Thanks for the awesome reviews!
Enjoy…
Chapter 14
When Castiel woke the next morning he stretched contentedly, snuggling closer to Dean's chest and nuzzling against him.
"Morning sleepyhead. You ok now?" Castiel looked up at Dean, nodding softly and gazing at the hunter's exhausted face. It was clear that his friend hadn't slept at all during that night, and a quick glance at Sam told him the same thing.
"Hey Cas."
"Hi Sam."
"No more nightmares?"
"No. C-can we have breakfast?"
"Sure thing buddy, what do you want to eat?"
"Porridge?" Dean had finally managed to convince Cas to try some more food, even though it was all milk based – Dean put twice the amount of milk in with the oats than recommended.
He also slipped in some honey to make it sweeter, so Castiel didn't complain about the taste.
"Sure thing buddy, do you wanna have a bath or something while I get it ready?"
Castiel nodded, watching as Sam took his cue and wandered into the bathroom, turning on the taps and filling the bath tub with bubbles, warm water and a couple of rubber ducks that Dean had bought in a moment of weakness.
God, his older brother was a complete pushover when it came to kids…
Not that Sam would ever dare to mention it to Dean's face.
Seven minutes later, Castiel was settled inside the tub, playing with the rubber ducks and giggling as he splashed Sam with water.
Sam too was fighting back his own laughter, scooping up handfuls of bubbles and placing them on Castiel's head, snorting when Cas looked around confused for a moment before swiping them away.
The Winchester then took one of the rubber ducks and pretended to make it swim, whilst Cas guided his next to Sam's.
"You ready for your hair to be done now?" Cas nodded, continuing to play with the bubbles as Sam washed his hair and massaged shampoo into his scalp.
"Right, you're all done. There's a towel on the rack." Sam smiled before turning and leaving the room, leaving Cas with some privacy so that he could climb out of the bath and cover himself.
"Hey Cas, breakfast's ready." Castiel heard Dean calling from downstairs, so hurried to pull on his trousers and a tiny AC/DC T-shirt that Bobby had found. To be truthful, the hunter had bought it mainly for Dean's benefit, rather than Castiel's.
He then ran downstairs, taking two steps at a time before skidding to a halt in front of Dean.
"Porridge?"
"Yeah buddy, eat up." Dean pushed a small bowl towards Cas, who was completely distracted by the goldfish swimming in a fish bowl on the kitchen table.
"My fish!"
"Yeah, kiddo, your fish." Dean sighed, the carnival had been great, but what the hell were a group of hunters meant to do with a freakin fish…there was no way they could take it on a hunt or anything.
"What's his name?" Cas asked, looking closer at the fish and beaming as his scales shone in the light.
"I dunno, you name him." Cas' eyes lit up and he gasped.
"Really?"
"Sure thing, it's your fish. So, what's it going to be?"
"Ariel."
"As in The Little Mermaid?"
"Yeah, and most angel names end with –iel." Cas beamed, rather pleased with himself for coming up with such a brilliant name.
"Ariel it is then. Anyway, eat your breakfast."
Castiel nodded, eating a few mouthfuls and frequently glancing up at the fish.
When Sam and Dean had their heads turned, he scooped up a spoonful of porridge and placed it into the fish bowl, smiling softly.
"Hey, CAS! What are you doing?!"
"Feeding Ariel, she's hungry."
"No, no Cas. You can't feed a fish porridge!"
"Why not?"
"Fishes don't eat that stuff, it will…I don't know, they just don't. It could kill her. Don't worry, Bobby's gone to the store, he'll get some proper fish food for you.
Cas nodded, his lip wobbling as he realized that he could have hurt his first ever pet.
"I'm sorry Dean! I c-can't look after anyone right." A single tear trickled down Castiel's cheek and Dean wiped it away with a calloused finger.
"Don't worry buddy, we'll put her in another bowl."
Minutes later, Ariel was swimming in another, bigger bowl and Cas was watching her with wide eyes and a fascinated expression.
"Deeeean?"
"Yes?"
"What if she gets lonely? I can't always play with her and she might get sad."
"Cas, it's a fish."
"She's a fish. And that doesn't matter. God made all creatures equal."
"Cas, Ariel will be fine."
"But-"
Dean was thankfully saved by the bell…Bobby was back from his shopping trip.
"Mornin idjits, m'glad the house is still's in one piece."
"Ye of little faith!"
Bobby snorted with derisive laughter before scooping Cas up and giving him a tight cuddle.
Cas smiled, relaxing into the hunters embrace before looking up at him.
"Bobby, did you get Ariel's fish food?"
"I sure did buddy, here you go. Just give her a pinch."
Cas did as he was told, watching with fascination as Ariel swam to the top of the bowl and began to eat the flakes.
…SN…SN…SN…SN…SN…
Once everyone was fed, the dysfunctional family went into the lounge to watch Toy Story, although the three hunters would refuse point blank to acknowledge this fact at a later date.
However, halfway through the film, the hunters exchanged a worried glance.
Castiel was curled up in a tiny ball by their feet, quaking softly and although he was facing the screen, it was clear by his vacant expression and glassy eyes that the little boy wasn't paying attention.
"D'ya think it's the nightmare upsetting him?" Dean whispered.
"Probably." Sam replied quietly, leaning down to scoop Castiel up.
None of the adults failed to notice Castiel's flinch and sharp intake of breath.
"Hey baby boy, what's wrong?"
"Nothing." Castiel's voice cracked as he buried his face into Sam's plaid shirt.
It was clear that the little boy didn't want to talk about whatever was troubling him.
…SN…SN…SN…SN…SN…
That night, with Cas tucked in bed with his teddies, Gabriel appeared in the living room with a bag of sherbet lemons and a smug expression.
"I've found it!"
"Found what?"
"The meaning of life and the purpose of trigonometry…a cure for Cas you hairless ape!"
"What is it?"
"A spell."
"Fabulous…that's what got us into this mess in the first place!"
"Look, it'll work this time. Anyway, we can only do it during a full moon which is in two days, and we need pig's blood, my blood drawn with a platinum blade, the bone of a dog, three vials of lamprey essence, four scoops of African dreamroot and a few words of Enochian."
Sam and Dean shot him a worried look.
"Look, it's as easy as pie."
"Well, let's go and find Nigella's recipe book…" Dean snorted, to him, the spell didn't sound simple at all.
"Are you sure it'll work?"
"Certain."
"Somehow I'm not convinced."
"Stick it Dean…anyway, see you guys in a couple of days. Make the most of them."
"We will." Sam sounded somewhat miffed that Gabriel had found a cure and Dean couldn't help but be saddened to.
With a flutter of wings Gabriel disappeared and the hunters headed upstairs. They gently eased into the single bed and cuddled him, wanting to enjoy their last few hours with an angel who would soon loose his people skills and turn into a fierce warrior of God.
Neither Winchester was happy about the prospect.
TBC…
Sooo, gonna start wrapping this up now...exams are coming up and I don't have time to write as much.
Probably a couple of chapters and an epilogue.
Please drop a line :)