healing almost lycanthrope fast.'
"I can't heal lycanthrope fast when it's silver," Castiel said with a pout.
"I'd share if I could," Dean frowned, and Castiel kissed it away.
"I could never heal this fast before Castiel," Dean remarked. "This is probably a forty minute old gash," Dean touched where her tattoo had faded, but still showed a faint trace of lines.
"Hm, sex does wonders," Castiel felt a reminder of his wolf, an inward brush of fur.
"My tattoo is warning me of hostility from humans," Dean said suddenly.
"Instead of lycanthropes," Castiel made it a question.
"It's not working on you," Dean murmured.
Castiel shook his head, "I've always been like that Sweetheart."
"Yeah, you have." Dean narrowed her eyes. "How is that?"
"I died," Castiel said truthfully. "I…Don't think I exist for your magic anymore."
"Just me?" Dean shook her head and answered her own question. "And Samantha."
"I wouldn't really want to test it by being near another Lumberjack. Thanks to you I'm an illegal lycanthrope within city limits." Castiel shook his head. "Aren't you supposed to be my bodyguard too?"
"In that case I think this is the worst thing I could be doing," Dean ran her fingers along his jaw setting his teeth on edge with power. "How the hell do I do anything with my feelings clogging up my instincts?"
"I don't see you stopping me…Feelings?" Castiel's eyebrows hitched up curiously hopeful.
"Yes," Dean shook her head. "You told me you would stop looking?"
"Looking?" Castiel cupped her cheek in his palm.
"For your mate," Dean whispered.
"I would. For you," Castiel nodded.
"Don't," Dean pleaded tears in her green eyes.
"Are you okay?" Castiel took her shoulders in his hands.
"A little dizzy," Dean shook her head again. "And emotional," She huffed.
"What happened back at your shack," Castiel asked.
"I got shot up with some mystery serum that's supposed to give me lycanthrope strength," She shrugged as if it weren't a big deal.
"Jesus! They pump you full of chemicals?" Castiel was outraged.
"It's new, and I'm sure I can get it out of my system in a few hours. I have a good metabolism," Dean reminded him.
"We should go inside," Castiel was definitely concerned. "Especially if you don't feel good," He leaned back, but Dean caught his gaze with hers. "Don't give me those sultry eyes woman. You need rest."
"I'm not arguing that," Dean got to her feet and gave him a grin. "As long as you come with me."
"Yes please," Castiel followed her out of the trees his fingers tickling along her sides.
Dean laughed and tried to dodge away. Castiel watched as she slowed, and made sure he was right beside her to catch her as her knees buckled. "Sorry."
"S'okay just be careful," Castiel kissed the top of her head and kindly changed the subject for her. "So, how much of this forest is yours?"
"A lot of it," Dean answered trying her best not to enjoy his arm around her waist. It didn't seem like much from the outside, but he was almost totally supporting her. "I could have my own pack reservation."
"Hm," Castiel grinned, but Dean didn't notice his expression. "It would be an interesting pack wouldn't it?" Castiel joked in an attempt to test the waters.
"Jeez I don't think I could handle having a litter," Dean joked back. "Might be too much for me."
"I think you could handle it," Castiel commented as Dean opened the door into the kitchen. "I don't know what is out of your league."
"Senorita Winchester," A petite Hispanic woman called. "I just finished your snack."
Castiel leaned over a platter of quarter cut sandwiches. Dean watched him sniff at the food but he caught a different scent and looked up toward Maria one of her cooks. He met Dean's gaze curiously but she merely grinned and turned to retrieve some Yoo-Hoos.
{{She smells like a lycanthrope,}} Castiel wondered aloud in her head.
Dean picked up the platter and Castiel followed her all the way up to her bedroom.
"Boss?"
Dean handed the tray to Castiel and peeked her head back out the door to spy Charlie coming out of Castiel's room. "What the hell are you doing in there?" Dean smelled the distrust on her old friend for her new friend. Boyfriend, she grinned.
