Author's Note: Revisions made and finished on 5/15/2018
Wednesday, December 6th
"Cas, it's going to be okay. I'll only be gone a few days at most." Dean placed his tattered duffle bag on the bedroom floor.
The angel was sitting cross-legged in bed, the blankets and sheets pooled around his waist. He rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands trying to push the sleep out of them. Father, he hated having to sleep now. He flexed and unflexed his muscles before folding his hands underneath the blanket. "Dean." His voice came out hoarse and he cleared his throat to try and return to his normal vibrato. He looked over at the clock… 5:23AM. Thank Father that Chuck agreed to do the early shift today. "Dean, it's five in the morning." He stifled a yawn. "Do you really have to leave right now?"
He shivered against the cold pulling the blanket up to his neck and falling back against the pillows. He wasn't particularly fond of this cold either. "Sammy said it's a small vamp nest and it shouldn't take more than a couple of days."
Castiel rolled over on his side watching Dean jumping up and down as he shimmied into his jeans. "Dean." His voice was particularly gravelly this morning. The seriousness of the tone caught the hunter's attention and he faltered over the button. They locked eyes and Dean felt himself start to drown in those big blue orbs of his. "I just believe that I could be of assistance to you."
Dean shook his head and went back to buttoning his pants. "Cas, you can't come. You've never been on a hunt before."
Castiel sat up again and defiantly folded his arms over his chest. "Dean! I have fought supernatural beings before!" He argued.
The hunter slipped a plain black shirt over his head. "Yes, but it's been at least twenty-five years since you've fought anything. Besides," He walked over to the bed pulling on a red and black flannel shirt. "Your angel mojo has been on the fritz the last week and I don't want to risk anything happening to you."
"But I-," Dean sat on the edge of the bed and pulled Cas flush against him catching his lips in a passionate kiss.
When they broke away Cas let his head fall to Dean's shoulder. He carded his hands through Castiel's hair. "Everything is going to be okay, Sweetheart." Castiel involuntarily shuddered at the nickname and melted further into Dean's arms. He leaned over and kissed the top of the angel's head. "I'll be back before you know it."
He placed a quick kiss on Cas's lips and started to pull away. The angel caught his wrist and drew Dean into a deeper kiss. He savored the hunter's warm plump lips before running his tongue lightly along Dean's lips asking for permission. When he complied, Castiel's tongue explored the hunter's mouth, running his tongue carefully along the top of Dean's mouth. The Winchester moaned, and Cas's tongue slid forcefully across Dean's. He broke away sucking gently on Dean's bottom lip before leaving a trail of kisses across his jawline and down his neck. He stopped at the base of his neck as he sucked, licked and bit at the flesh. His heart was racing at the sound of Dean panting in his ear. He broke away and smiled contently at the bruised skin. His eyes flicked back up to Dean's. "Dean I-," He dropped his forehead against the hunter's. He wanted to tell him he'd miss him, that he'd feel empty without him… that home wasn't home unless Dean was there. But his throat closed up and instead he mumbled, "Come back in one piece."
-[]-
By midday Dean and Sam were sitting in a motel room in Lincoln, Nebraska. Sam was sitting on his laptop mapping out the path the vampires had taken to try and find their nest. Dean was sitting on his bed, nose stuck in an old beat up copy of Cat's Cradle, hidden of course by his Busty Asians magazine. Cas had insisted that he try and read other Kurt Vonnegut books and since this was the only other book by Vonnegut that Cas had, he insisted that Dean take it with him.
"So, it looks like the victims are typically in their mid to late twenties." Sam clicked a few more times to scroll farther down onto the page. "They had nothing in common except that they all disappeared on Friday nights." He furrowed his eyebrows. "But they're all from neighboring towns." Dean set his magazine/book down on the bed and looked at Sam expectantly. He had always found that letting his brother completely talk out the situation helped them formulate a better plan. "Lincoln is where they started and -," He studied the screen again. "-and the other six victims were within a twenty-minute radius of here." He looked up at Dean. "So, their nest has to be in this town."
