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The Supernatural characters belong to Kripke Enterprises and the CW, not me. No money is being made from this story. It is for entertainment only.

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A Wandering Boy

Chapter 21

At Peace in Your Arms

From Chapter 20

Megan kept pace with the car right up to where Dean was waiting and stood there while the boys piled into the back seat. Dean was last. When he moved to get in she made a swooping movement towards his face like she was going to kiss him good bye. He yelped and dived for his seat, shutting the door in her face.

Castiel turned and looked at Dean. "Dean, don't you want to say good bye to Megan?" the Angel asked. "We'll wait for you." Dean glared at his supposed Guardian Angel. Even though there was no expression on the Angel's face Dean was sure the Angel was laughing inside. When he heard a definite snort out of Sam it seemed to be confirmation.

Dean sat back and crossed his arms. "No, I don't. Just drive."

Chapter 21

Bobby was standing out on the porch with a beer in his hand and Rumsfeld asleep on one of his feet. When he saw the Impala pull up the driveway he pushed the dog off and retreated to the kitchen. He'd gotten the urge for the red soup variant of Hungarian goulash early in the morning and the five gallon French stock pot had been boiling all day. The meat had fallen off the seven bone roast and the twine wrapped celery plant was falling apart adding its spicy goodness to the tomato broth. It was time to start the potatoes and the egg noodles. He also had some 'take and bake' crusty bread for the oven. They were going to be eating well tonight.

Bobby listened to his cobbled together family rattling up the stairs and the old Hunter was again surprised at how much better his life had become since the Winchesters came to stay. He felt he owed that Angel a debt of gratitude. He hadn't even been aware that some of his pain after Karen was gone was simple loneliness.

As those that Bobby had taken to thinking of as his boys appeared in the kitchen, laughing and smiling, Bobby turned to greet them all.

"What's up, Dean?" Bobby asked noticing Dean's somewhat cranky expression.

"These guys are picking on me." Dean answered. "Isn't your family supposed to be on your side? "

Bobby raised his eyebrows at Sam, silently asking for an explanation.

"Dean's got himself a red-headed woman, Bobby." Sam laughed back.

"Oh, really?" Bobby said turning back to the stove. "They can be the best but they are famous for being pushy and stubborn. What's Dean's lady's name? When is she coming to dinner?"

"Never!" Dean yelled. "Megan Keller is not my girlfriend, no matter what she says and she's not coming here ever."

Dean stomped off, heading for the stairs with his back pack over his shoulder.

"Dinner's going to be another hour." Bobby shouted after the boy. "If you want to call your girlfriend up you have plenty of time."

Bobby was answered with an indistinguishable shout from upstairs and he chuckled as he went back to the stove to put the potatoes on to boil.

Now that the most visible of little boy storm clouds was out of the room Bobby concentrated on Sam and Castiel. Sam had retrieved coffee for himself and the Angel and Bobby approved of the lively verbal exchange between the two men. The older Hunter had years of Sam Winchester to look back on and he was willing to say that this Angel was doing Sam a lot of good.

Sam seemed more alive. The boy was being pulled out of his protective shell a little bit at a time. Castiel seemed to know exactly where to apply pressure on Sam defensive ramparts.

Bobby had always resented John Winchester's attitude toward his son. The man had been of the opinion that they only way Sam was going to survive the dark world that John saw at every turn was to beat the softness out of the boy. Any time Sam acted his age he was treated to a cascade of scorn. He was told to 'grow up' and to 'be a man'. The brow beating had started almost as soon as Sam could walk. The incessant emotional and physical abuse had created someone who was afraid of his own emotions. Sam Winchester was withdrawn, self-loathing and defensive.

Bobby saw Sam treating Dean the way Sam had wanted to be treated as a child and Dean was going to benefit greatly. The older Hunter hoped that the Angel could perhaps heal Sam of some of the damage inflicted by John. He hoped that Sam would accept the Angel as Castiel appeared to be more than ready to accept Sam.

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After dinner everyone was comfortably settled into the living room. In honor of the crisp fall weather Bobby had even gone so far as to light the fireplace. Bobby rocked back in his recliner with his feet up on the convenient foot rest while Sam and Castiel stretched out their stocking feet on the coffee table, catching the heat from the fire. Dean had plopped down on the floor to do his homework and was alternating sides to the fire like a dog. Everyone was full of Bobby's red soup and bread. It was quiet and peaceful except for Dean's muttering. The fifth grade "Introduction to Algebraic Principals" was giving the kid fits and Sam was completely unsympathetic. The more Dean muttered the more Sam repeated, "No 'A', no gun."

Bobby remembered a long ago argument between Sam and John. John wanted the gun first and if Sam was good enough then he could waste time on school work. That particular argument between father and son had grown more and more heated over the years until Sam had walked out the door, slamming it on both his father and the hunting life.

The boy had been gone for years returning only the one time to watch his father's body burn. Bobby had never sat down and quizzed Sam on why the young man had ditched school at the pinnacle of his success and come back to the Hunt. The older man watched now as Sam and Castiel exchanged smiles and small talk. It was as relaxed as Bobby had ever seen Sam and he approved.

Castiel leaned in and placed a hand on Sam's shoulder as both he and Sam laughed at something that Dean said to them and the laughter and good will spread through the entire room. Bobby closed his eyes and thought about the call he had received today from a friend of Pastor Jim. Jim's friend had a problem with his graveyard and Jim had offered to find someone to help.

Bobby looked over at his Stable Hunters and decided that perhaps the two of them could use just a little time alone together. Castiel looked ready to climb in Sam's lap and by the size of Sam's eyes the younger Hunter looked like he knew it. Sam kept glancing over at first Dean and that at Bobby to see if either of them was watching as he slid closer to the Angel.

