Chapter Twenty Four
"I'll finish up with you in a bit Castiel but first, I've got to deal with pesky little Dean here. And don't worry Castiel," Lucifer looks over at Castiel, a small grin tainting his lips, "I'll make it nice and painful for Dean here."
"I'm sorry."
"You were too late for Dean though wasn't you?"
"Let's see how long you last without Dean, with his brother hating your very existence. Let's see how long you last before you just give up, do the universe a favour and kill yourself."
Castiel sits up screaming Dean's name, thrashing around, his arm colliding with something hard, a muffled shout to his right but he doesn't care and why is it dark and where is Dean? He needs to save Dean, to stop this.
"Cas!"
Strong hands grip his shoulders and it takes him several moments to see that it's Dean, that he's safe, that he's at Chuck's, that he was just dreaming.
"De-Dean?" Castiel asks, his voice thick.
"Yeah it's me Cas, you're okay, you're okay," Dean presses their foreheads together, his hands resting on Castiel's cheeks softly.
"Dean," Castiel says again but this time he chokes down a sob, leaning forward and burying himself in Dean's chest. One of Dean's arms wraps around his waist, the other hand resting against the back of his neck, making slow soothing motions.
The door slams open with a bang and Castiel doesn't move to see who it is, too wrapped up in Dean's embrace, trying to stop himself from crying because Dean shouldn't have to keep doing this, keep having to comfort him.
"It's alright Sammy, we're fine, go back to sleep," Dean says, slightly out of breath and a few short moments later the door is being shut again, Dean kissing the top of Castiel's head, murmuring, "It's okay baby, it was just a dream."
Castiel shudders, balling his fists against Dean's chest, "I hate it Dean, I hate having to sleep, having to dream, my mind using the worst of my memories and forcing me to relive it. I hate it all."
"I know baby, I know," Dean murmurs, "I know how you feel and I wish I could stop it all for you, I really do. You don't deserve this Cas, none of it."
Castiel sighs heavily, leaning out of Dean's chest to kiss him, to remind him that Dean is here, that he's okay, that Dean loves him.
Dean lets out a shaky breath once they separate, Castiel letting his hands slither down Dean's chest, stopping short when he sees a red angry mark across his right ribs, recalling that he had hit something when he was coming out of the dream.
"Did I hit you?" Castiel asks, his stomach clenching.
"No big deal Cas," Dean kisses him on the forehead, "I suppose I shouldn't have got in the way, I forget that you're an angel with superhuman strength sometimes."
"I'm sorry," Castiel bites his lip, putting 'hitting Dean' onto his long list of reasons to hate himself.
"Hey, like I said, no big deal," Dean smiles, nudging him, "Remember, I did stab you once, first time we ever met."
Castiel smiles, "Yes, and you shot me, several times if I recall correctly."
"Didn't really think that that would turn out to be this," Dean nuzzles his neck, "That Castiel, who we had no freaking clue who or what he was, who turned around and told me he was a freaking angel of the lord would turn out to be the guy that would completely make me question my whole life, make me actually talk about my feelings and fucking spoon in bed."
Castiel can't help but cough out a laugh, "At least you're the bigger spoon."
"Yeah, there's always that," Dean grins, pecking him on the lips before murmuring, "Ready to go back to sleep baby?"
Castiel sighs but nods, letting himself be gently pulled back to lying down, Dean's arms wrapped tightly around him, Castiel buried into Dean's chest. He tangles his legs with Dean's, already feeling himself fall back to sleep with Dean humming a song that Castiel knows to be 'Hey Jude', one of the very few songs Castiel is familiar with.
"Just go to sleep baby, I'll watch over you."
So Castiel does.
Castiel wakes up to an empty bed, his hands clasping on to nothing but he forces himself not to panic. Dean has probably gone in the shower or woken up before him and left him to sleep, something that Castiel should feel grateful for. But he can't help the feeling of being alone which he knows makes no sense but he can't help it. He sits up on the bed, listening to hear the shower of their en-suite bathroom but not hearing anything. So Dean isn't in there then.
Just when Castiel thinks about getting up and going to find him, the door opens. Dean walks in, carrying a tray too high for Castiel to see what's on it. He shuts the door with his hip, a grin plastered on his face.
"Morning Cas," Dean smiles, "Just got up?"
"Yes," Castiel nods blearily, "What's that?"
