Chapter 2

When Dean woke up, he was too tired to open his eyes, and he really couldn't tell where he was. He could tell from the feel of the bed that it wasn't his bed at the bunker, and it was definitely not a hotel bed. The sheets were too nice, the mattress was too soft, and being wrapped in comfort like this was not what he was used to when he was out hunting.

He lay still for a very long time, unable to move, surrounded by the sheets and comforter and what felt like enough pillows for an army. He tried to open his eyes, to roll to his side, to sit up, but his body wouldn't budge. He was so, so tired.

Every now and then, he heard a door open, someone approach the bed, and then leave again. They never spoke and he could never work up the energy to open his eyes, let alone ask who it was. It was the weirdest thing, being awake and asleep at the same time. The only thing weirder than that was dreaming while he was awake and asleep. Images of his entire life flashed through his head, times when he'd done well, times he'd failed, times he'd tried so hard to succeed and still failed, and times when he'd given up.

That part really, really sucked.

There were other times, though, that didn't make much sense to him. It was like someone else's dreams were in his head and taking him along for the ride. They were beautiful, though. He saw stars shining through the branches of trees in a forest, stars reflected in a still pool of water, sunrises and sunsets, and bonfires at night. They were odd, but strangely, they were peaceful dreams.

That was the way things were for a while, but it changed when he heard a door open again. Someone approached his bed, just like always, but for the first time, someone spoke.

"It's good to see you resting, Dean," he heard someone say. The voice set alarm bells off in his head, but he couldn't remember why. "You'll wake up in a little while, but you'll feel a little confused and weak. Don't let it worry you; your strength will come back and your head will clear after some time. Someone will bring you some breakfast, you'll eat, and I promise you'll feel much more like yourself."

Then, a hand rested on his forehead for a moment, and then his eyes were open. He looked around, wondering why he expected to see someone, but he was the only one in the room, and what a room! He was in a large, four-poster bed in a huge room. He could see a fireplace and sitting area across from the bed, and the fire burning there lent the entire room a cozy air. To his right were double doors leading to a balcony, and there was an entertainment center in the corner. There were ornate rugs on the floor that just begged for bare feet to walk across them, and plush, over-stuffed chairs that were crying out for someone to sink into them. In fact, the entire room encouraged one to relax and take it easy.

"Wow," he breathed as soon as what he as looking at made sense to his foggy brain. This couldn't be a hotel. He and his brother could never afford something like this, and they knew better than to try and check into one, so what were they doing here?

The door opened and a butler shuffled in, carrying a silver tray. "Good morning, Master Dean," he said brightly. "I hope you slept well."

Dean stared at him, his brain working to catch up. He looked familiar... "Wilson?"

"Williams, sir," the butler said, unruffled. "I've brought your breakfast. I hope you're hungry." So saying, he helped Dean sit up, piled pillows behind him, and placed the tray across his knees.

Dean stared at the tray. There was hot toast with butter, a bowl of hot cereal, and a mug of what looked like very rich hot chocolate. Aside from the toast, there wasn't anything he usually ate for breakfast, but for some reason, everything on that tray made him want to eat it.

"If you need anything, sir, just pull the bell," Williams said, showing Dean a bell pull that hung next to his bed.

Dean thanked him and dug into his breakfast while Williams left to do something butler-y. He'd managed the toast, most of the cereal, and was laying waste to the hot chocolate when someone opened the door a crack and peeked in at him. A second later Sam hurried in, dressed in pajamas, robe, and slippers. "Dean?"

"Morning," Dean said. "Good to see you, Sammy. Is anything about this place making sense?"

"It'll make sense in a few minutes," Sam promised him. "How long you been awake?"

"Just a bit. Why?"

"You'll remember soon."

Dean stared at his brother. "Remember what?" Just then, he did. Everything. Their last case…recovering at the bunker…the trip to their new case…and walking right into Belenus' house. "Oh."

"Yeah," Sam said, sinking into an armchair.

Dean set the tray aside, left his bed and sat across from Sam. He was surprised at how tired he still felt. "Do you feel as if you've slept a really long time?"

"I think we did," Sam confessed. "Did you have weird dreams?"

Dean cringed. "Yep." Some of them he didn't want to think about. "Have you seen Belenus yet?"

Sam shook his head. "Just Williams."

Dean felt a twinge of concern. "What about Cas? He was with us."

"I haven't seen Cas," Sam had to admit.

"Well, we have to find him," Dean said, getting to his feet and heading for the dresser by the bed. "Once I'm dressed, we can find Cas. Any idea where our clothes are?" He stopped, confused. There were plenty of pajamas, underwear, socks, and a few robes, and underneath the dresser were a few pairs of slippers, but there were no other kinds of clothes. "What the hell?"

"That was all I found in my room," Sam told him. "Otherwise, I'd be dressed. I'm thinking Belenus doesn't want us to leave."

