Over the next couple weeks, Cas and Dean did some research on the old mine in Washington to see what would interest demons and came up with nothing.
"There's nothing special about these places. All they were digging up was gravel and sand, and sometimes sulfur. I don't get it."
Cas shrugged. "Maybe it didn't have to do with what they were originally digging for, but the location."
"What do you mean?"
Cas didn't know why he hadn't already thought about it. "Well, when Dick was looking for the demon tablet, he was digging all over trying to find it, right? Maybe the demons are looking for another tablet."
"Another tablet? How many of them are there?"
"I don't know, Dean. A lot, probably." Cas hadn't been high enough on the celestial rank to know a lot about that.
"So, the demons are digging around for another tablet, why? What one would they care about?"
"Any of them. Remember what Crowley said about the tablets? He said knowledge was power."
"But Crowley's dead."
"Maybe the new demon in charge is taking a page out of his book. Like it or not, Crowley knew how to be in charge and was smart enough to stay on top in Hell for a long time. If someone wanted to take over the throne, finding a tablet would be a good start."
Dean closed his laptop. "If they do, they'll go after Kevin."
Cas nodded sadly. "We should warn him."
"Warn? We need to get him back here before the demons start hunting him." Dean stood and took out his phone.
"Wait." Cas grabbed his wrist. "We'll tell Kevin but we can't force him to come back."
"Yeah we can."
"He's halfway through his degree. He's gonna want to stay and finish."
"He'll want to be alive to finish it."
"After everything we told him when he left, we can't go back on that."
"It was different then. Back then, demons weren't looking for a new tablet and the prophet to translate it."
It was true but that didn't change Cas's mind, nor would it change Kevin's. "We don't even know for sure if that's what's happening. Tell Kevin our theory but until we have proof, we can't ask anything of him."
Dean glared at Cas, wanting to tell him he was wrong. He sighed and put his phone back in his pocket. "Fine, you're probably right. I'll tell him in a little bit."
Cas nodded and stretched his arms up. His back had been a little sore lately. He thought it probably had something to do with Faith still wanting to be held and carried around and she was getting a little big for that now.
"I'm gonna go see what Faith is up to." Dean kissed Cas on the cheek as he walked by and started the search for his daughter.
Cas stayed in the library for a while, trying to see if he could figure out more on the demon situation. When he came up with nothing but sore eyes, he walked around aimlessly. Dean's voice carried down the halls of the bunker. Faith's shrieks of laughter followed. Cas could almost see the nephilim running just out of Dean's reach and hiding behind doors and walls until Dean could see her and running off again before he could catch her.
With a smile on his face, Cas walked to the kitchen. He wanted to try and make something for dinner since Dean was teaching him how to make more than just macaroni or grilled cheese. He stood near the stove and thought about what he wanted to try before reaching up to the cabinet above the stove and grabbing for a box in the back.
Dean had just managed to catch Faith and lifted her up in a fast spin. She put her arms out as he spun her around and yelled to go faster. Dean was laughing and dipping her up and down when he heard a loud cry from Cas.
He froze and held Faith close. She had stilled as well. "Cas?" Dean made his way across the bunker to where he heard the shout. "Cas, what happened?" He heard a bang like something hitting a wall and he ran. "CAS!"
"Kitchen."
His irritated voice calmed Dean a little. At least he didn't seem scared like something hurt him. He rushed to the kitchen and stopped dead when he saw the state the kitchen was in. Faith immediately busted out laughing.
Cas was covered in a layer of flour from head to toe. His dark hair was completely white, his shoulders and arms were barely visible, and a pile of it was surrounding his feet. Dean bit his lip to hold back the laughter bubbling in his chest.
"Poppa looks like a ghost." Faith giggled.
Dean finally laughed when Cas bowed his head, sending a shower of flour to the floor. "He does." He put Faith down and dug in his pocket.
"I was trying to cook something." Cas sounded defeated and annoyed. He shook some of the flour out of his hair while Faith and Dean continued to laugh.