"You've been into work. They called again," Charlie murmured. "How are you feeling?"
{{Horney.}} "Dizzy I'm going to eat, and taking a nap," Dean said aloud.
{{I heard that,}} Castiel's mind whispered in hers.
And then Dean felt Castiel touch her hip and cup her ass. {{Castiel!}}
{{What?}}
"Okay I'm gonna call Kevin. If he doesn't like it I'm gonna wake you up," Charlie's hand reached forward to touch the spot where Castiel had sunk his teeth into her. It might have been okay except Castiel reached to touch it at the same time.
Dean almost lost her knees and a gasp ripped through her lips. She battered down on her kitty energy as it surged upward looking for Castiel.
"Is that from a lycanthrope?" Charlie looked aghast.
"No that's Castiel's handiwork," Dean wondered if her own surprise at her bold words was even close to Charlie's. "Sorry," Dean gave him a sheepish grin and backed into her room, closed and locked the door.
"I can't believe you!" Dean turned to find Castiel sitting on her bed across the room staring at her and eating one of her sandwiches instead of right behind her like she'd expected.
"Hm?" Castiel mumbled around a mouthful of sandwich looking genuinely confused.
"Groping me in front of Charlie," Dean frowned.
"Sugar I thought about it but I didn't do it," Castiel held up his hand. "Scout's honor!"
"You were a Boy Scout?"
"Cub Scout?" Castiel grimaced at the bad joke as Dean moved closer to the bed.
"I felt it you tricky wolf however you did it," Dean took a sandwich.
"Interesting," Castiel pointed at her. "Now that girl in the kitchen…"
"She's married to a werewolf," Dean answered.
{{Ah,}} Castiel thought. {{You feeling any better with food in you?}}
Dean shrugged, "I'll be fine." She jammed half a sandwich quarter in her mouth. {{Look at this,}} Dean thought since her mouth was full of honey ham goodness.
Then she tilted her head to expose her neck to Castiel. He had the most intense urge to taste the skin again, but stopped short when he saw his teeth marks still there. "It didn't heal."
"I noticed," Dean nodded. "Or more precisely Charlie did."
"Did he hurt you?"
Dean gave him a look, "You touched it too I almost fell. My legs went weak."
"Sorry?" Castiel apologized even if he hadn't physically touched the mark. He was curious about what was happening to Dean. Lycanthropes only went through the mating process once and some were drastically different than others. Castiel had a feeling his death and rebirth with much more power was muddling up his more than anyone else in history.
At times like these Castiel believed in the words of the Novak Blessing/Curse. He'd always had proof of the beginning being the weaker in a family of powerful werewolves.
He'd always hoped he would find even a human mate. After his mother had died all of Castiel's dreams had shattered. Now he had Dean and he was going to try his best to keep her.
"The burn is gone too," Dean gave her shirt a fling across the room to let him get a look at the smooth skin, but her arm really wasn't what held his attention.
"I am sorry I hurt you I-" His mismatched eyes flickered down to the bite in her neck.
Dean held her fingers over his lips gaining the attention of those eyes. "It didn't hurt and it still doesn't hurt," Dean knew an ache should have started by now.
Castiel watched her pluck the two bites of sandwich he had left and stuffed it away in her mouth as she stood. "Hungry?"
"Yes," Dean swallowed the sandwich before speaking as she shimmied out of her shoes, jeans and panties. She made an impatient sound when he found himself thoroughly enjoying/ogling the sudden reveal of her naked beauty and he laughed peeling off his shirt. "Oh forget it! I'll just dream you naked!"
Castiel laughed again and moved the near-empty platter to the nightstand. Dean was already crawling over him her movements fluid and graceful.
Castiel couldn't help himself he reached out as she passed him and ran his hand along the smooth skin of her thigh where it met her ass. {{You are so beautiful,}} Castiel turned to take her in his arms.
With a wiggle Dean settled in to spoon against his groin, and he squeezed her in his arms moving against her ass. "You keep giving me naughty thoughts," Dean scolded.