"Wonderful," Dean muttered, pulling on a robe and slippers. It was better than being cold, at least. "Let's find Cas."

Finding Cas was not so easy. Once they left Dean's room they started wandering the halls, but they had no idea where Cas might be. Even worse, it was a big house with multiple floors. They found bedrooms, studies, two game rooms, more bedrooms, six sitting rooms, at least three television rooms, a huge bathroom with a sunken tub big enough to qualify as a swimming pool, more bedrooms, a few lounges, and a library that made Sam stop in his tracks and stare in awe, but no Cas.

When they came to yet another sitting room, Dean sank onto the couch. "Okay, let's just sit here a minute."

Sam dropped into a chair. "Sounds like a plan. How long have we been searching?"

"No clue," Dean confessed. "Feels like hours."

"Might have been," Sam agreed. "What are we going to do? We've been wandering for ages, upstairs and down, and you know what we haven't found?"

"Where we were last night," Dean said, sensing where his brother was going with this.

Sam nodded. "Right. How do we get down to the ground floor in this place?"

"That might be the next thing we need to find out, once we find where Cas is. At least with all the searching we've done, we've found out where he isn't."

"That's something, at least."

It was very, very hard for them to get up and start searching again, but they managed it. It wasn't long before Dean stopped and looked up and down the hallway. "Hang on. He's a pagan god. We're going about this all wrong."

"What do you mean?"

"He's probably done something to the house so that we don't find what we're looking for," Dean said. "Could some gods mess with reality and shift things around? What if he's making us walk around in circles? I mean, doesn't this house seem just a bit big? Where does it end?"

A nearby chuckle had both of them whipping around, startled. Belenus stood there, grinning at them. "That's a very clever notion, Dean, but in this particular case, it's wrong. I just have a very big house."

"Good to hear," Dean said, watching Belenus carefully. He really didn't like not knowing what to expect in a situation or from a person, pagan god or not.

"Did you two sleep well?"

"Very well," Sam said, just as vigilant as Dean. "How long were we asleep?"

"Four days, all told."

Dean stared. "Four DAYS?"

Belenus nodded and gave them a fond smile. "You two needed the rest."

"Okay," Dean said, tucking that tidbit away and telling himself not to freak out. "Where's Cas?"

Belenus' eyebrows rose and he looked vastly amused. "Castiel? I've had Williams watching after him."

"Cas pretty much takes care of himself," Sam pointed out.

Belenus chuckled again, looking as if he were enjoying an immensely funny joke. "Yes, doesn't he? Williams has found him quite the challenge."

"Meaning what?" Dean demanded. If Belenus had hurt Cas, he'd have a Winchester riot on his hands!

"I'll show you. Follow me, you two."

What else could they do but follow? Belenus led them down a hallway that they knew they hadn't seen before and then down another hall and there they were at the top of the sweeping staircase that they'd seen the night before. They followed him down the stairs and across the foyer into a sitting room, where Belenus invited them to have a seat.

"So, where's Cas?" Dean asked as he took his seat.

"Patience," Belenus counseled him. "He'll be here in just a moment."

The sound of pounding feet followed perhaps a minute later and then Castiel rushed into the room, running full tilt. He skidded to a halt as soon as he saw Belenus. "You! What in the name of all of Heaven have you unleashed on me?!"

Of all things the two Winchesters had expected, that was most definitely not one of them.

"Cas, what's the matter?" Dean asked, getting to his feet.

"That butler is not human!" Cas said, sounding like a man dangling at the end of his rope.

"Then what is he?" Sam asked.

"Evil incarnate!" Cas cried, running his fingers through his hair in agitation. Such an action only served to draw attention to how exhausted Cas seemed. His face was pale and drawn and there were dark circles under his eyes, and his hair was sticking up in every direction. "I haven't had a moment's rest since the two of you fell asleep and he told that Williams creature to look after me!"

Footsteps sounded in the hallway. "Master Castiel?"

Cas looked ready to use his angel blade on Belenus. "Call him off. NOW."

Belenus grinned at Castiel. "Not enjoying the attention, Castiel?"

"There will be bloodshed if this continues," Castiel threatened. "Make him stop."

The smile Belenus gave him was the same one an adult would use when indulging a child. Williams entered the room and stopped when he saw his master. "Williams, that will be all for right now."

Williams gave a small bow. "Yes, sir." With that, he turned and left.

Castiel dropped into a chair and lay there like an old suit someone had forgotten. "Thank you."

"You're very welcome," Belenus told him.

"Cas, are you okay?" Dean asked, surprised to see Cas just sitting there.

"I will be."

"I thought angels didn't get tired."

"Usually, we don't. Right now, I have good reason to be."

Dean and Sam both waited. Finally, Dean said, "Care to elaborate on that?"