"You realize the flour goes in a bowl, right?" Dean turned the camera on on his phone and lifted it up.
"I wasn't reaching for the flour. I knocked it off by accident." Cas hunched his shoulders and frowned. When he spotted Dean's phone he looked at him and put a hand up. "Are you taking a picture?" Dean just laughed. "Don't!"
"Come on, Cas." He zoomed in a little and smiled.
"No, Dean."
"Just look at me. Put your hand down and look at me." Dean laughed when Cas crossed his arms and gave him a bitchface. He snapped the picture and put his phone away, but not before sending it to Sam. "I think someone needs a shower, don't you, Faith?" He looked down at her as she nodded in agreement.
"I'll clean all this up first." Cas sighed and looked around him like he couldn't decide what to do first.
"Faith, go ahead and keep playing. Poppa and I need to clean up in here." He ruffled her hair as she ran by him and disappeared into the halls of the bunker.
"You don't have to help, Dean. I made the mess." He swiped some of the flour off his arms as Dean moved closer in the kitchen. "Really, you'll just spread it around more. I got it." He put a hand up to stop Dean from walking through the pile on the floor.
Dean smiled and pushed his hand aside. "What were you trying to do, Cas?"
"I was gonna cook dinner and I was going for the noodles behind the flour and it fell and landed on my head. When I tried to catch it, it spun and got everywhere and I just ended up throwing it over there." He pointed to the corner of the kitchen where the empty bag was laying on the floor.
Dean laughed again. "You big klutz." He reached forward when Cas rolled his eyes.
"Don't! You'll get it all over yourself." He stepped back but Dean followed with arms outstretched. "Dean."
He jumped forward and caught Cas in a tight hug. He laughed when the other man grumbled and tried not to laugh. Dean leaned forward and kissed Cas's white cheek. Cas did laugh finally when Dean pulled back with white lips and a white stipe down the front of his body.
"I guess I can help now?" Dean held his arms out.
"I guess." Cas shook his head as Dean smiled and went to find paper towels and rags.
It took them both longer than they expected to finally get the mess cleaned up. They had taken their shoes off and left them by the doorway. Cas sighed and leaned his head on Dean's shoulder.
"Now we just need to shower." The thought was really appealing now. His sore back and now knees from cleaning would feel good under some hot water.
"Yeah." Dean put an arm around Cas's shoulders. "Want a little company?"
Cas hummed in approval, knowing why Dean really wanted to join him. "That would be nice, yes."
"Okay, I'll go check on Faith again. You go ahead and get in. I'll bring all our stuff and join you in a minute." Dean stepped back to talk to Faith.
"Dean," he turned to stop him, "you know the bathroom on the second floor has a tub. A really big tub." He thought how sitting in the hot water would feel on his sore back.
Dean raised a brow in thought. "Well, I guess I'll meet you up there then."
They smiled and parted ways. Dean was close to Faith's room when he called her name. Her blonde head popped out of the doorway.
"Daddy?"
"Hey." He crouched in front of her.
She laughed at his messy, white appearance. "You got all dirty too."
"I did. Usually when you clean up a mess, you end up just as dirty as the mess you're cleaning." He laughed when she giggled again. "Have you worked on any of your schoolwork yet?"
They had decided not to send Faith to school for a lot of reasons involving her safety. Luckily, the bunker was filled with more knowledge than any school, and not all of it was supernatural related. Old school workbooks had been in one of the many storage rooms in the bunker. They had given Faith a couple to work on. She was able to read almost any language and reading level they had put in front of her. It scared Dean a little.
Faith looked away guiltily. "Some."
"Faith." He could tell she was lying.
"I'll do it now, Daddy." She looked up with wide eyes, eager to not get in trouble.
"Alright. Poppa and I are gonna clean up. It'll be a little while and then we'll make supper, okay?"
"Okay, Daddy." She nodded and headed back to her room.