"Don't worry," Castiel kissed along her neck skirting the bite mark in her skin. "I will see you in your dreams Sugar."
Dean gave his arm a squeeze back and her kitty gave a contented rub deep down inside but didn't press further. Dean wondered how a lycanthrope could make her so happy. She imagined this as how having a mate would feel like.
Dean shivered as Castiel's hot breath moved over the bite in her neck. She felt guilty when she found herself hoping he wouldn't find his mate or…
Castiel looked around the forest clearing but didn't see Dean. Her jaguar slipped out of the shadows and gave him large green eyes that reminded him of her mistress. Castiel followed her in a race through the undergrowth.
She pulled ahead when the plant life changed to jungle. Castiel's wolf adjusted quickly but the kitty still beat him to Dean.
"Aw," Castiel panted as the great cat leapt playfully over his wolf where he lay with his paws over Dean's feet as she reclined in the leaves. "I thought you were helping me but you were just after him."
"I sent her to get you," Dean explained. "He found me first," Dean patted the wolf and he gave her hand a lick and moved after her jaguar as she slipped away back into the shadows.
"They like each other too," Castiel moved into the clearing lowering down to all fours as he moved up her body.
"It's more than that," Dean whispered. She bit her lip as he did a dip of his body to move against her. "They're defying the laws of nature," Dean hissed.
Castiel ducked to kiss her neck, his lips had treacherous aims. "It's still there," He whispered as he caught sight of the teeth marks in her skin.
"Yeah you made me feel it just now with that breath…All the way down," Dean moaned softly.
"Down to where?" Castiel leaned in against his better judgment to lick along the mark just a sliver of power shivering along her skin.
Dean went crazy and Castiel held her as he watched the pattern of his teeth glow with red light. Oh Lord what now? Castiel whispered to himself as he moved her hair out of her face.
Dean panted and shook her head her eyes closed. There was that same red light in the fine line of her Lumberjack mark.
"You leave that damn bite alone!" Dean opened her eyes and as she looked up at his face they went a little rounder. "Castiel…"
Castiel was going to ask what was wrong when she lifted her hand to touch his face. Her fingertips brushed along the top of his eyebrow and along his temple.
Fuck, Castiel whispered and tried to imagine it away. He knew it was more than just his desire for Dean to accept them as mates…With the mating ritual the two marked each other with teeth and power but both of them have to be open to the powers that bound them together. Dean had to know they were mates and make her mark on him with that knowledge, the knowledge that they would be binding each other together irrevocably.
Power was filling his mark and calling her Lumberjack tattoo on the both of them in order for the participants to truly see who they were bonding with so there would be no mistake.
"I'm sorry that's probably my fault," Dean whispered.
"Huh?" Castiel had been quickly formulating a whopper to explain this away even if Dean didn't understand the details of lycanthrope mating this was going to be hard to explain.
"The gorgeous red mark over your eye is like my Lumberjack mark," Dean met his gaze.
"What does mine look like?" Castiel asked with voice hushed.
"A great wolf," Dean traced along the top edge of Castiel's eyebrow (on Dean it was a jaguar). "Play fighting with a jaguar…" She traced where the kitty curved along the side of his eye over his temple (Castiel's wolf on Dean's tattoo).
"So you have made me your mate?" Castiel gave her a sexy grin.
"Sorry."
"What if you are?" Castiel whispered.
"What?"
"What if I was your mate?" Castiel kissed her brow. "Would that be so bad?" He murmured his lips against her mark. "Baby?"
Dean was quiet and Castiel looked down at her.
"Dean?" Castiel felt his fingers sink through her body as she disappeared. What the hell?
Dean extracted herself from Castiel's arms, rolled from the bed and moved to find the mirror over her dresser. She peered at her reflection but her tattoo wasn't visible.
When she moved to get a closer look at Castiel's face he woke up. He had no tattoo either but there was hurt in his eyes and she could smell his fear.
{{What's wrong?}} Dean murmured in his mind.