"Not really," Cas stated. He opened one eye and glanced at the clock. "You two should eat something. It's time for lunch."

And Florence Nightingale returns, Dean thought with a mental sigh. Then his stomach growled. Maybe Cas had a point.

"I'm sure Williams will have something for us in the dining room," Belenus said, leading the way. "Let's go see, hmm?"

Once again, Dean and Sam were left to follow Belenus. Dean stopped and glanced back at Cas. "Cas, are you going to be okay?"

"Yes," Cas said, still sounding exhausted. Slowly, he made his way to his feet and followed Dean. "Are you and Sam all right?"

"Belenus said we've been asleep for four days."

"That is true."

"Really?"

"Yes. I couldn't find you to wake you up, and I had Williams to deal with. He was…relentless."

"Belenus said that Williams was watching after you."

"Hell hounds are less diligent in their pursuit of prey than Williams is."

Dean glanced at his friend. That was a hell of a statement to make and it left Dean wondering just how Williams had been 'watching after' Cas. "Wow."

"Exactly."

They reached the dining room and found the table set for a family-style meal. There was roast chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy, peas, baby carrots, and rolls with butter. It all smelled fantastic.

"Eat slowly," Belenus advised them as they took their seats. "Being asleep for so long, you don't want to shock your stomach by eating quickly."

"Yeah, why did you make us sleep for four days?" Sam wanted to know as he sat down. "And where the heck are our clothes? I feel ridiculous walking around in a bathrobe at lunchtime!"

"Your clothes are being washed, Master Samuel," Williams said happily as he poured water for each of them.

"For four days?" Dean asked.

"They were dirty, and the master sent me to retrieve your things from your room at the bed and breakfast. The clothing you have in your bags needs quite a bit of attention," Williams said calmly.

"Besides, new clothes will be arriving this afternoon. You'll need more than what you brought with you," Belenus added.

Sam and Dean both looked at Belenus. "New clothes?" Sam asked.

"Of course," Belenus said, passing the potatoes to Dean. "It's as Williams said. You'll need more clothes to wear than the few changes that you brought with you."

"You sound as if you're intending us to stay." Dean fastened Belenus with a glare, and his statement was not a question.

"Of course you will," Belenus said. "Where else should you be but with the only family you have left? Besides, with all the hunting you've done and all the supernatural beings you've made angry, the safest place for you would be with me."

"Thanks, but we're not looking for a new home," Dean said, setting the potatoes aside. Suddenly, he was no longer hungry.

"Nonsense," Belenus said. "You are the last of my bloodline. You two deserve much better than the life you've had so far. You deserve the absolute best—a fine home, servants to attend you, and a guardian who will protect you. You will remain here and be the princes that you are."

"Um…we're not royalty," Sam reminded him.

"Since he is a pagan god, and you two are of his bloodline, then technically, I suppose, in human terms..." Castiel began thoughtfully.

"Don't enable him Cas!" Dean snapped. He looked Belenus in the eye. "No."

Belenus put down his water glass. "No...what?"

"We're not staying," Dean said firmly. "We're not princes, and just because you say we're related, it doesn't mean that we're family. Sam and I are not staying here. As soon as we're dressed, we're leaving."

Belenus gave Dean a lazy smile. "Are you sure, Dean?"

"Yes, very sure," Dean said coldly. "Williams, where are our clothes?"

"Being washed."

"Well, take them out of the washer and put them in the dryer. We need to leave."

"The master has not given me permission," Williams stated.

"Williams will only follow an order from you if I have given him prior permission to follow it," Belenus told them. "Now, you're being silly."

Sam stared at him. "Silly?"

"Very silly," Belenus stated. "You're both ill and exhausted, but here you are, refusing to eat the meal that's been provided and you are stating an intention to leave at the first possible opportunity. Tell me, Sam: do you feel fully recovered?"

"Not yet," Sam admitted. "But that doesn't mean that we have to recover here."

"You have all the things you need for your recovery here, but you are refusing to advantage of them, so we return to describing your behavior as being very silly. Is this how two grown men behave?" Belenus said, raising his hand and snapping his fingers. Immediately, Williams turned and served the Winchesters and Castiel, and in no time at all, they had full plates.

Dean stared Belenus down. "Don't you dare snap your fingers again," he said, remembering the last meal they'd eaten at Belenus' table.

"You know what to do to forestall that, don't you?"

Sam and Dean both glared at him, but the sound of a growling stomach surprised all of them, and a second later Dean, Sam, and Belenus were fighting back laughter. Another growl left them helpless and sprawled in their chairs, laughing hard enough to leave them breathless. A glance at anyone else at the table sent them back into fits of laughter again.

"What is so funny?" Castiel said once they'd calmed down.

They nearly fell out of their chairs at that.

"Well, we now know that our senses of humor are similar," Belenus said, sitting up in his chair. "Oh, that was priceless."