As Dean stood, he saw the fairy practically attached to Faith's side hovering above her bed. She greeted the fairy and opened her book. The fairy sat on the bed across from her and watched her work.
Dean went to his room to gather a change of clothes for himself and Cas before heading upstairs. He heard the water running when he opened the door. Cas was standing near the massive tub in just his boxers when Dean walked in.
Cas glanced back over his shoulder. "Faith okay?"
"She's good. Doing some schoolwork." He set their clothes on the counter. "That fairy is helping her."
Cas could hear the disdain in Dean's voice. He smiled and walked over to Dean. "Dean, it's been five years. If she was going to hurt her or do something, she would've by now."
"You don't know that. It just creeps me out how she can get in here without a problem and how she can get Faith to do stuff. Remember when she brought her to that monster mob when I specifically told her not to?"
"And ended up saving me because she was there?" Dean's mouth clamped shut. "The fairy might have known something we didn't and helped Faith be there when she needed to be. I know you don't like fairies after what happened to you, but I think Faith has a good one."
Dean grumbled. "I think the water is hot enough." He pointed to the steaming water coming out of the faucet. Cas moved over to plug the drain. He took off his clothes while Cas watched the water fill the tub.
Once naked, he moved up behind Cas and wrapped his arms around him. Cas leaned back into him. "Any particular reason you wanted to come up to this bathroom, other than the obvious?" His hands ran over Cas's stomach and down the front of his boxers.
Cas pushed back into Dean and closed his eyes. "My back hurts. I thought this would feel good." He moaned lightly and placed his hands over Dean's.
Dean kissed Cas's neck and brought a hand around his waist, pulling his boxers down. Cas opened his eyes and helped him remove his last piece of clothing.
The water had filled the tub and Cas bent over to turn off the faucet. Dean couldn't resist the position they were now in and ran his hands up Cas's back. Cas laughed and leaned on the side of the tub. Dean pressed his palms into the middle of Cas's back and shoulder blades. Cas moaned appreciatively and dropped his head.
"That feel good?" Dean smiled when Cas just moaned louder. He pressed his thumbs into the back of his neck and rubbed circles into the tight muscles.
Cas stood and turned to face Dean. He pressed close and kissed him with more force than Dean expected. Dean held his waist and pushed back into him. Cas held his arms, slipping his hands up to his shoulders.
Dean nipped at Cas's lip when his hand slotted perfectly into the handprint on his shoulder. "You sure you don't want to put this off for a bit, come back later." He cupped Cas's ass and squeezed.
Cas laughed. "No, come on." He stepped back. "You first."
"Okay." Dean stepped into the hot water slowly. It was hotter than he expected and he hissed at the feeling. "God, is it hot enough?"
"I didn't want it to get cold. I figured we'd be here a while." He smiled as Dean settled into the tub that was big enough for him to extend his legs and lean back. He motioned for Cas to get in.
He stepped in and made to sit facing Dean but he tapped his arm. "Turn around and lean against me. I'll rub your back."
Cas positioned himself against Dean, sighing as the hot water relaxed his muscles. Dean wrapped his arms around him, nuzzling behind his ears and rubbing his stomach. Cas leaned his head back on Dean's shoulder.
The water was high enough in the tub with both of them in it to come up high on them. It only helped to relax him more. Dean ran his hands up Cas's arms and shoulders and started massaging him.
Strong hands worked his sore and tight muscles, which made Cas groan happily. He lifted his arms to hold the sides of the tub and arched his back into Dean's touch. "Oh, that feels good, Dean."
Dean smiled at the blissed out tone Cas already had. He put one arm around his waist and pulled him closer, keeping one hand on his back and massaged. His hand in front moved down to massage Cas's leg and thigh.
Cas wiggled against Dean and felt himself hardening as Dean's hand reached further inside his thigh. He reached back and cupped the back of Dean's head and tilting his head to the side, pulled him down to kiss his neck. Dean took advantage and kissed him up to his ear.
"Dean." Cas grabbed his hair and pushed back against him insistently.
