Why is it always research? The three volumes of hand scrawled enchantments began to loose focus whilst Dean's mind wandered. Pale white pages shifted to deep brown rafters, as he slowly reclined in the chair. Lazily he stretched his arms behind him and rocked back on two of the four chair legs, because he's a rebel like that. Having to do all the boring work so Cas can train Sam blows. Dramatically Dean righted the chair and dropped his forehead onto the wobbly table. Outside he could hear muffled voices. Sam sounded upset about something. Suddenly the argument became clear as his younger brother flashed into view mid-yelling, "-even supposed to work?" Sam demanded of the kitchen wall.
Considering the opportunity to tease his sibling arose, who was Dean to let it pass? Now sitting upright the elder Winchester began sniggering loudly. It wasn't Sam's fault for needing to learn, but an embarrassed blush crept onto his cheeks none the less. With his remaining dignity Sam strode out the front door back to the priest.
Silence overcame Castiel suddenly as Sam flashed himself inside. Cas took the reprise to appreciate the nice weather of the day. As the foundations of his existence reshapes itself, the world continues to turn unheeded. The sun will rise no matter what Castiel chooses to do. Every action is insignificant in the macro sense. Breathe in and out. In and out. The gift of silence was broken as Sam re-emerged from the shack. Without effort Cas could tell the taller man was embarrassed by his lack of control. Commenting on it would not help the situation. Instead Cas stood patient. Disgruntled energy rolled off Sam as he approached.
"We will begin again from the start," Castiel intoned with no infliction. Each man stood facing one another, with four feet between them. Their skill for the day was mind reading. Though Sam was more difficult a student than anticipated. It has been proven in the test of time that Blue Eye power flourished when emotions are tamed. A practice Sam is not so experienced in. Castiel suspected the Green Eye in Sam left him prone to emotional outbursts. If this afternoon didn't prove successful then Cas may have to switch techniques and instead emphasize meditation. "Reminder," Cas gently imparted, "a clear mind is key."
Both men closed their eyes, the goal here was for Sam to read and mimick. To begin Castiel conjures the image of Diocean Boys' School in his mind. Even though frustration still fizzled in him, Sam proceeded to reach out to Castiel's mind. 'The school' he recognized. This was an easy image to reflect back. Afterall he was so familiar with every inch of the building. Satisfied with Sam's creation Castiel shifted to his image of the Impala, mixed with the scent of leather and a sense of warmth. Sam mirrored back with heightened sensory input due to his emotional connection to the object.
Next Castiel chose a less than savory memory to draw from: Devron tied to a chair, prior to Dean's assault. Sam's response was slower than the other two. Moments slipped by and Sam finally created an acceptable approximation. Castiel recalled his days of training and remembered how difficult it could be to create a memory based off another person's mind. Considering how Sam never saw Devron, and on top of that, the subject was sensitive. Castiel was mildly impressed with Sam's development. A few strained moments passed and Castiel shifted to an easy domestic image that Sam picked up on quickly.
Steadily time passed in such a manner. This second time around Sam was less volatile. Hours later Castile chose to take a break. Each man parted minds, and came into awareness of their surroundings. Sometime during the day's progression Sam's body had relaxed into a crouch with his head hanging forward. Castiel on the other hand hasn't moved in the least. Years of training ingrained into each bone kept him from immobile. While Cas is capable of such a feat does not mean it is a good thing. Quickly his muscles sent report of discomfort screaming through his nervous system. Next came a churning need to eat.
With a shared understanding both men walked back to the shack. A gentle scent of fast food reached their noses. Sometime in their preoccupation Dean took the car to retrieve an early dinner. The priest's internal clock estimated it was near 1530. Meaning Dean had eight unsupervised hours to research anything that could assist their goal.
Sam entered first, releasing a groan as he reached for a take out bag. One of three meals laying out for them. Hunger that was once small became mighty as Castiel saw the food that awaited him. Instinctively he asserted himself over the base desire. Instead he moved to examine Dean's research. Occupying Dean's hand was the ever present beer bottle; before him sat Sam's laptop and scattered books. Probably procured from Bobby through Rufus. On the lit computer screen sat the image of a ritually ornate bowl etched with Latin. Apparently Dean had been painfully translating the words with the use of an electronic program. Which struck Cas as foolish considering the priest knew Latin fluently. Forgetting etiquette Castel snatched the laptop, a notepad, and pen away. Initially affronted, Dean went to complain but realized he wasn't motivated enough to care.
