Okie Dokie, this was actually done Thursday night and I couldn't get a ride into town to publish it. Friday I was super busy with the pow wow, same Saturday, as for today, well, not going tonight. Too tired and too hot. *laughs*
Oh my god, you guys, you would not believe the dancers last night...just...gah! They had a Golden Age (50+) competition, and damn, some of those grandma and grandpas can dance! I saw a 70 year-old grandma dancing Jingle dress and she's still got it! I also saw two grandpas still dancing their styles, Fancy Dance and Grassdance. If you don't know, those require a lot of stamina and movement, and they were at least early-to-mid 70's. Just wow.
*clears throat* Sorry. Had to gush there for a bit.
I honestly have no idea where the frak the end of the chapter came from, and I swear I tried to get rid of it, no go. So, I rolled with it. Sorry.
Dean shifted into high gear after he returned Sheppard's call. He has a little over a week to get his house ready for company, especially Rodney, he made sure there was no food or cleaning supplies had no lemon in it. He can't have his possible savior dying from anaphylactic shock, can he? Wouldn't that be ironic?
He shoved everything unrelated to cleaning his house to the back of his mind. Any thoughts of Sam and Steve failing to pick him up from the airport five days ago is firmly locked up in a vault buried deep within the dark recesses of his mind. He can take a peek into those particular thoughts later, after he's done making his place spotless. Everything needs to be perfect for Sheppard and his friends. He needs to go to the grocery store to buy some of his ex's favorite foods and bought some of Rodney's go-to snacks when working on a problem. Dean needs him in an amiable mood before he can approach the physicist for his help.
Which reminds him, Dean needs to get all his research together for Rodney's perusal. He knows from experience that the high-strung scientist likes his dossiers meticulously organized with bullet points and a slideshow. Dean's got a lot of work ahead of him.
First things first, cleaning all the accumulated clutter scattered around the property and then he can head over to the guest house and get it ready. He'll stay in his yacht. It's out of the way of Sheppard and his friends yet close enough should they need him. And it keeps him in close contact with Rodney. He'll need to make friends with the physicist and then he could tempt him with his project, all without letting Sheppard or Steve hear about it. Easy.
Dean snorted. Riiight. Easy.
Shaking his head, Dean got to work making the house presentable for company...and he's saying that a lot. God, he's nervous. When he said goodbye to Sheppard all those months ago, he fully expected to never see him again - at least not until one of his next lives. Is it like Cas, a true goodbye until they're reunited somewhere down the line?
If so, cool. He thought how they left off felt abrupt and unfinished. Maybe this is his chance to truly let John Sheppard go. He's been haunting Dean since the day time stopped. It'd be nice to no longer be drawn to a man he barely knows yet paradoxically knows better than his real life boyfriend.
Dean chuckled when he imagine Steve's face should he meet Sheppard. Steve knows Sheppard is the first man he's ever slept with, and knowing Steve's jealousy streak, there could be a brawl between two well-trained men over him. He'd be lying if he isn't amused and flattered by the idea of two hot men fighting over him. No wonder girls like it.
Dean stopped what he was doing as he thought that sentence through then facepalmed. Oh my God, I am the girl in the relationship.
He's going to have to do something macho. Spelunking? Nah. What's super manly? Dean shook his head in despair. He just asked himself what's super manly and he still came up blank. He's a scholar, not some alpha macho man who bangs on his chest after some perceived triumph, and letting out a victory cry so others know of his dominant status. He's a comfortable beta and he's okay with his rank amongst his fellow people. It figures he fell for two strong alpha males who are both in the military; two opposing branches in the military, and are of equal rank. Can Dean pick 'em or what? It's like they're fated to be at each other's throats.
This better not be foreshadowing.
Another shake and Dean gets back to work, forcing his mind blank, he can't afford to be distracted right now, or ever. All he needs to worry about is getting home and getting Rodney to go along with his idea. Funding won't be a problem, convincing the physicist to do some groundbreaking science experiment won't be hard either, but the problem is going to be keeping Sheppard and Steve from finding out and stopping them.
Maybe he should find some location on the mainland away from prying, and possibly sabotaging, people.
Dean snorted. There is no maybe in this scenario, it's plain ole common sense. Even when he convinces Rodney to help him, they'll still need a facility to do their experiments without hurting anyone, and need lots of storage space for any and all failures before they find a way to punch through to his home reality. This would require use of the TARDIS mainframe. She would have the exact coordinates for him to get home. Without her, it would take years before finding the exact right reality. There are so many out there.
Again, Dean shook his head to clear it and continued prepping his house. This is going to take a while.
DWSPN
It took him five freaking days to clean his house to his OCD perfectionist standards. The kitchen literally sparkled and Dean felt a surge of pride at a job well done. Now for the menu. What should he buy that can be substituted for any dish they may want? Should he hire an in-house chef? That way they don't have to cook and just enjoy the island. They should like that, right?
Oh my God, he's over-thinking again!
Whatever. He's hiring an in-house chef. One problem solved. Well, after he calls for a personal chef then it'll be one check off his list.
He already called Captain Burke to prepare the yacht for his week long stay and the Captain assured him everything would be ready for him. Dean thanked him and hung up. Another check off his list. Sweet! He's on a roll baby!