Dean shrugged and swung his feet off the bed. "What's bothering me is, why are they killing their victims? Don't they usually convert them?" The older Winchester walked over to the laptop leaning on the table with his forearms to see the screen.
Sam gave Dean a sarcastic smirk. "Well check this out. Not only are the victims drained of all their blood, but the vital organs are missing too!"
The older Winchester snorted standing up straight. "That's disgusting." He removed his flannel placing it on the table. "Are we sure it's vampires then?"
Sam was again facing the computer screen, eyes dancing back and forth reading every detail. "Well, remember a couple months back Bobby found that weird vampire cult that was all about 'new age' vampirisms. They believed that not a single part of the body should be wasted."
Dean let out a puff of air and ran a hand through his blonde hair. "Wow, well at least they're resourceful, huh?" He scratched at the back of his head. "How many do you think there are?"
Sam turned to look at him. "I think at least four, at most six. A big nest, but nothing we can't handle. Should be just a day or two…" His voice fell flat when he took sight of the giant hickey on Dean's collar bone. He chuckled.
His brother turned to fully face him. "What are you laughing at, Sammy?"
The younger Winchester snorted in a failed attempt to bite back his laugh. "It's nothing Dean. It's just-," He bit his lip fighting back a condemning grin. "Nice hickey…" He murmured.
Dean shoved him in his seat and walked back towards the bed. "Shut up, bitch." He hoped to God Sam didn't see him blush. He picked up his Busty Asian magazine and the Vonnegut book fell.
Sam's eyes caught the book hitting the floor. He peered over at it. "Is that a-," His eyes flicked back up to Dean. "Is that a book?"
Dean scrambled to pick it up and clutched it to his chest. "It's nothing." He turned away. It was unbelievable how much he was blushing. Jesus Christ, when did he turn into such a girl. "Cas gave it to me…" He mumbled inaudibly.
"Dean." Sam's voice held a worried tone. The older Winchester whirled around to meet Sam's concerned eyes. "You really care about him, don't you?"
"Come on Sammy, no chick-flick moments."
Sam rubbed his lips together choosing his next words carefully. Any wrong words and Dean would shut the conversation down before it even started. "Does Cas know you're a hunter?"
Dean rubbed the side of his cheek uncomfortably. "He does." Sam opened his mouth to protest but Dean cut him off. "Listen Sammy, Cas is different." He bit his lip not entirely ready to have this conversation so instead he settled for, "I promise when we get back from the vamp hunt I'll let you meet him… well really meet him. Not drunk meet him."
Sam crossed his arms over his chest. "Fine."
-[]-
Castiel flew to his brother Jimmy's house, standing on his front porch. His head was pounding, and his nose started bleeding the moment that his shoes touched the steps. He wiped it on his sleeve and rapped on the door. Jimmy answered immediately noticing his brother's disheveled hair, bleary eyes and his nose and cheeks flushed red from the cold. "Cassie?"
The angel smiled sheepishly. "Hello Jimmy."
"What are you doing here?" He waved Castiel inside. "Come in, get out of the cold!" Castiel followed Jimmy into the house and into the kitchen. "Sit down. Would you like some tea?"
Cas pulled out a chair and sat down looking up at Jimmy. "Yes, please." He loosened his tie and pulled his trench coat over his chest, still cold from outside. Dean was probably right. He did need a heavier coat. Jimmy turned on the hot water and took a seat across from Castiel.
"So, what's going on, man?" He folded his hands over the table.
Castiel scratched at a scuff on the dark table distractedly. "I need your help."
Jimmy's insides dropped. His heart started pounding. "Wait, what?"
The angel bit his lip and looked to the side. "I need to buy a television and I don't know where to go."
The human twin leaned back in his chair. "Cas, wha-?" The kettle whistled loudly, and he stood up immediately to turn it off. He grabbed a couple of mugs, put tea bags in and brought them to the table.
"Thank you." The angel said softly.
Jimmy blew on the hot liquid. "So, what do you need a TV for all the sudden?"
"Dean mentioned he wants to watch Christmas movies and he's… away for work so I thought I'd surprise him with one."
Jimmy chuckled. "Damn you got it bad!"