"Breakfast," Dean says cheerfully, placing the tray on Castiel's lap, an assortment of pancakes, fruit and croissants scattered on there, two glasses of juice in the corner, "Thought I'd treat you to breakfast in bed."
Castiel smiles, pulling Dean by the waist to kiss him, "Thank you Dean."
"You're welcome," Dean grins, climbing back into bed under the covers, grabbing a croissant and taking a massive bite from it, "But this is just the start."
"The start?" Castiel asks, picking up the fork and taking small bites of the pancakes.
"Yeah, I got a whole day planned full of fun," Dean winks at him.
"Fun?" Castiel asks dubiously.
"Yeah, fun," Dean rolls his eyes, "Is that a foreign concept for you?"
"Shut up Dean," Castiel retorts, getting a nudge in the ribs for that statement.
"Hey, I can cancel the fun day if you act all bitchy," Dean says flatly but he breaks out into a grin, kissing him sloppily on the lips.
"What does this fun day entail?" Castiel asks curiously.
"Now that would be telling," Dean says, waggling his eyebrows. Even with Castiel's incessant questions, he still doesn't give anymore answers, miming zipping his mouth which Castiel assumes to mean that he's not going to say anything else on the matter so Castiel soon stops trying.
"I suppose I should shower before this day of fun, yes?" Castiel asks, once they've finished eating.
"Yep, but I suppose," Dean says huskily, leaning in, his mouth brushing against Castiel's as he speaks, "I could join you."
"I wouldn't expect anything different," Castiel says with a smile, kissing Dean roughly before grabbing his hand and yanking him to the bathroom.
When they are both finally dressed, wearing simple t-shirts and jeans, no shoes or socks (Dean vehemently tells Castiel he doesn't need them which only confuses Castiel further) Dean takes Castiel by the hand and leads him out of the building, saying a short goodbye to Chuck and Sam who only look in amusement at Castiel's baffled expression.
It's only when Dean leads him to the beach, a private section that no one but the owners (which Chuck has been appointed to due to Castiel) of the house are allowed to enter, sand sifting through their toes that Castiel understands the reason for no socks or shoes.
"You ever been to the beach before Cas?" Dean asks, slowly strolling across the beach, Castiel in tow.
"I've never had occasion, I've saw a beach before obviously but never actually stood on one," Castiel says, enjoying the feel of the sand under his feet, the calming sound of the waves lapping to his left. Standing here, Castiel can pretend that he and Dean are the only ones left on Earth, that everything is okay, that they are in paradise.
"Well, now you're finally here, do you like it?" Dean asks, stopping them and turning to meet Castiel, his arms wrapping around his waist.
"Yes, but I like it especially because you are here with me," Castiel says honestly, kissing Dean softly.
"Hmm, good answer," Dean smiles, "So that means you've never went into the sea?"
"No," Castiel says.
"Well we can soon change that," Dean grins childishly, grabbing Castiel's hand and dragging him to the waves, pulling him until the water is to their knees. It's unlike anything Castiel has felt before, to look out into the sea and see nothing but endless water hitting against the brilliant blue sky, not a cloud in sight. He closes his eyes for a moment, gripping Dean's hand tightly, and just inhales, taking everything in. He feels Dean kiss him on his temple so Castiel opens his eyes and turns his head to see Dean smiling at him, his eyes twinkling.
Castiel kisses him and then tries to pull him in further, wanting the waves to envelop him, surround him entirely.
"Cas, I can't, my stitches," Dean says grudgingly.
Castiel's face lights up, "I'll carry you."
"You'll what?" Dean asks with a laugh.
Castiel turns away from him, leaning down slightly, "Jump on my back."
"You're serious," Dean states.
"Jump on my back Dean," Castiel commands and with a short laugh Dean jumps on his back, wrapping his legs tightly around his waist, his arms around his neck as he kisses him on the cheek.
"Giddy up then," Dean orders.
"What?" Castiel asks with a frown.
Dean laughs, "I mean go."
Castiel doesn't wait for any more instruction and wades into the water, holding onto Dean's legs as the water hits him to his hips, his jeans soaking but he finds he doesn't care because the feeling of being in the water is worth the wetness. Dean shrieks loudly into his ear when a large wave hits them, splattering Dean's legs with water but thankfully not his stomach where the stitches are, his body pressed too tightly to Castiel's for the water to get there. Castiel can't help but pretend to drop Dean just to see his reaction and Dean doesn't disappoint, yelping in his ear and holding on even tighter, very nearly cutting off Castiel's air supply.