{{I am sorry. I didn't mean anything by it. You just…I could feel how the idea made you happy,}} Castiel tried to explain. {{Don't push me away again.}}
"I couldn't. That's a horrible idea Wolf," Dean shook her head. "I remember coming out of that last dream with a burn on my arm. What would happen if I made us mates in a dream we shared?"
"That might solve all of our problems."
"It's crazy how attracted I was to you from the start," Dean sighed.
"I told you from the moment I smelled you…" Castiel felt a flood of relief and it bled over into Dean.
"What can I say Wolf you've got me hooked," Dean gave him a soft smile. "Bad doggie."
"You weren't saying that while I was doing it," Castiel was almost overwhelmed with the memory as he tried to imagine it. "I believe I've found your weakness Sweetheart."
"No you haven't."
"Yes I have," Castiel watched as she gave him a look. "A little wolf and you become a nice Lumberjack."
"I'm not a nice Lumberjack. I just like you," Dean argued.
"Finally she admits it," Castiel looked upward and pulled her off balance and against his chest. "Will wonders never cease?"
"No I'm still wondering why you're not kissing me right now," Dean pouted and Castiel ducked to capture her lip with a growl. {{Better.}}
Dean looked up as she heard footsteps in Castiel's room. She smelled Charlie even before she saw the adjoining door to her room swing open. Dean went still when she saw the gun in his hand. She had thought Castiel had been distracted by kissing her, but then she noticed he had moved her until she was out of Charlie's line of sight behind his body.
"Get away from her animal," Charlie's gaze moved over the two of them.
"Charlie-"
{{Dean,}} Castiel's grip tightened warningly on her arms.
She had been about to get up when a flash of precognition showed her Charlie jump and squeeze a shot off into her forehead.
"One. Don't fucking aim at my forehead," Dean hissed as she very slowly shifted and moved away from Castiel to get out of bed. "Two. Who do you think you are just barging into my room?"
"Your tattoo is active!"
"And? You're pointing a gun at me!" Dean observed.
"I'm a human!" He looked up as Dean moved slowly off the bed.
She had to walk across the room to get to the closet for clothes, but her robe was nearby draped over a chair. She didn't have a problem being naked but Charlie broke the unspoken lycanthrope rule and ogled her. She pulled the robe on and fastened the belt tight.
"Charlie."
"He's the animal! Why don't you ask him why your tattoo is active?" Charlie leveled the gun at Castiel. "Were you gonna rip out her throat?"
"Charlie!" Dean put some power into her voice as she moved in-between the bed and the gun. She knew Charlie felt it when his hand tightened on the gun and his eyes darted to Castiel. "I promised to protect him so you had better. Put. That. Down. Now."
"He bit you!" Charlie shouted tears in his eyes. "You could already be one of them don't you realize he's ruined your destiny?"
"Don't get pissed. You know very well that a bite isn't contagious when they're in human form," Dean held her hand out letting calming energy flow out to him.
"He's trying something! I can feel you fucker-"
"Charlie!" Dean stepped closer since his attention was on Castiel. "Stop this! My tattoo has been warning me about hostility from humans."
"Why is it active then?"
"You're waving a gun in my face! Why the fuck you do think?" Dean moved closer.
"I wouldn't shoot you," Charlie argued. "Even after what you've done."
"What? Even after what I've done? Fall in love? Find someone?"
"But he's one of them!"
Dean was on him in less time that it took him to think about pulling the trigger. He fought but she jerked the gun out of his hand and pinned him to the floor with her body. "So am I!" She growled inhuman and very kitty. "Are you gonna shoot me too?"
"You?" Charlie exclaimed as he fought, but she let him feel her strength. "Dean how could you-"
"Stop being stupid! Just stop talking!" Dean saw something move in her peripheral vision, and glanced up to see Castiel had pulled some jeans on and gotten a hold of Charlie's (really Dean's) gun. "Cas…Put that down…" Dean felt Castiel's rage and looked over at him. "Now," She made sure to keep her voice gentle, but there was no mistaking the steel in the word.