Laughing, Dean went into his wickedly clean kitchen and made himself a grilled ham and swiss sandwich with a mango salad as a side. A little incongruent but Dean liked the clashing flavors. It's not something he would have served to Sam or Steve, or anyone he knows outside of Kamekona. He knows the big man would love to try out some of Dean's more experimental cuisines. Maybe Grace as well.
His heart constricted slightly at the thought of Steve and Sam but he waved it away. He won't let it bother him. Not anymore.
Dean ate his food in silence, his mind a million miles away but it always swerved back to Steve and Sam.
Why the fuck didn't they pick him up? He hadn't done anything wrong. Kate Stewart told him she explained why Dean hadn't answered any of their calls, texts, or emails. So why didn't they pick him up from the airport? He told them the day his was coming home, his flight information, and his arrival time. At first he thought they may have gotten the day wrong and figured they'd pick him up the next day but they weren't there. That royally pissed him off.
He can admit he pouted the next couple of days but he came to the conclusion it doesn't matter anymore. He's going home. He's leaving Steve behind here and he and Sam can part ways back in their home reality.
He's not letting it get to him.
Ah, fuck.
Dean grabbed his cellphone and sent out a text to Sam and Steve. Hey, thanks for picking me up last week. That was really awesome.
Not even ten seconds pass before Dean receives texts from Steve and Sam asking what he's talking about.
You were s'posed to pick me up from the airport. Last week.
Steve called.
Dean stared at his phone, Steve's face popping up on his screen, and he tapped the green answer button.
"What?" he snapped.
"Dean, that Kate woman called and said you were with the Doctor. Me and Sam figured he'd drop you off at the house," Steve explained, voice pitching slightly in his panic to get Dean to understand why they didn't pick him up.
Kate told them he was with the Doctor?! Oh, he's going to have a-talkin' to with the head of UNIT.
"No. Well, yes. I was with the Doctor but we never left Earth. We met up at the Under Gallery in London. We had a...slight hiccup but we fixed it. Other than that, my visit was pretty chill."
"So, you actually came home when you were supposed to?" Steve asked in confirmation.
"Yes."
"God, Dean, I am so sorry. I swear me and Sam thought the Doctor was going to bring you home. Why didn't you call earlier?"
"Why didn't you call to confirm Kate's story?" Dean shot back, defensive.
"Why would we doubt her words? She's the head of UNIT, and she helps keep tabs on that fucking Time Lord." At Dean's sputtering, Steve rushed to clarify. "Yes, I know you promised to not leave with your 'soul mate' but can you really blame us for thinking you and the Doctor took off? But we are sorry for not double-checking. I swear, Dean, we would have been there if we had known."
Dean's still pissed but now he's mad at Kate Stewart.
"I'm at home. My home. Look, Steve, can you come here? We need to talk about something."
There's a pause then, "Yeah. I can be there in an hour. Sam wants to know if he can come too."
"Uh, yeah, of course. Tell him he's stupid for asking."
A muffled conversation and Steve says they'll both be there, with food, and the ohana.
"Sweet. See you guys in a few."
They hung up and Dean started thinking of how to explain Sheppard coming to stay for a while at Dean's house to Steve. McGarrett won't like it one bit. He'll probably try to convince Dean to stay with him while Sheppard and his friends are here. Not going to happen. Dean needs to be close by so he can talk to Rodney and get closure with Sheppard.
An hour goes by and Dean still has no idea what he's going to tell Steve.
When in doubt; wing it.
Good words to live by, in Dean's opinion. He'll just ramble like his dad does until he finds the appropriate words he wants to use to explain his situation. It's also what Jack does.
Dean heard cars pull up. Show time.
He plastered on a sunny smile and greeted them at the door. Grace threw herself into his arms, Dean staggered back but refused to let her go. He missed the sweet little girl, now pre-teen. She hugged tight and asked a million questions about his trip and why didn't he come back to Uncle Steve's for a welcome home party. The others allowed Grace to have her time with Dean as he answered as best he could.
They piled passed Dean into the house while Dean and Grace talked about his trip. They all froze when they saw the state of Dean's house. It was clean. Freakishly clean.
Why would Dean clean his house this obsessively?
Chin gathered his wits first and ordered everyone to get their dishes ready for the long overdue welcome back barbecue. It jolted them out of their reverie.
"Chin's right," Steve said. "This is our chance to make it up to Dean for, in his point of view, abandoning him at the airport and the days after." They all flinched at that. "We will remind Dean that we do care about him and we are sorry for believing that Stewart woman. Move out!"
Danny and Sam mocked saluted while Kono and Kamekona rolled their eyes at them. Chin facepalmed.
Steve found Dean's grill and fired it up. Chin was the first one to bring out his ahi tuna to be grilled and his famous potato salad. Kono brought out her fruit salad, one with pineapples and one without for Danny, Kamekona had corn-on-the-cob cooking in the wickedly clean kitchen and his famous spicy shrimp was kept in the fridge until it was time to eat then he'd heat it up, Danny worked on his fully loaded baked potatoes that Dean likes so much, while Sam and Steve brought steak and ribs for Dean.
They all had Dean favorite dishes as an apology.
Dean enjoyed talking to Grace, having missed the little lady during their two and a half years apart. He forgot how smart she was. She squealed when he showed her the pictures he took and hugged the stuffed dolphin he bought for her. It had her name stitched on its side in pink lettering. Grace loved it. Passing the rest of the day firmly by Dean's side. Not that Dean minded. He loved that she still cared for him.