"Relax." He laughed and kissed Cas again. "I'll take care of you." As he continued to kiss and lick the other man's neck and ear, Dean gathered some water into his hands and poured it on the top of Cas's head.
Cas shivered as the warm water gave him goosebumps. Dean then ran his fingers through his hair, making sure to get out all the flour. He felt his body going more limp and relaxed as Dean pressed fingertips into his scalp and down his neck.
He dragged his wet hands over Cas's mostly dry shoulders and down his sides. He kept one hand against Cas's hip while the other one wrapped around his half-hard dick and stroked him slowly.
Cas's hands tightened around the tub's edge as arousal flared through him. The warm water only amplified the feeling and made Cas's breath come in short gasps when Dean sped up a little.
Dean grunted when gasped and thrusted against him and into his hand. He kissed his shoulder and brought his free hand up to tease at one of Cas's nipples.
"Oh, God." Cas dug his fingers into the tub and pushed back harder. His body was singing in pleasure and he couldn't control the sounds he was making.
When Cas was fully hard and crying out loudly, Dean moved his hand away from his chest and slowed his strokes. He whimpered and took a shaky breath. "I've got you, Cas." He slipped his free hand under Cas's leg, lifting it slightly, and squeezed a cheek.
"Dean, fuck me." He gasped out the words and turned wide, blown black eyes to Dean.
Dean leaned forward and kissed him on the lips. He took his hand away from his hard cock, making Cas whine. He shushed him and kissed him again.
Cas made to turn around but Dean grabbed his hips to still him. "Dean, please."
"I've got you. Relax." He pulled him back against him and kissed the back of his neck and shoulders. He brought his hands up to knead at his back again and felt him calming.
Eventually, he brought one hand down around his entrance and pressed against it lightly. Cas moaned and dropped his head back on his shoulder. Dean whispered calming words as he slowly pushed a finger into Cas.
Cas groaned and pushed back, wanting more. Dean took his time and slowly added another when he was ready. He was getting hard as Cas grinded on his lap and moaned his name. He stretched Cas open enough for a third finger and tried to hold him somewhat still with an arm wrapped around his chest.
"Tell me what you want again, Cas. I love to hear you say it." Dean dragged his teeth over the shell of Cas's ear as he talked.
"Fuck me." He moaned it the first time and shivered when Dean licked behind his ear. He growled it the second time, "Fuck me, Dean."
His fingers curled slightly inside Cas, brushing his prostate and making him buck and groan. He removed his fingers and pushed Cas's hips up. Cas used his feet to hover long enough for Dean to position himself and then Cas lowered himself down on Dean.
Once fully inside Cas, Dean had to breathe and stop himself from thrusting up immediately. Cas was doing the same. He started easy with just a small push and Cas gasped and bit his lip. Dean was a little limited in how he could move so Cas used his arms to lift himself up and push down on Dean.
Soon, Cas was moving faster and Dean had started stroking him again. It didn't take long for Cas's arms to get tired. Dean wrapped an arm around his chest and slid down in the tub so he and Cas were laying in a more flat position. This let Dean have more control in his thrusts, which he picked up in a fast pace.
They both had to bend their legs slightly to accommodate their position in the tub, but it was better to move with. Dean pushed up with his feet and made Cas moan and clench around him as he thrusted into him.
Water was sloshing up around them and threatening to go over the edge of the tub, but neither of them cared as their climaxes neared. Dean stroked Cas faster and continued to hit his prostate and Cas came with a loud cry of his name. A few thrusts later and Dean came inside Cas.
They were still in the tub as the water around them calmed and they caught their breath. Dean slipped out of Cas and sat up, pulling him along with him. He held Cas's head close with a hand and kissed his forehead. Cas smiled and closed his eyes.
They didn't leave the tub until the water grew cold and they couldn't take it anymore. As they dressed, Cas kept pulling Dean close to kiss him. Dean just laughed and asked if he wanted to go another round. Cas rolled his eyes and kissed him again.
