Titanic arrived in Cherbourg, France at 6.30pm collecting further passengers on the ship. Dean and Sam watched as the first class passengers were greeted by Captain Smith.
"Where was our greeting?" Dean murmured watching them with a wrinkled nose. Sam shivered feeling the chill of the night air affect him and shrugged.
"Apparently we are not worthy" he mumbled and nudged Dean who scowled deeply. "I'm going back inside; you can freeze your ass off"
Dean waved a hand at him watching as they all boarded, he would never understand the difference of class. Sam headed down the dock with his head down dodging couples and turned his head to look behind him when he collided with someone hard and steady.
"Oh shit! I'm so sorry" Sam said stumbling back.
"No harm, no foul"
Gabriel looked him up and down from head to toe bemused. "I recognise you"
"You do?"
"From the deck hours before, you and the other gentlemen sat beside you were ogling my brother"
"What? No, no, no, that was Dean" Sam protested. "Dean is my brother"
Gabriel chuckled nodding his head. "I see the resemblance"
"Yeah" Sam murmured shifting feeling awkward and out of place in front of him.
"I'm Gabriel Milton"
"Gabriel?" Sam murmured with a raised eyebrow.
Gabriel smirked at him and pulled out a cigarette. "I get the same reaction every time I mention my name, yes, Gabriel like the archangel"
"Wow" Sam breathed watching him light the cigarette and take a long drag. "I'm Sam Winchester"
"A pleasure to meet you, Sam" Gabriel said puffing out white smoke into the night air. "Walk with me?"
Sam blinked surprised but quickly fell into step with him as they walked down the lit deck.
"Why are you travelling to New York?"
"My brother, Dean, bet all our money in a lucky game of poker including two tickets to America…he won" Sam muttered flushing pink in embarrassment.
Gabriel chuckled glancing over to him. "Very lucky, I see you are a traveller"
"We've travelled around the world" Sam responded proudly. Gabriel hummed handing over the lit cigarette with question and a dare in his eyes. Sam hesitated and shrugged taking it and inhaling with a cough.
"You are no smoker, Sam" Gabriel said lightly taking it back.
"No, Dean is the smoker" Sam said with a cough slamming a hand on his chest.
Gabriel pressed his lips together leaning back against the railing watching him.
"You speak highly of your brother"
"He's the only family I have"
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that"
Sam grimaced shyly glancing away. "Do you have family apart from your brother?"
"Castiel"
"Excuse me?"
"My brother is called Castiel and we are sailing to New York to join my younger sister, Anna, and my mother, Marie" Gabriel said highly amused at the disbelief evident on Sam's face.
"Wow"
"You're seem very surprised"
"I don't know why you are talking and walking with me of all people on this ship" Sam murmured looking to the side of him to see a married couple standing at the railings. Dressed in elegant clothes like Gabriel, they were beautiful and differed so much from Sam.
"Class means nothing to me, Sam, it means everything to my mother but to me and my siblings…it is nothing" Gabriel replied straightening up. "You don't see yourself do you?"
Sam swallowed shaking his head. Gabriel took his last drag and threw it over the side with a deep cough.
"I noticed you, Sam, there are over 2000 people currently on this ship including passengers and crew members, and you're the lucky one"
Sam blushed fiercely looking away out to sea. "I've never liked being singled out"
"You are on the largest and grandest ship to sail the Atlantic, you better get used to it, kiddo" Gabriel murmured pulling out his pocket watch. "It's late, I should return before my brother and his fiancée come searching"
"He's engaged?"
"Unfortunately, yes" Gabriel said turning back to him. "I'll see you tomorrow, Sam"
Sam narrowed his eyes. "Is that a promise?"
"Oh yes" Gabriel said disappearing down the deck. Sam watched him leave confused but also a little giddy. It was an exciting but pleasant feeling he was experiencing over this stranger who had expectantly took him into his life and time.
~0~
Castiel had never felt more isolated and controlled in his life as he stood the ever patient and expectant at his fiancées side. Gabriel was missing amongst the ship somewhere and he was surrounded by people he didn't care to speak to let alone stand in their presence.
"Castiel, I would like to introduce you to Miss Bela Talbot" Rufus said gesturing to a beauty dressed in white lace smiling a secret smile.
"A pleasure to meet you" she said with a curtsy he followed with a bow.
"Of course, have you met my fiancée, Miss Rachel St Clair?"
"No, I haven't had the pleasure" she said turning to Rachel who was staring at Castiel in surprised awe. Rachel smiled turning to Bela and talking in low tones.
"I think congratulations are in order, Castiel, she is a beauty" Rufus murmured sipping his whiskey. Castiel nodded and smiled in acknowledgement.