The food was great and Dean forgave them for Kate's deception. Once they leave, he is so calling her and chewing her out.
Grace fell asleep in his arms. Dean held her close and carried her to Danny's car, whispering to her to go back to sleep when she stirred. He put the seatbelt around her and gave her a kiss on her head. Danny nodded at him, an unspoken gesture of 'we'll talk later' and 'I'm glad you're home'. Man's got talent at non-verbal communication.
Dean nodded back. They'll talk alright. Unsure whether or not it will be over him and Grace or him and Steve. Either way, Williams will undoubtedly kick his ass for hurting the two most important people in his life.
Fun times ahead.
Chin, Kono, and Kamekona all hugged him goodbye and made their way back home. Dean waved until they were out of sight and long gone. The upcoming conversation will not be a fun one. With either Steve or Sam.
When Dean walked back into his house, Sam and Steve were cleaning up after their impromptu party for Dean, and Dean grinned when he saw they were putting the kitchen back to it's super clean state. Good. It was a bitch to get it that clean in the first place. Oh, what he does for his loved ones.
Dean waited until they were done before broaching the topic of Sheppard coming for a week or so.
Deep breath, Winchester.
"So, what I wanted to talk to you guys about..." he trailed off. He has no idea how to do this. "I-I, uh, some friends are coming to stay for a while in four days."
Sam and Steve stare at him, patient.
"There's nine of them coming and they'll be staying here and the guest house. That means, Sam, you and Steve will be staying at Steve's while they're here, and I really rather you guys stayed away. Especially you, Steve." Dean winced when he thought through what he just said. Doh! Really should have rehearsed what he was going to say.
Steve's expression became wooden after Dean stopped talking while Sam looked confused and slightly suspicious. Not that Dean can blame him. He doesn't want Sam to get his hopes up if he failed and he doesn't want Steve to be more hurt than he already is whenever he talks about finding a way home.
"I don't mean it that..." again Dean trailed off because he said exactly what he meant to say but with less tact. Oh, what he would give for his dad's silver-tongue. "I mean, that is...uh, I can't have you guys around them. You can stay for a couple of days but you have to go back to Steve's before they arrive."
Crap. Steve's looking more and more stricken.
Dean tried again. "There's no room," he offered lamely, running out of words. God, he really needs his dad right now. He'd know the right words to explain everything without anyone's feelings getting hurt.
"Sheppard's coming back, isn't he?" Steve asked the floor, fiddling with his beer bottle. "And you don't want me or Sam around him, do you?"
"Uh," Dean stammered. "Uh, I-I uh, what? No! Pfft. I mean, yes. Sheppard and his friends are coming to stay here with me. No. Not me. They are coming to stay at my place because I told Sheppard he can use it any time he wants and he wants to use it now, so I said he can, and they'll be here in a few days. I won't be staying here though. I'll be staying in my yacht. By myself. With my crew." Oh my god, shut up! Dean yelled at himself.
Steve and Sam looked at him with a slightly dazed expression. He really can't blame them. He rambled like Willow and Xander from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
"So you're not getting rid of me so you can be with Sheppard?" Steve asked to clarify.
Dean nodded, and Steve almost fell to the ground in relief. He thought Dean wanted another go-around with the Air Force Colonel and didn't want him around to feel guilty. Well, now he's the one feeling guilty. He never should have doubted Dean and his faithfulness. If Dean really wanted to sleep with Sheppard, he would have kept his mouth shut and come up with a lie to keep him and Sam away, and they would have believed it. Why would they doubt him or his intentions?
Steve placed his bottle on the counter then walked over to Dean and wrapped his arms around Dean's waist, pulling him close as he kissed Dean's neck and shoulder in apology, something he seems to be doing a lot lately.
"I'm sorry, Dean. I know you wouldn't do anything like that," Steve said anxiously. He didn't want to start a fight with him when Sheppard is coming back to Hawaii...to Dean.
When Dean was talking outside with Grace, he listened to the answering machine, and damn near slammed his fist into the wall. Sheppard said he still loved Dean. He couldn't get past that, those words just swirled around and around his head the entire evening, and it was coupled with Dean's reaction to Sheppard coming back that scared him. He was already losing Dean to his younger self or he's losing Dean back to his younger self; whatever, he doesn't need what little time they have left sharing Dean with another man.
He wondered if this is how that bastard Time Lord felt. If so, no wonder he absconded with Dean and kept him for a year. It was the only time he truly got with Dean, his freaking soul mate. Steve doesn't know how he'd react if he had to share a soul mate as special as Dean is with someone else.
If this is how the Doctor felt with Steve and his younger self, then he pities the alien and sympathizes with him. And it's making him hate Sheppard even more because of it.
"I wouldn't blame you if you did," Dean said understandingly. "To you, it seemed that I cheated on you but I didn't. We were broken up at the time when me and Sheppard hooked up." Not counting the Day Time Stopped, that annoying little voice popped up. Asshole. That doesn't count. Technically didn't happen.
And yet, the thought of him returning to you sends your heart through the roof.
Dick.
"Steve, nothing is going to happen between me and Sheppard. We're just going to catch up and talk," Dean told him. I'll just be talking to his best friend about how I can get home. No biggie.
