Dean, Sam and Bobby drove to Oklahoma in one of Bobby's vans. It was the only car big enough to contain Bobby's wheelchair. Dean was driving while Sam was sitting on the passenger seat and Bobby in the back. Driving to Oklahoma would only take about 2-3 hours, but they decided to wait until the evening before taking off. It would be easier to enter the church at night without any interruptions from priests or other visitors.
In the car, Dean was smiling to himself and humming along on the song that was playing on the radio. He was in a good mood after he and Cas had become friends again. Not like they hadn't been friends, they had just had a bit of a misunderstanding. It scared Dean how much he had been hurt when he thought Castiel didn't trust him. It scared him even more that he had lately had somewhat inappropriate dreams about the angel, and how a simple smile from him could make his heart beat so fast that he thought he was going crazy. Yup, things were indeed fucked up.
"Would ya shut up with that humming so the others can get a chance of hearing what they are saying on the radio?" Bobby complained from the backseat, pulling Dean out of his thoughts. Sam chuckled but quickly tried to hide it.
"Sorry, Bobby," Dean said without really feeling sorry.
"So I guess things went well with Cas then?" Sam finally asked, looking at Dean. Dean looked at his brother before turning his gaze back to the road.
"What do you mean?"
"You know what I mean. You talked things through with him, right? That's why you're in such a good mood and smiling to yourself like an idiot." Sam smirked.
"I'm not smiling to myself like an idiot," Dean said, sounding offended. "And yeah, we kinda… talked things through. All was just a big misunderstanding."
"That's good. I told you talking things through would be good." Sam smiled, still looking at his brother. After a moment of silence he cleared his throat. "So, um… Did you see them again?" Sam asked. Dean turned to look at his brother in confusion. "His wings I mean. Did he show them to you again after you made up?"
"Oh," Dean said, looking back at the road. "Nah, but he kinda promised he would some day. I mean, I asked him and he didn't protest, so I guess that means he's okay with it." Dean smiled to himself. "I kinda hope to get a better look this time." Sam smiled at that and nodded absently.
"Oh for God's sake, let's focus on our task instead of small talking. This is so touching I'm about to cry my eyes out," Bobby said, sarcasm and annoyance obvious in his voice. Sam smirked at that and Dean changed his focus back to the road again, a smile hiding in the corner of his mouth.
They arrived at the church around 10pm in the evening. The area seemed quiet, no signs of demons or other enemies. Bobby stayed in the van to keep a look-out for demons, while Sam and Dean made their way into the church.
The church was big, and the inside was covered with several paintings of Heaven and angels. At the far end of the corridor between the pews, there was a big altar with the statue of Christ hanging above it. Behind the altar was a big, silver spear inside a glass frame that was hanging on the wall.
"You think that's it?" Sam asked, looking at the spear in the other end of the church.
"Yeah, that has to be it," Dean replied. They walked up to the altar, trying not to make too much noise. They kept an eye open for demons that could be hiding inside the church. When they stood in front of the altar, they could see the spear properly. It was big and shining silver, the handle was decorated with what looked like rubies and diamonds. The spear was indeed pretty.
"Cas said the spear was protected by spells," Sam said. "I guess we better wait for him to show up before we start touching anything. God knows what will happen if the spells are activated."
"Yeah, you're right. But where is Cas anyway? He said he'd be here," Dean said as he started looking around in the church. There was no sign of Cas anywhere.
But suddenly Cas arrived beside them in front of the altar, looking exhausted and bleeding, and holding what looked like a small jar made of ceramic, similar to the one that had contained the holy oil. Cas couldn't stay on his feet and fell to his knees, blood dripping from his temple and from his side. "Cas?!" Dean shouted in concern, and was immediately by Cas' side, supporting him. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Cas said. "…somewhat," he added after failing at his attempt to stand up.
"What happened?" Sam asked, kneeling beside Dean next to the angel, helping Dean support him.
"I had to fight another angel to get this," Cas coughed out and held up the jar. "It's the key to disable the spells protecting the spear." He tried to stand again, and this time he succeeded with some help from Dean and Sam. Dean kept supporting Cas even when he finally stood.
"What is that exactly?" Dean asked, peeking into the jar. The jar contained something that looked like blood. Maybe it was blood?
Castiel made Sam hold the jar while he tried to straighten up a bit. "It's angel blood," he deadpanned.
"Angel blood?" Sam frowned and looked into the jar before looking back at Cas. "We need angel blood to break the spells?"