Downstairs, Faith had finished most of her work and was chasing her fairy around the library. Dean and Cas were on the stairs when the child knocked into one of the bookshelves and caused the sharp sword on top of it to fall. Dean looked up in time to see the blade hitting Faith before clanging to the floor.
Faith cried out in more surprise than pain and jumped back from the long sword. Dean ran the rest of the stairs and landed on his knees beside her.
"Faith, are you okay?" Dean was panicked as he saw blood staining her shirt. "Oh God." He pulled up her shirt to expose her cut abdomen.
When she saw the blood, she started crying. Cas knelt next to her and looked at the wound. Her fairy was flying close to her and Faith just cried harder.
Dean swiped at the fairy like he was swatting a fly. "Get out of here!"
The fairy turned to Dean and huffed before flying out of the room. Cas comforted Faith and sat down next to her. Dean looked back at the wound and could already see it healing. He put her shirt back and picked the sword up and put it back where it had been.
Faith turned to Cas and hugged him. "I didn't mean to, Poppa." She was crying now because she expected to be punished. The pain had subsided and the wound had healed.
"I know." Cas rubbed her back and rested his chin on her head.
Dean looked down at them and frowned. If Faith had been any other kid, that would've been a bad injury. "You'll know better next time, huh? You need to be careful."
Faith sniffed and rubbed her wet face on Cas's shirt. "Yes."
Cas pulled her back and looked at her torn and bloody shirt. "Let's go clean you up and throw out that shirt. Daddy needs to go make dinner anyway." He smiled at Dean as he stood and took Faith's hand.
"Thought you wanted to help me."
"I don't think you want me in the kitchen with you." He led Faith off to her room and Dean headed to the kitchen.
Cas let Faith pick out whatever shirt she wanted as he sat on her bed and waited. She took out a red shirt with the Batman symbol on the front. Dean had bought it for her before she could even wear it. She had already watched all the Batman movies with Dean and shared her father's love of the superhero.
He took her ruined shirt as she changed and balled it up in his lap. She turned to him and looked a little sheepish. "What's wrong, honey?"
"Is Daddy mad?" She pulled at the end of her shirt nervously.
"Come here." He patted the bed next to him. She hopped up beside him. "He's just worried about you. He knows it was an accident. You're a special girl, Faith. Things like that would cause a lot of pain and problems for most people, and your dad forgets that you're special sometimes." He put an arm around her small shoulders. "He's just scared that something will hurt you and he won't be able to help."
"I thought nothing could hurt me." She looked up in worry.
"Not nothing. There are a couple things that can."
She nodded. "Poppa, can you color my hair for me?" She crawled over the bed and took out her box of wash-out colors Sarah had given her for Christmas.
He smiled and took the box. "Sure, what color do you want?"
"All of them!" She sat cross-legged on her bed.
"All of them?" Cas laughed as she nodded. "Alright, if that's what you want."
When Dean called that dinner was ready, Cas had put a stripe of every color decorating her long blonde hair. Each stripe was separated by a thin line of her natural color. She looked in the mirror approvingly and took Cas's hand as they walked to the kitchen.
Dean smiled as Cas and Faith walked in together. "Wow, look at that hair." Faith did a little spin for him and he laughed. "Nice shirt, sweetie. Come on, let's eat while it's fresh."
They sat around the table and ate together happily. Dean had already called Kevin and he had told Dean that he wasn't coming back to the bunker unless he had to. He had expected as much and let him go. They still didn't have proof anyway. Tonight, he just enjoyed being with his family at the dinner table.
As Dean and Cas were heading to bed later that night, Dean got a text from Sam in reply to the picture he had sent of Cas.
Oh my god dean. What did you do to him? lol don't let cas cook anymore.
Dean laughed and typed back.
He did that to himself and don't worry I won't. Kiss my nephew for me.
He didn't see a need to tell Sam about what they thought could be happening with the demons. If there was a problem, they would handle it. Sam was out of it and for the sake of Henry, he needed to stay that way.