"I believe you," Steve said simply.
Dean nodded his head. "Good."
"Wait, you and this Sheppard guy hooked up?" Sam asked, disbelief and surprise coloring his voice. "What else did I miss?"
Dean looked at Sam, surprised he didn't know that. "Steve never told you about him or what happened between us?" Sam shook his head no. "Really? Steve, I thought you and Sam told each other everything?"
"Can you really blame me for not telling him about Sheppard? Or the Day That Shall Not Be Spoken Of."
"Good point," Dean said.
"The day that what?" Sam asked in confusion. "That's it. Tell me about this Sheppard guy and the Day of whatever you said."
Dean slapped Steve on the arm, glaring at him in annoyance. Steve shrugged at him in a 'oops' kind of way.
Shaking his head, Dean reluctantly told Sam about The Day Time Stopped and of his relationship with Sheppard in that time line, and how he ran into this time line's Sheppard. He also told Sam about Sheppard being a possible soul mate somewhere down the line. When he finished, Sam had a dazed expression and he held his head, trying to understand everything Dean told him.
"Time stopped? Or time happened all at once. How is that even possible? Aren't there rules against something like that?"
Dean laughed, it was a harsh sound, making Sam and Steve flinch from it. "My soul mate is a Time Lord. He's the master of time, so to speak. He can do any damn thing he wants. He re-wrote his own history. You're not supposed to be able to do that but he did." And yet he couldn't save my mom or dad. "No More," Dean whispered.
Sam and Steve caught it but didn't know what to think of it. No more? What the hell does that mean? Times like this, they get hit hard by how little they actually know Dean, and it hurts on a very visceral level.
"That's what people don't understand, he views rules and laws as killjoys, and loves to break them because he gets a high off doing it. He thinks they're silly and useless, and when you're with him, you think that too. Being with him is a high in of itself. Time and space is yours, all you got to do is say when and where, and your off to an adventure of a lifetime."
When put like that, it does sound addicting and exciting.
"So, Sheppard," Sam started. "Do you still have feelings for him?"
Fucking Sam. Of course he'd ask that question. In the corner of his eye, he saw Steve stiffen, and look down to stare intently at his feet, pretending he doesn't care about the answer.
Yes. "I don't know. It's complicated." No it's not. You love him, perhaps just as much as you love Steve, either one, if not more-so.
Fucker.
Sam accepted his answer. Steve not so much, but he didn't say anything, thank god.
"It would mean a lot to me if you guys stayed away until I clear things up with Sheppard. Nothing will happen between us," Dean told Steve.
He nodded his head. "I know. I trust you."
Now it's Dean turn to nod. "Thanks. Sam, is that okay with you?"
"Yeah. I was going to stay with Steve anyway. I got an embezzlement case this week and most likely next week as well. I came out to see you and to grab my fancy laptop the Doctor dropped off for me as an apology for stealing you for a year. I didn't see him," Sam rushed to say. "He left a note. Alien technology. He even left an instruction manual for me so I know how to use it. It's awesome. I've been keeping it here for safekeeping. It's my secret weapon when I have these hard cases."
"That's cheating," Dean pointed out with a proud smile. "That's my boy."
Sam laughed. "I figured you'd like it. I only use it under special circumstances, and only if I know the people we are going after bad people and are guilty beyond any shadow of a doubt but can't quite prove it yet. I've only used it three times in the past year."
"Oh," Dean said in a disappointed voice. "That all?"
"I'm not going to abuse it, Dean. It's unethical."
Dean hid a smile at his righteous tone. The Wessons raised him right.
"Baby."
"Asshat."
"Bitch."
"Jerk."
"Hey," Steve cut them off before they got on a roll. "How about we go inside and make some popcorn for a movie night, yeah?"
The brothers looked at each other before nodding their agreement.
"Sounds good," Sam said.
"I'll make us some chocolate-banana shakes," Dean offered and Sam and Steve's eyes bugged.
"Really?" Steve asked. God, he missed Dean's food. When he nodded, Steve let out a whoop and ran into the house to find Dean's air popcorn machine, the popcorn kernels, and popcorn butter and seasoning. Sam was right on his heels as he tore up the stairs to get the media room ready for them.
Dean waltzed in after them and grabbed the blender down from the cabinet. He grabbed the milk, yogurt, chocolate pudding mix, and some chocolate to grate for garnish. He placed the milk, pudding mix, yogurt, bananas (chopped into chunks) and blended them until smooth. Then he poured them into three big cups for them to drink. He grabbed the chocolate and grated some onto the drinks for garnish, got to make it fancy, don't ya know?
He dug in his cupboard for the cup-holders he bought at a swap meet last year. It was on a whim. Sheppard said he needed to be a bit more whimsy and urged him to by it, and Dean did, just to prove he can be capricious.
He's not telling that story to Steve or Sam.
Dean finished his shakes the same time Steve finished the popcorn. Sam came back downstairs to grab some more drinks. There is no way the shakes can last them through a movie marathon. He grabbed Dean's Dr Pepper, Steve's smart water, and Sam's favorite soda; Pepsi. He also grabbed some water for him and Dean.
Movie supplies in hand, they marched off one right after the other up the stairs to the media room with the huge ass screen and projector. They chose Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, the original and the remake, Return of the Living Dead series, and the Evil Dead franchise. Apparently it's zombie movie night, and Dean didn't even pick 'em either.