Castiel settled himself down on the cooler and proceeded to do what would have taken Dean days of work, in a matter of minutes. Satisfied with his accomplishment Cas returned the materials to Dean. While sitting on the cooler, he'd become aware of his need to satisfy the call of nature. Without preamble he walked back out the door, still foregoing the meal. All of these actions occurring without a word spoken. Sam unwilling to talk while eating, Dean watching in surprise, and Cas not realizing how awkward he was acting.
Unlike Castiel, who could thrive in silence, Dean began to feel uncomfortable, "Where's he off to?"
"I dunno, maybe to take a leak?" The small shack lacked in many things. One of which was running water and electricity. That needed to change. All the boys were beginning to smell a bit ripe already. Dean added re-locate to his list of things to do.
Finding the conversation boring Sam changed the subject, "You find anything yet?"
"Yea well Cas finished this ritual bowl but turns out it's for a curse of pestilence." To reconfirm his knowledge Dean scanned the translation again, "Nothing that we can really use."
Wordless gloom settled in. A small sense of helplessness crept its way into the brothers' minds. They've got a clear objective: Capture and interrogate Uriel. But as it stands they only have their bare hands to accomplish it. For instance Cas could flash over to wherever Uriel is, but who knows what Uriel is up to. Or even who he's with so Cas could blindly walk into a den of murders without back up. Okay, that's a bit dramatic but that's beside the point. Sammy doesn't have full control over his abilities yet. So he can't accurately flash and on top of that, he doesn't know who Uriel is. Cas is able to teleport one of us but apparently it is very difficult and the person need to be unconscious. Again not ideal for entering an unknown situation. Additionally, since their binding handcuffs were broken down to re-enchant Dean's necklace there is no way to restrain Uriel once they have him. They need a few things right now: 1. Sam needs to come into his abilities 2. They need some tool that can bind Uriel 3. A good long shower.
These deep thinky thoughts brought Dean to question his brother, "So... Sammy, how was your Jedi training?"
Between bites of french fries he replied honestly, "More difficult than I expected. Ya know," Sam paused and shifted to sit on a spot against the wall, "It's weird. With Green Eyes it's all instinct and emotion. But Blue Eyes is all balance and focus." Shinning through his exhaustion, Sam's eagerness to learn was apparent.
Without any better response Dean just snorted out, "Nerd."
Catiel returned then and immediately began talking, "Is there a reason you were researching a curse for pestilence?" Sam noticed that the priest was standing very close to the collection of fast food but not partaking of it.
Dean replied, "Nah. I found it in some enchanted collection. Not sure what I am looking for. And I don't know Latin. It was a shot in the dark really."
Castiel had two internal struggles at that point. One struggle was over the biological urge to eat. He wanted to dominate the desire, and eat when he decided to. Instead of eating when his body decided to. The second struggle was whether Castiel served best in research or as Sam's instructor. He came to one conclusion, "I will stay here and research. This is a good opportunity to review Green Eye training with Sam."
With the assumption that his decision was flawless, Castiel moved into Dean's seat as it was vacated for him. Relief flooded the priest as he settled fully into the chair. Some expression must have passed his face because Sam commented, "Cas... you alright?" Unable to comprehend the man's concern Castiel looked expressionlessly back. Dean could sympathize with Sam's uneasy fidgeting. Sitting under Cas's gaze can be unsettling. "Well, you aren't eating, and you look like you're in pain, and you've been standing for like eight hours." In response Castiel's silence continued. "I mean... I was just looking out for you," Sam mumbled before walking away awkwardly. Watching someone else suffer brought a smile to Dean's lips.
Sam was always a softie. Dean hadn't noticed that the priest was neglecting himself. Every time he looked out at the two training it seemed like nothing was happening. Aside for occasional glowing. Did all that standing and glowing really make a guy tired? Did he really care if Cas was alright? A memory of Castiel exhausted and treating Sam's body came to mind.