"Excuse me" he murmured casting a glance over to Rachel who was laughing with Bela and took his leave from the dining area. Castiel hurried out and didn't care as he took off down the corridor shoving shocked people out of the way as he burst out onto the now empty deck into the freezing cold air and headed towards the one place he could think.
Dean was lounging on the cold bench staring up at the stars and blowing cigarette smoke into the sky in small puffs. The feeling of smoke warmed his cold bones and his mind drifted wondering where Sam was now but was crushed when he heard the sound of someone running past him and sat up watching a familiar figure run up the stairs.
Dean struggled up and quickly followed in baffled curiosity. Castiel hit the railing feeling the impact on his stomach and groaned looking down into the black sea below. His breath came out in sharp quick rasps of white air as he looked up and swallowed hard, he needed a way out and this was it. Castiel gripped the rail hard climbing up and over so he was facing the sea and sat down on the bar sucking in cold breaths. Tears coated his eyes as he stared down at the black sea frothing under the propellers, his nerves were on fire, and his mind was screaming in protest.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you"
Castiel turned startled to see Dean standing there.
"What are you doing here? Don't come any closer!" he cried looking down at the sea and back to Dean watching him carefully.
"Just give me your hand…"
"No, you come any closer and I'll let go"
Dean nodded taking his last drag and holding it up moving slowly to the side closer to him and flicking it in. Dean touched the rail very gently looking over to him staring down at the water, tears sliding down his cheeks leaving pink trails because of the bitter cold of the sea.
"No, you won't" Dean said looking over to him.
Castiel looked over to him confused. "What do you mean, no I won't, do not presume to know me, you don't know me at all"
"Well…you would have jumped already"
Castiel looked away shaken and gritted his jaw tight. "You're distracting me, go away"
"I can't"
"Why not?"
"Because I'm involved now, do you think I would leave you and have this on my conscience knowing I could have saved you from this" Dean said gripping the railing with both hands. "If you jump, I'll have to jump in after you"
"That's absurd"
"But the truth" Dean said removing his jacket and tossing it on the floor looking Castiel dead in the eye who wavered looking down at the water.
"You would be killed"
"Maybe, I'm not saying it won't hurt…water like that, the water down there is colder than you could possibly imagine"
Castiel swallowed hard feeling the lump in his throat scratch and waver as he shivered.
"How cold?"
"Freezing"
"How could you of all people know that?" Castiel snapped shaking his head and looking forward clinging to the railings, the cold metal dug into his hand but the urge to jump was slowly slipping away.
"Because one winter my brother fell into a lake, he was walking across thin ice and fell straight in. I didn't question it as I got in there with him to drag him out and you want to know what the feeling was like." Dean murmured softly leaning against it. "It was like a thousand knifes stabbing you, repeatedly, all over your body…you can't breathe, you can't think straight, and there is nothing but the water and pain"
Castiel exhaled shakily closing his eyes and feeling his heart clench in fear.
"Then there is the propellers which would drag you in…making it the most excruciating death you could think of" Dean continued and sighed standing up straight. "Which is why I'm not looking forward to jumping in there after you."
Castiel looked back to him astonished.
"I don't have a choice, I'm involved now…but I'm kinda hoping you're going to prove me wrong and give me your hand, it'll get me off the hook"
Castiel closed his eyes letting out a small sound of distress before turning back to look at him as he held out his hand towards him.
"You're insane!"
Dean cleared his throat licking his bottom lip. "I get that a lot, sir, but in all due respect to us both…I'm not the one sitting at the back of a ship wanting to jump"
Castiel felt something flicker inside him and he saw his hand come towards him out of the corner of his eye.
"Just give me your hand and I'll pull you over…you don't really want to do this" Dean muttered pleadingly for him. Castiel let everything go as he made a small whimper and reached back gripping his hand tight, Dean let out a breath of relief as he stepped down and turned towards him.
Dean exhaled happily but shakily as he gripped both of his hands staring at him. It was wrong to think but Dean couldn't get over how handsome he really was. Cheeks flushed a virgin pink from the wind and his tears, the brightest blue eyes he had ever seen in his life staring back at him, and unruly black hair he longed to touch.
"I'm Dean Winchester" he said in a whisper.
"Castiel Milton"
Dean raised an eyebrow at him breathless but amused. "Strange but it suits you"
Castiel let out a small breath of laughter gripping his hands tight as Dean guided him over but one false move from Castiel nearly sent him slipping as he cried out but was quickly saved by Dean who tugged him closer till they were inches apart.