They settled in and started the first zombie movie ever, acknowledged and labeled, as a zombie movie: Night of the Living Dead.
They managed to make it to the remake of Dawn of the Dead before falling asleep. Both Steve and Sam slumbered on Dean's shoulders while Dean laid his head atop Steve's. Sam woke up some time early morning to recline their chairs back then fell back asleep. Dean and Steve didn't even stir.
Steve woke up first. He gently shifted his head out from underneath Dean, smiling lovingly at his boyfriend, his heart swelling with the powerful emotion. He doesn't want to lose him. Ever. But he has to. Dean wants to go home, back to his family, and who is Steve to deny him that? If their roles were reversed, Dean would do everything in his power to help Steve get back to his home, despite his heart being broken.
Steve's a selfish bastard.
No more. Dean's words from before make a little more sense now. Steve's going to live by it. No more being selfish. No more pouting at Dean for things out of his control. No more making disparaging remarks against the Time Lord because even after everything that fucker put Dean through, Dean still cares deeply about the Doctor. Hurting the Time Lord hurts Dean. Simple as that.
Dean stirring had Steve gently carding his hand through his boyfriend's hair, shushing him, and Dean fell right back to sleep. His lips quirked up in a brief smile. Dean would kick his ass if he found him watching him sleep like a stalker, or so he says.
"You know, he'd kick your ass if he ever found out you like to watch him sleep like some creeper," Sam whispered suddenly, damn near making Steve jump.
Steve shot Sam a dirty look but the younger Winchester merely smirked at him.
"He calls me a stalker when I do that, not a creeper," he corrected snootily.
Sam sniggered. "Whatever. Either way he's kicking your ass. And he can do it too."
"I know. When he was traveling with that fu- Time Lord," Steve amended, remembering his vow. "He seemed to have picked up some different fighting techniques. That day when I thought he was going to die, he pulled some moves on me I didn't know how to handle, let alone block. I've been thinking about having him teach some of them. You know, before he finds a way for you and him to go back to your reality."
Sam had a pained expression. "Steve," Sam started in a sympathetic voice. "You know he loves you, right? Leaving you...it won't be easy for him, and I don't even want to know how long it took him to make his choice."
Steve scoffed at that. "Sam, even if somehow his dad was brought here instead of you, Dean would still try to go home. And not for just his family either. That Steve, his Steve," his voice cracked a bit here but he swallowed thickly and continued. "Dean would do his damnedest to get back to him. Sam, I-I think they were in love, and I was just his consolation prize."
"That is not true!" Sam denied immediately, keeping his voice low, not wanting to wake up Dean. It made Steve smile sadly at his quick response. "Dean loves you, Steve, and you are not a consolation prize to him."
"How do you know, Sam? Did you ever see them together? Hell, did you ever hear the way Dean talks about him? 'Cause I have and there is pain in his voice whenever he speaks about him or he tells me a memory that I somehow sparked about him."
"So?" Sam asked stubbornly. "That doesn't mean anything. They were close friends and now they're not. That Steve left him. Do you hear me? He left Dean and never looked back. You would never do that to him. He did."
Steve shook his head miserably. Why is Sam making him say this? It fucking hurts.
"Sam, they were in love. They just didn't know it."
Sam wore a mulish expression, absolutely refusing to think Dean's leaving him for the other Steve. It warmed his heart at his obstinacy.
"They were in love, Sam, and if he hadn't of gone to Annapolis, they would still be together. Most likely married by now. Hell, that Steve would have probably got an anthropology degree as well, just to be with Dean. It's what I would have done," Steve said with a watery smile. "I would have followed him to the ends of the Earth; to Hell, to Purgatory, and to Heaven without hesitation.
"Like I told Dean when we first met, his Steve regretted his decision to leave him. That the reason he didn't look back and why he stopped writing is because it was too hard to be away from Dean. It's just like what Dean did to you when you guys were younger. He stopped because he thought you would have a better life without him, if you forgot about him, and that's what that Steve thought. Do you get it now?" Sam remained quiet. "Sam? Do you understand that Steve's reasoning for leaving Dean?
Sam shook his head. "I hate him."
Steve gave half a smile at that. "Me too."
Silence fell between them, neither noticing that Dean's wide awake and internally freaking out over what he overheard. Hearing it from his dad, the Doctor, and now Sam and Steve are saying that he and his best friend are in love, which is... holy fucking shit! Him and his Steve were in love! He just - he, oh my god! That explains so much.
He had just been too blind to see it.
Now what does he do? What should he do? Does it even matter now? They're strangers. Even if, if they rekindle their friendship and it progresses to something more, how can they possibly work out? He would always compare his Steve to this Steve, and he's getting a headache.
Stupid alternate realities with their alternate people who aren't quite the right one. Does that make any sense? It doesn't to Dean and he fucking thought of it.
Oh-kay, time to pretend to wake up.
Dean let out a moan and tried to bury deeper into Steve, wincing when the armrest dug into his chest, and he let out a whine as he tried pulling Steve closer to him.
Steve laughed and gently pulled Dean so he laid on top of him. Dean let out a happy sigh and buried deeper into his boyfriend, placing a lazy kiss on Steve's chin. Steve caressed Dean's back and hummed a little tune, lulling Dean back to sleep.