That gave him the answer. Dean pulled out his phone and dialed Rufus's number. With the cell up to his ear, Dean tried to look casual as he snagged the remaining food and dropped it on Cas's notes. A silent order to eat. As Rufus makes demands into Dean's ear the elder Winchester walks out to locate Sam. "Rufus. We need running water man..."
Castiel may be socially stunted but Dean's actions were clear. So eat he did. It wasn't long before the two brothers materialized outside and began to, essentially, spar. Dean's idea of honing skill came from on the fly training. Judgement is for the weak, so Castiel tried to stop his thoughts before he criticized the brothers. As he finished up the fries and hefted a hamburger out of it's wrapper all negativity was chased away. He's had beef before. This hamburger though is different. Castiel's slow exposure to food is steadily opening his eyes to the joys in life. The shack, his family, his achy muscles, all of it stopped mattering for five minutes. Instead glorious juicy hamburger mixed with tomato, cheese, and sauce filled his mind.
Fierce elation flowed through Dean. He wasn't going all out against his brother but being able to use his abilities was like stretching his muscles: Satisfying. In a dynamic move where he intended to shift from solid to gaseous then quickly back to solid (so as to allow Dean the chance to take Sam unaware) Dean was forced to pull his punch when Sam bust out laughing. Even though the punch wasn't thrown his body weight was already shifted. Unsteadily Dean recovered and saw Sam pointing towards the kitchen with a massive grin. Inside Cas had abandoned his quest for knowledge in favor of making near inappropriate faces at a cheeseburger. The image was both hilarious and tempting.
The rapture reminded him of Anna. Back when they first met, she was still a refugee from her family. It was months before she started eating like a normal person. Her passing still stung. Strange to think how just the other day they had her laid to rest. Castiel would never replace her.
Dean felt something shift in his thoughts. Like somehow he got slightly happier. Having lived with mind intrusions he recognized what Sam was doing.
"Get out!" Dean growled and launched at Sam to put him in a choke hold.
"Dude! Dude, sorry. you got all sad and shit. I couldn't ignore that," Sammy defended his actions. Squeezing out each word between blows. Dean went gaseous to attempt his move again, this time dodging to the right. Somehow Sam managed to read the punch and block it. Acting quick Dean went gaseous again and surrounded Sam entirely, so when he reformed Dean's arms would hopefully be around his brother's chest. This attempt Sam didn't seem able to predict. Triumphantly Dean solidified with his younger brother bound. Desperate to come out of this as the winner Sam dropped his right shoulder, bent his right knee, and crouched forward while shifting his weight.
All of this succeeded when Dean came crashing down onto the ground landing on his back. Sam landed too, his back pinning Dean down. Younger he may be, but smaller he is not. Laying his full weight over his brother uncomfortably, Sam began chatting away as though Dean's struggles and suffering meant nothing. Logically Dean knew he could smoke out but that's the easy way. No this was a matter of pride. He'd move Sam's heavy ass off of him the regular way.
"So I realized something kinda cool earlier," Sam chatted away, "When you came at me from the side I could tell where you were." Dean's struggles were causing Sam to bounce a bit but not enough to dislodge him so the younger man continued on, "It was like, even though you smoked out I could still hear your mind."
That made Dean still. Thinking his brother gave up Sam started to stand. Childishly Dean shoved at Sammy's back and escaped quickly. The incident with Abbadon makes more sense now though. Someone with Blue Eye ability, like a Hazel Eyes, can tell if someone is smoked by hearing their mind. So the other day when Dean snuck into Abbadon's building, she must've known he was there. As if his guilt wasn't bad enough already. Of course if he'd known... if he'd only known. This time around Dean hid his pain from the surface. Instead he masked his actions by saying, "That is something that'll come in handy."
Both men became aware of Castiel's presence at the same time. The priest stood barely ouside the doorway observing.
"If you two continue to spar while emitting light it will defeat the purpose of us hiding." Both the Winchesters realied only then that the sun had set. Apparently at the subconscious level each of them began emitting a soft orange glow to help their eyes see. Even if Cas's concern is mostly unfounded it's still a good time to call it quits for the night.
"You won't have to worry about us staying here for long. Bobby may have found us a better place to squat," Dean strode forward and clapped Castiel on the back. When Dean finished speaking Castiel turned fully to face him which made what was once a comfortable distance a less than comfortable one.
"Uh.. Cas. We've talked about this. Personal Space."