"Yes," Cas replied, looking at Sam. He didn't seem bothered by the fact that Dean was still somewhat supporting him, even though he felt like he could stand on his own.
"But it's not yours, is it?" Dean asked.
"No." Cas looked to the ground. "The blood has to be pure. From an angel that hasn't fallen… or rebelled." He looked somewhat sad and perhaps even ashamed when he said that.
"So you got your ass kicked when you stole this blood from another angel? Is that why you were injured earlier as well?" Dean asked.
"Yes. I tried to get the blood from the angel earlier today. But my plan kind of… failed," Cas said, still looking at the ground. He made a grimace when he shifted a bit and the pain shot through him. "I tried again just now, with more success."
"You did well, Cas," Sam said. He turned to look at the spear on the wall. "So how do we do it? Just pour the blood on the glass frame or what?"
"Yes, and saying an Enochian counter spell while pouring the blood over the glass frame," Cas explained.
"Okay, I hope you can do that since, ya know, neither Sam nor I know Enochian." Dean gave a hopeless smile.
"Of course I can," Cas said. Dean helped Cas behind the altar to stand in front of the glass frame, and for a short moment, he could swear he felt soft, invisible feathers touch his side and caress his cheek. He looked at Cas, who smiled shyly at him. Dean smiled back, thrilled that Cas had just caressed him with his feathers.
Sam coughed impatiently, oblivious to Dean and Cas' little moment, as he stood ready to start pouring the blood over the frame. Castiel's expression changed as it was time to get to business. When Castiel began saying the counter spell, Sam poured the blood evenly over the glass frame, covering it completely in the angel blood.
Dean stood next to Castiel, watching as Sam poured the blood over the frame, and as Castiel said the counter spell. It was odd to hear Cas talking in this holy, ancient language. Sometimes it was easy to forget what Castiel really was.
Castiel finished the counter spell, and the jar was empty. They all stared at the glass frame for a few seconds before a weird light came from it, signalling that the spell had been broken. "We need to retrieve the spear quickly and get out of here as quickly as possible," Cas instructed. When Sam was about to get the sword, Cas stopped him. "No, Sam. I'm afraid you can't touch the spear. Your blood isn't… pure enough."
"Oh," Sam said, getting what Cas hinted at. It kinda hurt his feelings but he knew Cas meant no harm by saying it. Cas looked at Dean, who got the hint and went forward to retrieve the spear from its place on the wall. He broke the glass frame and took out the spear. It wasn't even heavy as he had expected. It was light as a feather.
Castiel suddenly froze and looked around in the church, eyes widened in fear. "We need to leave, now," he said with urgency in his voice.
But before either of them could turn around to leave, the atmosphere in the church changed. It became darker, and suddenly the church was full of demons, led by Lucifer. Sam and Dean flinched in unison as they saw him standing in the corridor in front of the few little stairs that led to the altar area. He had a smug smile on his face. "Well, well, seems like I got here just in time," Lucifer said calmly.
"I wouldn't say just in time – we already got the spear," Dean said in a gruff voice.
"Oh, you got the spear, alright, but you can't use it yet. Breaking the spells protecting it isn't enough before you're ready to actually use the spear," Lucifer explained; his face calm as ever. "I bet Castiel here forgot to mention that." His eyes landed on Castiel, who stood between the two brothers, holding a hand to a wound in his side.
Sam and Dean turned their eyes to the angel standing between them. Castiel shifted uncomfortably, head bowed as if in shame. "He's right," he simply confirmed. Sam and Dean both sighed in frustration and defeat, and looked back at their enemies.
"Now," Lucifer said in a demanding voice, taking a step forward. "Give me the spear, and I might let you out of here alive – this time." He looked at Dean and Castiel when he said that; as he meant no harm to Sam.
"Screw you," Dean spat. "If you want it, you're gonna have to come and take it from us yourself."
Lucifer looked at Dean, tilted his head a bit to the side, the smug smile still on his face. That head tilting must be an angel thing, Dean thought. "Oh, Dean, don't make me take your word for it."
Before Dean could give a reply, Castiel was thrown violently against the wall to his left; crying out in pain as he hit the ground soon afterwards. "Son of a—" but before Dean could finish his sentence, Lucifer appeared right in front of him; hand around his neck and lifting him slightly off the ground. He brought his mouth up next to Dean's ear and whispered, "I know your dirty little secret, Dean."
- tbc-
There wasn't that much Dean/Castiel in this chapter, but there will be more in the next chapters, I promise. And the rating will probably go up in the next chapter or in the chapter after that, so please be open-minded.