Sam swallowed thickly at the amount of love Steve bestowed up his brother. Did his brother realize just how much Steve loved him? Does he even care? Sam knows it's petty but doesn't think Dean ever truly noticed Steve, not really. The ghost of his best friend clouds everything for Dean. Sam wasn't lying when he said he hated Dean's best friend. Steve won't be the only one replaced by the other McGarrett when they return home.
But he's going to follow Steve's lead and help Dean out any way they can. Dean's determined to go back home, something him and Steve know the older Winchester will succeed in doing, and it has something to do with this Sheppard guy. Another person Sam hates on principle and pettiness.
How does Dean even comprehend knowing any person he meets might be a possible soul mate in another life? How does he even handle the knowledge of living multiple lives with multiple lovers in almost infinite realities? Sam's head would explode. Right now though, he's got a really bad headache.
"Stop thinking," Dean mumbled into Steve's shoulder. "I can hear you all the way over here. What's on your mind, Sammy?"
Jolting guiltily, Sam answered honestly. "How come the idea of living multiple lives and having multiple soul mates don't affect you?"
Of all the things Dean thought Sam would ask, that was not it.
"Alright, this is a question that requires me to sit up, thanks for that, Sam," Dean complained. He sat up on Steve's lap, straddling him, and laced his fingers with the SEAL's. "It does affect me. I just choose to not let it get to me."
"Why?"
"Because if I do, than that means anyone I fall in love with, are replaceable, and I hate that. Right now the Doctor is my soul mate, and yet I love Steve," said Dean, refusing to say which Steve. "I met and fell in love with Sheppard in the short time we had together. I was in love with Castiel and I still am, and I will always will be. It will be the same with the Doctor. I don't know about Steve or John. I don't know if I will always love them, and that scares me, Sam."
"How do you know you will always love Castiel and the Doctor?" asked Sam, voice burning with curiosity.
"I just do," Dean answered, tightening his grip on Steve's lax fingers. "I just do."
Steve brutally shoved any hurt he felt at Dean's words down, burying the emotion deep inside so it never saw the light of day. He gripped back and forced an understanding smile out. Dean frowned at him but didn't comment on it.
He shifted so they were chest to chest, letting Steve's hand go so he could wrap his arms around Steve's neck. "I love you, never doubt that, and don't worry about the future," Dean whispered, his breath caressing his lips.
Steve shuddered and wrapped his arms around Dean's back, pulling them even closer. "I love you too."
Dean leaned down and kissed Steve. It was chaste but it helped Steve collect himself. He brought a hand up to the back of Dean's head and pulled him down for a deeper kiss. Dean parted his lips for him, allowing Steve to ravish his mouth, and slipped his own tongue into Steve's mouth, gently caressing Steve's tongue. It was lazy and loving.
Dean pulled back enough to kiss and suck Steve's jaw and neck. Steve groaned when Dean found a sensitive spot underneath the bolt of his jaw, bucking up slightly, causing Dean to grin mischieviously at him. He kissed, licked, sucked, and bit the sensitive area. Steve grabbed Dean's waist and held him there as he grinded against him. Dean let out an appreciative moan at the pressure and grinded back.
"Jesus Christ!"
Sam's disgusted and slightly terrified yell had them breaking apart and grinning sheepishly at the younger Winchester; blushing hotly, but it didn't stop them from rocking against each other on instinct.
"Oh my god!" Sam practically screeched and covered his eyes. "I'm going to go make breakfast or lunch or something." He staggered his way to the door, tripping over the steps and crashing into the wall on his way out.
Dean and Steve laughed at him, causing Sam to flip them off in retaliation.
"Close the door too," Steve yelled. "Unless you want to hear everything."
Another disgusted shout and mumblings about traumatizing scenes and brain bleach, Sam slammed the door and stomped downstairs to the kitchen.
"Well," Dean said. "I think the mood is effectively ruined."
"Yeah, I guess," Steve grumbled in agreement but kept his arms around Dean.
Dean smiled softly at him and snuggled back into him, placing his head over Steve's heart, listening to the reassuring thump-thump that never failed to calm and comfort him whenever his fucked up life threatened to send him adrift. Steve shifted so they could curl around each other, well, as much as they could in a recliner. Thank god they're loveseat size, otherwise it'd be pretty tight and uncomfortable.
They stay like that for half an hour before Sam stomps his way upstairs with a bedtray of food. Steve and Dean both call him a god among men. It makes Sam laugh at them while preening at the same time.
The next couple of days is spent with them re-acquainting themselves and fixing their strained bond. It was actually quite fun for them.
Two days before Sheppard and his friends, Steve tried to wheedle his way into staying. Before, he really was fine with the Air Force bastard but the closer the date got for him to arrive, the less Steve became fine with it. He trusts Dean, that hasn't changed, he just doesn't trust Sheppard.
Dean rolled his eyes at him and shooed him and Sam away. He promised to call every day, even if it was only for a few minutes. It placated Sam but not Steve.
"You promised," Dean pointed and Steve scowled.
"Fine," he snapped out before striding out to his truck. Sam shot him a confused look and followed the pissed off SEAL. Dean just hoped they kept their promise and stayed away.