"He shot you in the head," Castiel shook his head in denial his arm trembling. How the hell had he seen that?
"It was just a warning. It wasn't real," Dean held Charlie down effortlessly with just one hand pushing down on his chest. She held her free hand out to Castiel. "Somehow you saw my precognitive flash. I get them sometimes when I fight."
"Handy," Castiel popped the bullet in the chamber out throwing the light in all directions as the shiny projectile arced end-over-end before clattering to the floor, ejected the clip into his hand and threw the empty gun onto the bed. He lifted the clip to his nose and gave it a sniff. "Silver?"
"All my guns have the same ammo in them," Dean watched him toss it onto the bed too. "I have different weapons and ammo for different problems, but I seldom have to use them."
Charlie was looking up at Dean and she could see the fury but the emotions that radiated out of him were sadness, betrayal and fear. "How long have you been one of them, and how come nobody has found out yet?"
"They haven't found out yet because I don't want them to," Dean looked down at him and he had tears in his eyes. "I was born this way."
"Born?" Charlie's eyes went wide. "How-"
"My father was a werejaguar," Dean explained. "My mum was a Lumberjack. Neither of them thought I would have developed lycanthrope side effects, but come puberty I had some wild nights."
"But you…" He was confused now, and Dean knew it had something to do with having hated lycanthropes his entire life.
"I'm a good person. Being a lycanthrope doesn't change that," Dean leaned back and eased the pressure of her arm. "Just like Maria's husband."
That was one of Charlie's only holes. Dean knew he was friends with Jose outside of work. She didn't just have Charlie to spy on the household. "He's Unus Homo Canis."
"So is Castiel," Dean lied but Charlie couldn't smell it. Castiel had come to town set on registering, and it had been her decision that he not follow through. "He's here trying to find his mate. I promised his father I'd protect him even if that means from you."
"You made a deal with one of them?"
"All right I'm getting tired of that," Dean growled. "How did I not notice you were this much of a bigot?"
"I thought you hated them as much as everyone else did," Charlie shook his head. "No wonder Samantha hates you so much!"
"She killed both of my parents; her own daughter."
"Damn," Charlie stayed where he was when Dean eased up, and Castiel helped her to her feet.
"So do I need to find someone else for your job?"
"Will you kill me if I say I'm going to leave?" Charlie sat up.
"I can't let anyone find out about this Charlie," Dean shook her head. "Don't make me do something that will make me one of them."
"Now you can say it?"
"Difference Charlie is that when I say "them" I actually mean just the evil and psycho lycanthropes. You mean ever single one of them, even me," Dean crossed her arms over her chest and glanced at Castiel as he touched her shoulder.
"Can you shift?"
"I haven't done it yet," Dean murmured. "So either I can't, or I'm more powerful than to succumb to it."
"Who knows?"
"The people in this room and Samantha," Dean prayed he would change his mind. She had thought she knew him, but she was seeing a scary part of him that she hadn't seen before. She should have known it was there. To be a Lumberjack there has to be a quiet place for one to go - a ruthless place - where everyone is in two categories bad and good.
"I trusted you," Charlie shook his head again as he tried to get up.
Dean hadn't thought about it, but she might have hurt him when she jumped on him. She held her hand out to help him up, but he looked at it as if it had sprouted claws and fur. "There's nothing I've lied to you about since we've met except this."
Charlie took her hand and she helped him up with ease. "I know you're the same person," He looked into her eyes his hand still in hers. "Right?"
Dean laughed, "No shit."
"I can't believe you've been able to hide it for so long," Charlie let go of her hand and took a step back. "So are you two mates?"
Dean blushed and shook her head. "Just passing the time."
"Hm," Charlie effortlessly gave the single sound much more meaning than was originally intended for it. "I'll get Maria started on lunch."
"Charlie," Dean called as he reached the door. "Please, don't tell anyone about me or Castiel."
Charlie looked over his shoulder at them and nodded, "Don't worry Dean. What are a couple more secrets of yours to keep?"