"You're such a dick," Dean pants.
"But you still love me," Castiel murmurs.
"Guess I'm an idiot then," Dean says into his ear.
"I'm not going to disagree on that one," Castiel smiles.
"Hey!" Dean shouts.
"Come on, let's get out of the water," Castiel sighs for a moment, taking one last look at the endless sea before turning his back on it and wading back to the sand, Dean staying wrapped around his waist even when they're completely out of the water, "Are you going to get off?"
"Nope, going to guide you to our next destination," Dean kisses his cheek.
"It's a good job I'm an angel and still have my angelic strength then," Castiel jokes.
"Like I said before, you're a dick," Dean grins, freeing one arm from around Castiel's neck and pointing further away from the house behind a jutting cliff face, "It's just over there."
"What's just over here?" Castiel asks with a frown but starts walking that way anyway, intrigued as to what he will find.
"Wait and see," Dean says and Castiel quickens his pace impatiently but stops short when he walks around the cliff face and sees what's there. Dean jumps off Castiel's back and turns to him as Castiel takes in the blanket placed on the floor, a basket on top of it with what Castiel assumes to be filled with food.
"You did all this?" Castiel asks in awe.
"Uh-huh," Dean smiles coyly, wrapping his arms around Castiel's neck.
"When?"
"While you were sleeping, you sleeping for twelve hours every night like a log has finally come in handy," Dean nudges him with his hips.
Castiel can't think of what to say other than, "I love you Dean."
"You better," Dean winks, "I didn't go to all this trouble for nothing. Now take off your pants."
"Wait, what?" Castiel tilts his head.
Dean grins, "They're soaked."
"Oh," Castiel's cheeks flush, "Only if you take yours off as well."
Dean smirks, "Deal."
They both pull their jeans off and Castiel decides he might as well take his shirt off as well, Dean doing the same, both of them only wearing their boxers but he doesn't care. It's not like there's anyone else on the beach to see them, they're even covered from Chuck's home.
Dean kisses Castiel deeply, his hands trailing down Castiel's chest before grabbing his hand and pulling him down to sit on the blanket, pulling out food after food and Castiel can almost feel his mouth water. They spend the rest of the afternoon eating as much as they can and Castiel finally learns what the phrase 'so full you could burst' means, his stomach having expanded an alarming amount. They take short trips to the sea, Castiel dragging Dean with him and Dean always lets himself be pulled no matter how many times Castiel does it. They only walk a few steps into the sea, the waves lapping at their knees but it is enough for Castiel. All Castiel has to do is look at Dean, who is smiling at him with so much love and he doesn't stop himself from kissing him, wrapping himself around him as they slowly make their way back to the blanket.
It's not until the sky starts to darken that Castiel realises how long they've actually been out here, how quickly the time has gone, and how he wishes that time could have slowed down for them so they could have stayed here forever. It reminds him how much he wishes he could be with Dean in Heaven, their days always being like this, content with just lying down on a beach in each other's arms.
"Guess we gotta head back soon," Dean sighs, his arms wrapped around Castiel's waist, Castiel's head resting on Dean's chest.
"Yes, I suppose so," Castiel sighs too, making small patterns on Dean's chest.
"Enjoy yourself today Cas?" Dean asks.
"Yes, thank you Dean," Castiel smiles.
"Good."
"Why did you do all this?" Castiel asks, lifting his head slightly to look at Dean's face.
Dean's face falls slightly, "I don't know, we never get to have days off to just enjoy ourselves you know? We deserve to at least have one day where we just relax and have fun. And well, tomorrow I'm getting my stitches out which means- it means we can't keep delaying it anymore Cas."
Castiel knows what he means by 'it', that he knows that they have been delaying, using Dean's injury as an excuse. Dean would more than likely have been able to fight Lucifer these past few days as he has been more than capable of running around on this beach with Castiel but they had used it as a last minute excuse, to put it off just for a short while longer so they could be happy, pretend to be as normal as possible. And Castiel knows they have to stop the excuses now. People are dying, the world is in chaos and they have a way of stopping it.
"It's gonna work right?" Dean asks quietly, his voice uncertain.
"Yes," Castiel says, reaching up to kiss Dean, "It's going to work."
Dean nods, "Yeah, okay."
"We should go back to Chuck's now," Castiel says sadly.
"Just give it a couple more minutes," Dean says tightening his hold on Castiel.
"Okay," Castiel agrees, letting his head fall back onto Dean's chest.