A quick text to Sheppard confirmed their arrival time and Sheppard told Dean they'll rent a couple of cars and drive to his place. Dean thought that was a good idea. It will give him more time to plan what he's going to say to Rodney. The dossiers are done and organized to Rodney's OCD-like specifications because Dean knows from Aunt Sam just how anal he is about paperwork...when he actually does paperwork outside his own articles and journals.
The only thing he's really worried about his whether or not this Rodney is the same as his Rodney. He'd be devastated if he was different. Rodney McKay is a brilliant physicist, and if this Rodney isn't, then everything Dean has been planning is all for naught. A complete waste of time.
Please, Rodney, don't let me down. I really need you.
DWSPN
The sounds of multiple cars pulling into his driveway sends Dean into a panic before gathering his wits and booking it for the beach, and running down towards the marina to his boat. He left a note for Sheppard and his friends that they have the run of the house and anything of his they can use, and for them not to worry about cooking, cleaning, or restocking the supplies. It's all handled, and if they needed to use his boat, they can, all they have to do is give him a call.
Within ten minutes, Dean's phone rings, and he drops it in surprise when Sheppard's number pops up. With slightly shaking hands, Dean forces himself to calm down, and answers the phone with more confidence than he felt.
"Hello?"
"So, you're basically saying we have the run of your house and all your toys?" Sheppard asks in lieu of saying hello.
"Uh, yeah," Dean answers hesitantly. "Did I do something wrong?"
A sigh crackles the phone. "No, Dean, you did nothing wrong. I just wanted to see you."
"Oh," Dean says in surprise, making Sheppard laugh. "I see. I'm, uh, I'm on the boat?" He's not sure why he fucking said that as a question. Maybe Steve was right, or Sam, whatever, about him not being over Sheppard. He means, he knew wasn't totally over the colonel but this is fairly ridiculous. Thank god, he sent Steve and Sam away. They'd never let him live it down.
"Okay, good. I'll come see you," said Sheppard. Dean can hear the smile in his voice, and his heart most certainly did not speed up at the sound. "I'm just going to get everyone situated and I'll be over. Fifteen sound good?"
"Yes. More than good," Dean agreed enthusiastically. "I can't wait to see you." It was said in a soft voice, one practically shouting his feelings for the older man.
"I can't either."
Okay, this time Dean's pulse definitely sped up in response to Sheppard's husky and unbelievably sexy voice. Oh god. Dean doesn't think he can be alone with John, not if this is how he's responding to his voice. How's he going to react if he sees him?
They hung up with the promise of their reunion hanging heavy between them, and the air in Dean's cabin became almost unbearably hot. Remember, closure with John, talk with Rodney, and then get the coordinates from the TARDIS mainframe. Do not focus on Sheppard. Do not.
Before he knew it, the sounds of muffled footsteps down the stairs has his heart beating a mile a minute in excitement, anticipation, and nerves. Dean shoots a look at his room mirror to see if he looks presentable. Other than slightly ruffled, he's okay. The footsteps come closer and closer and Dean wants to bolt. Oh god.
A knock on his door has Dean freezing, his throat became drier than the Gobi desert, and he loses all brain function.
The sound of the doorknob turning has Dean slamming his eyes shut but his hearing seems to magnify tenfold. The sharp click of the door latch disengaging and the slight creak of the hinges tells him John has the door open, and the muffled steps come closer to his bed. John's aftershave assaults his senses and he found himself groaning quietly, unconsciously spreading his legs.
The feather light touch to his leg makes his breath hitch. The touch grows bolder the longer Dean doesn't shake it off, trailing up to his hand, where it lingers, and eventually entwines with Dean's own. The bed dips slightly as another body climbs onto it. Another hand gently cups Dean's face, turning it towards the owner, and the smell of cinnamon brings forth another unconscious reaction: Dean tilts his head for the kiss he knows is coming. The first taste of John has Dean pressing into the older man, trying to get deeper, trying to imprint the taste and feeling of Sheppard. His memories didn't do him justice.
The hand on his cheek shifts to the back of his head, holding him steady as Sheppard practically devours Dean. Dean trails his hands up to Sheppard's shoulders and pulls the older man on top of him, all the while still kissing, and Dean relished the feeling of Sheppard's weight resting comfortably on top of him. He spreads his legs wider apart and John settles between them.
A hand slips underneath his shirt, softly caressing his abdominal muscles before sliding up towards his chest where the hand gently pinches and twists his nipple. Letting out a loud groan, Dean bucks up against John, sliding his own hands under Sheppard's shirt, kneading and caressing the taut muscles before moving to his ass and squeezing the globes as he ground against him.
Sheppard moaning has him opening his eyes and smirking slightly in triumph, especially when the older man moves his hands to undo their pants. Dean lifts his ass so Sheppard can take them off, ripping off his shirt, and helping John get undressed.
When they're completely naked, they both take a minute to hungrily take each other in, eyes roving over every inch they can see, memorizing the sight before Dean reaches for John, and the older man follows, and allows himself to be pulled.
Sheppard recaptures Dean's lips in a hungry kiss even as he clicks open the bottle of lube he got from his pants pocket. Dean heard the sound and spread his legs even wider, causing Sheppard to moan slightly.
"Are you sure?" he asks in a breathless voice, eyes locking onto Dean's.
Dean nodded.