Dean was still chuckling. "I guess we know who's really in charge, here."

Belenus threw his head back and roared, pounding his hands on the edge of the table. In no time, Dean and Sam were chuckling again, trying their hardest not to laugh, but helpless to avoid it.

Eventually, they all calmed down, and Belenus straightened in his chair. "Oh, it's been years since I've laughed like that. Thank you both."

"Thank our stomachs," Sam said, unable to resist.

Belenus grinned at him, and then at Dean. "It is wonderful to have you both here, but...well, I propose a truce."

Dean glanced from him to Sam and back again. "Truce?"

"Yes, a truce. You've made it clear that you don't wish to stay, but you do need to recover from being ill. Why not agree to stay two weeks?"

"Two weeks?" Dean echoed.

"Yes, two weeks," Belenus repeated. "During that time, you'll be able to rest as much as you'd like, your meals will be taken care of, and everything you would need will be provided. Best of all, two weeks will give us a chance to get to know each other."

"I still don't see why you're so eager to get to know us," Sam admitted. "Yeah, we might be distantly related, but that doesn't mean..." he stopped, unsure of where he was going with that.

"Let me see if I can explain," Belenus said. "When us pagan gods came into being, we were told that we must protect and guard the world and the people who lived on it. Despite being worshiped by countless mortals, they were still mortals, and there were precious few gods in comparison. By having a family, a god wouldn't feel so alone in the midst of thousands. Having descendants also meant that he had given some small part of himself to the world he'd been charged with protecting."

Put that way, Belenus' insistence on getting to know them made a great deal of sense.

"And we're the only two left out of all those descendants you used to have?" Dean asked, feeling a surprising twinge of pity for Belenus.

"The only two," Belenus confirmed. "I've traveled the world, but you were the only two I could sense that belonged to my bloodline."

Sam and Dean both glanced at Cas, wondering if the angel would be able to sense anything that they had missed. He shrugged and looked uncertain.

"Well," Dean said thoughtfully. "Would you be willing to agree to some conditions for our stay here?"

"Such as?" Belenus prompted.

"No snapping your fingers to force us to eat," Dean said, ticking things off on his fingers. "No forcing us to go to sleep, no locking us up, no siccing Williams on Cas..."

"Absolutely not," Cas agreed. "I might end up killing him if you did that again."

"And no messing with our dreams, or digging through our heads," Sam added hastily. "I've got a strong feeling that you did that while we were sleeping."

Belenus looked surprised. "You're not supposed to be able to sense that. Mortals aren't supposed to be able to, anyway. It looks like my blood shows pretty strongly in you, if you sensed all that."

"Why did you do that, anyway?" Dean wanted to know.

"I was checking to see if you needed any healing aside from physical healing," Belenus said with a sigh.

Both Sam's and Dean's expressions went stony. "And did you find out if we did?" Sam asked.

Belenus looked at both of them. "You've both managed to live eternities in relatively short lives, and you've lived them well. As for healing...perhaps. If you don't manage it on your own over time...then yes."

Neither of them knew what to do with that answer. It wasn't exactly the sort of statement to which you could give a glib answer.

"If we agree to stay, what will happen?" Dean asked. "Will we be required to do anything?"

"Only what you want to do," Belenus assured him. "You could spend the whole time in bed with a book, if you wanted, or you could wander the house and grounds as you pleased. I won't force you to do anything you don't want to do."

"What will happen when the two weeks are up?" Dean asked, not quite ready to commit himself or Sammy yet. He still wasn't sure if they could trust Belenus.

"You will be allowed to go, and I'll do nothing to prevent you from going," Belenus said calmly. "Although, I do hope that you'll keep in touch, at least, and I wouldn't be at all averse to visits."

Neither Dean nor Sam knew what to say. They were both thinking hard. Was there something that they weren't seeing? Had they missed anything?

"You don't have to give me an answer this moment," Belenus told them. "Let's enjoy our lunch, and then you can have the rest of the afternoon to talk it over, and you can let me know your decision at dinner."

"What if we decided to leave right now?" Castiel asked.

Belenus smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling. "If you can manage it, then you deserve to leave."

Castiel nodded. "So, in short, we either agree to two weeks, or you keep us here until we figure out a way to leave."

"If you want to be stubborn about the finer points, then yes," Belenus muttered, clearly peeved that Cas had figured out what he hadn't said. "You have to admit, though, that two weeks is better than never going at all. I would much prefer it if you agreed to make this place your home, but I suppose beggars can't be choosers."

"We'll take the rest of today and think about it," Dean said, picking up his knife and fork. He took a bite of chicken and chewed. "Mmm. Yeah, let's focus on eating lunch right now. This is good."

Sam dug in, and Castiel just looked at his plate. He'd really have to have a word about Belenus about how he didn't need to eat.