"Whoa" Dean breathed and winced at the grip on his hand and shoulder. "Don't go falling on me"
"Don't let me go" Castiel murmured urgently closing his eyes. Dean stared at the plump pink lips glistened in sweat, saliva, and the spray of the sea feeling the urge to move in and taste them but though better as he moved his head back.
"Never, trust me"
Castiel stared at him for a long moment and nodded slowly climbing up the slippery rails till he reached the second and stepped over carefully guided and watched by Dean. It fell apart when Castiel lost his slipping causing the both of them to tumble onto the deck with a huff. Dean landed on top of Castiel who stared up at him baffled and dazed, Dean felt the same way as he looked down on him.
"I never expected this to happen" he whispered.
"Don't move!" a voice heard and Dean looked up to see two crew members each holding a gun to him. Dean looked down to see Castiel looking vulnerable and scared while Dean towered over him.
"You got this all wrong, gentlemen" he replied standing up holding up his hands.
"Go fetch the master of arms!" one of them barked seizing Dean and handcuffing him while he attended to Castiel who was helped up and protested.
"I'm well, please…"
Dean looked down at the wood panelling knowing this wasn't going to end well.
~0~
"Castiel!" Rachel cried wrapped in a huge coat and looked him over horrified. "What happened? What did this low creature do to you?"
The master of arms, Samuel Colt, arrived looking over Dean.
"These boys say you assaulted this passenger here"
"He did, the animal" Rachel hissed clinging to Castiel and fussing over him.
"No, no, you have it all wrong! Dean…helped me, I was looking over the side there looking…for the propellers" Castiel said looking over to Dean who frowned confused.
"He was there also and startled me…I slipped forward and he grabbed me just in time, we fell back and that…is how they found us"
Dean blinked fighting back his laughter, he didn't know this Castiel Milton but he knew now that he was a terrible liar.
"Was that the way of it?" Samuel said to Dean who flicked a glance at Castiel who stared at him with pleading eyes.
"Yeah, yeah, that was the way of it"
Rachel narrowed her eyes in mistrust and disapproval of Dean; she tossed her head looking to Zachariah who nodded once. Gabriel arrived in a panic looking over to Castiel in alarm.
"I have just heard…" he said gripping his shoulders. "What happened?"
"A minor misunderstanding" Castiel replied looking over to Dean who was being un-cuffed, Gabriel followed his gaze and sucked in a breath shocked.
"You, what happened?"
"Dean, I saved your brother's life"
"Oh" Gabriel murmured looking to the stern of the ship and back to Dean who gave him an innocent look. "How honourable of you, you must be awarded"
"I think a twenty should do" Rachel injected with a small vindictive smile.
"Nonsense, Rachel, he shall join us for dinner tomorrow" Gabriel called looking around. "An honourable act should be justified"
Rachel glared at Gabriel with cold eyes before returning them to Castiel.
"Oh my love, you are shaking" she murmured. "Come"
Castiel stopped glancing back to Dean who watched him surprised. "Thank you, Dean"
"Anytime, I'll expect the favour one day" he called back to him.
Castiel let out a small smile and a nod before guiding Rachel back inside. Zachariah narrowed his eyes at Dean in his own suspicion before following after the couple. Samuel left with the other two crew members till it was just Gabriel and Dean left.
"Strange how your jacket fell off in the process" Gabriel pointed out as Dean went over to pull it on and pulled out a cigarette. Gabriel threw him a light and watched while he lit it and nodded.
"It got heated and scary for a while"
Gabriel pursued his lips together clearly bemused. "I'm sure, say hello to your brother for me, Dean Winchester"
Dean blinked not expecting that and stepped forward holding his hand to halt him from walking away.
"How do you know my brother?" he said feeling a fiery protection inside of him.
"We exchanged words no more than an hour ago, Dean, he is an interesting character" Gabriel murmured pocketing his lighter. "I am sure we will be seeing more of the two of you throughout our journey together, don't you?"
Dean was left speechless as Gabriel sauntered off down the deck whistling a show tune. His eyes moved off to the back of the ship once more and he felt a cold sickening feeling in the pit of his stomach. Dean barely knew this Castiel but all he knew now was that he was a terrible liar with naïve people to believe him and depressed enough to consider jumping off the ship. It struck ten pm when Dean grew tired of the cold and returned to his room to see Sam lying on the bunk.
"How was your evening?" Dean questioned sitting on the opposite empty bed.
"Interesting I think, yours?"
"Insane" Dean whispered falling back and letting his head hit the white wall. It had been one day on the titanic and with three days to go before they docked at New York, Dean had a feeling it was about to get a mightier more interesting.
A/N: Thank you for all the feedback! It's interesting to read your take on it. This will be both similar to the film but very different. I don't know how else to explain it but I hope you all enjoy it!
Reviews are very, very, welcome.