Another moan from Sheppard has Dean grinning like an idiot even after he winces slightly from the cold touch. Sheppard gently circles his finger before pushing inside. Dean lets his head fall back with a groan and forces his body to relax. Sheppard's finger slides in and out, coating his insides with lube and searching for that little nub that'll drive Dean insane. He finds it when Dean arches off the bed with a loud gasp, clenching around his finger.
"Fuck," he moans and kisses, licks, and sucks on Dean's neck as he adds another finger inside Dean, scissoring him open.
Dean is a panting mess as Sheppard works him open, pushing back against the talented fingers, before pulling John back down for a kiss, moaning against his mouth.
Another finger has Dean hissing slightly in discomfort before Sheppard shifts and sucks on his right nipple. He arches up into Sheppard, hands clutching the older man's bicep and comforter tightly. "John," Dean panted. "Oh, god." Dean forgot all about the his earlier discomfort, much to Sheppard's relief, and begged for more.
Sheppard grinned briefly before sealing his lips over the hard bud and swiping his tongue over it, pressing down on it, and gently teased it with his teeth. He felt Dean's cock press into his stomach, a quick look at it has him licking his lips. It was hard, leaking, and purpling at the top. He used his free hand to gently spread the pre-come down his shaft, twisting his wrist at every upswing, and rolled his balls in his hand before taking the tip of Dean's cock into his mouth, fingers still working Dean open.
Feeling John's mouth cover his cock, tongue teasing the slit, almost sends Dean over the edge. Sheppard seems to sense this as he pulls off to let him catch his breath and calm down slightly. He tongues down Dean's shaft, and Dean's hands grab onto his hair, gently fucking up into the older man's mouth when he swallows Dean back down.
He pulls back, much to Dean's displeasure, to lube himself up, and line himself against Dean before pushing into Dean's almost virgin tight body. Moans are punched out of them as they allow time for Dean to relax and get used to feeling so full.
Sheppard gently rocked forward and pulled back as he tried to find that magical spot inside that'll send Dean's world aflame. On his third thrust he found it. Dean moaned loudly and wrapped his legs around Sheppard's waist, hands gliding up John's back before clutching his biceps as he fucked himself back on Sheppard's cock. Neither of them were going to last long.
Sheppard shifted his weight onto his arms so he could pound into Dean, much to Dean's delight, judging by his moan and clenching around his cock. It tore a groan from him as he stole a kiss from the younger man. His hips slam into Dean, chasing his orgasm, and he came with a grunt.
Dean moaned when he felt John come inside. He clenched down on the older man, milking him even as Dean fisted his cock, seeking his own completion.
Sheppard batted his hand away and jerked Dean off, all the while whispering words of love and devotion into his ear. He kept rocking inside Dean, hitting his prostate until Dean couldn't take it anymore and he came with a shout and arched up against Sheppard, surprising them both at his near-violent orgasm. Sheppard gently fucked Dean through his orgasm and after-shocks, making Dean whine at the pleasure-pain.
He whined again when John pulled out of him, hissing slightly in sensitivity, and giggled at the sound of the wet plop of Sheppard's cock leaving his body. Sheppard grinned at him as he leaned down for a kiss.
Dean stretched and let out a groan at the pull of his sore and well-fucked muscles. Sheppard kissed his shoulder before getting up and grabbed a warm washcloth to clean them off. He felt John's seed leak out of him and he clenched down in vain to keep it in. A warm cloth cleaning him off had Dean whining at the loss but allowed Sheppard to finish cleaning him.
Once they were both clean, Sheppard settled his body back over Dean's and they kissed lazily, hands caressing wherever they could reach without moving.
When they pulled back, Dean felt his breath catch at the look in John's eyes, it literally took his breath away. Dean saw nothing but love and devotion in the other man's eyes. Expression open and earnest, almost vulneable, and before he could think too deeply about it, Dean pulled him down for another kiss, trying to express the same emotion. The way Sheppard kissed back, the message had been received loud and clear.
Dean felt himself become drowsy. He whined when Sheppard pulled away, his hand latching onto the other man's wrist in an attempt to keep him there.
"I'm just closing the door and grabbing a blanket," Sheppard whispered into his skin, breath ghosting over his shoulder. Dean reluctantly let go, instantly missing John's warmth and presence. He came back before Dean even had the chance to get cold, blanket covering them, and Dean curled into Sheppard, falling asleep within seconds.
Dean woke up first.
Guilt hit him when he realized what he had done. He just fucking cheated on his boyfriend not five seconds after seeing Sheppard, even after promising nothing would happen between him and John.
Fuck.
Does he feel guilt? Yes.
Does he regret it? No.
Would he do it again? Yes.
Does it make him a horrible boyfriend? Fuck yes. Steve deserves better.
Sheppard shifting has Dean tightening his grip on John's waist and kissing him on his chest in an attempt to make him remain asleep. A contented sigh from him has Dean pressing a light kiss on Sheppard's lips.
"I'm sorry," he whispered softly.
He didn't know who he was apologizing to, and that just made it worse.
DON'T HATE ME!
Seriously though, I have no idea where this last half came from. I swear I tried to get rid of it! It wouldn't go away.
Yes, I know, nothing really happened, save for...you know, but I'm working on the ending, or at least getting to the ending. Almost there! Thank god.
Next up: Sheppard and Dean talk, Steve shows up (sorry Dean), and the Doctor returns with a proposition for Dean (and not that way either, you dirty birds ;) )