Bobby spoke up. "Hey, Sam,." Sam's hand tensed on the back of Castiel's neck. "How well do you know Rapid City?" Bobby asked.

"I've driven through a couple of times." Sam answered. "Carson and I were just in the neighborhood when we went to clean the Manitous out of the Badlands. We didn't stay in the city proper but it's less than seventy thousand people. I think Cas and I can find our way around. What's up?"

"Got a little job for you two, I think." Bobby went on. "Shouldn't take long and I thought that maybe if you guys go over the weekend Dean can finally invite his friends to stay overnight."

Dean's head bobbed up "Oh good. That would be great. I want to show Jerry and Kerman my stuff and the yard and Rumsfeld and your weird books and…"

Bobby laughed. "Down boy. Take a breath."

"So you don't want to go with us then?" Sam said to the boy.

Dean was torn. He really wanted to impress his friends but he wanted to go hunting too. "Do you want me to go with you?"

Sam relented. He could tell Dean was asking for someone to take charge and make the decision for him so Sam stepped into the breach. "I'll tell you what," he answered. "Castiel is new at this stuff too so I think it would be best to let him get some more experience. When Cas feels he's ready we'll take you with us then. I don't need two newbies on my hands." Sam smiled.

Finally Sam turned his head to Bobby. "So what have you got for us Bobby?"

Castiel also turned to look at Bobby and at the same time the angel leaned back on to Sam's chest. Sam flinched at first and then didn't know what to do with his hands. Finally he simply put one arm on the back of the couch and wrapped the other loosely around Castiel's waist. Castiel patted Sam's arm a couple of times as if assuring the young man that it was fine. Bobby cleared his throat and just ignored their position hoping to maintain the fragile peace. The older Hunter looked down at Dean and the little boy seemed to see nothing strange. The momentary tension collapsed, a log shifted in the fireplace throwing up a cascade of sparks and peace was reestablished.

"Pastor Jim has a friend in Spearfish, a little town just north of Rapid City and the man's churchyard has been bothered lately by a wailing spirit. Pastor Lacy would like someone to come and deal with the problem.

Sam smiled. "I like the ones that hang around their own graves. It makes them easy to find. I guess we'll just load up the shovels, check the supplies and take a little drive.' Sam glanced down at Castiel's' face. "You ready to run, Angel?"

Castiel sighed. Sam wasn't Dean but occasionally Castiel could hear an echo of his lover's voice in the things that Sam said. He thought that he possibly had heard the exact same phrase drop from Dean's lips a life time ago. Once again the pain of all he had lost caused human emotion to pulse through the Angel's new found soul.

He took comfort in Sam's arms. He knew that he had become tainted by humanity and as such would never be welcomed into this reality's heaven. Even if his actions might be favored by God no Angel would ever accept him. God had wanted Angels to learn to love his human creations and to bow down and serve them but perhaps not to this extent. Castiel was in his way a mirror to Lucifer's sin. God punished Lucifer for his hubris; the Angels would punish Castiel for his perceived fall.

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The visit to Pastor Lacy's Spearfish churchyard was swift and professional. The Pastor stood as look out for them at the churchyard gate and they got to work digging up Edwin Mansell's grave in the early evening twilight instead of the dark of night. The Pastor was at the gate, Castiel stood watch with the salt gun and Sam shoveled. Every now and then the two Hunters would change places but Castiel still was determined not to cheat. He sweated right along with Sam.

They had been able to get right to the grave when they arrived in Spearfish because the Pastor had recognize his ghost, a violent man who had been shot by his own wife. He had blamed his wife Maggie for everything that had gone with his life and Edwin was a deeply disappointed man.

His marriage and his personal punching bag, Maggie, was all that he had left and when she finally gave into despair and walked out on Edwin the man followed her. There had been plenty of witnesses to Edwin's assault on the poor woman and she had been declared innocent as she had acted in self-defense and in defense of her children. Edwin had been waving a knife at their six year old son at the time.

Pastor Lacy had been struck with wonder at this proof of an afterlife. He had questions and asked as they made their way to the church yard gate. "It's been three years since he died," the Pastor asked Castiel. "When has he just come back lately? Why he is seemingly stuck in my churchyard? And what is all the yelling about?"

Castiel nodded seriously. "These are all very good questions, Pastor. Time flows much more differently in Limbo where souls such as Mr. Mansell's are held for early judgment. To the spirit his death may have occurred only yesterday. He has not left your churchyard because the spirit is just learning how to move again on the physical plain. Years or moments may pass here while the spirit learns to focus away from his earthly remains. It is good we have been called early in the spirit's career. The most likely way he will move out will be the call of his children's blood. He could very well become a family curse. He yells and moans in frustration as his desire for vengeance against his wife is thwarted even in death. "

Pastor Lacy was taken back at the serious answers to his questions. "How do you know these things, Mr. Castiel?"

Sam answered the Pastor for Castiel, fearing that Castiel's reply could be deeply distributing. "Just trust Castiel, Pastor. He has much experience in these matters. He has never been mistaken as long as we have been hunting together. Just trust us both and we'll solve this problem for you."

Leaving the Pastor to guard the gate against inquisitive strangers Castiel and Sam walked further into the burial ground. "Sam,' Castiel said "Do you think that answer is sufficient to settle the Pastor's questions: just trust us?"

Sam shifted the shovel on his shoulder. "It's enough for the man Cas. Just leave your wings hidden. The man has had enough to accept right now. I guarantee you; an Angel in his churchyard will make the poor man's cup run over."

Within the hour Ed's angry spirit had gone up in flames. Castiel had to shoot the spirit twice as it madly charged Sam in the grave but in the end the purification of salt and the liberal application of gasoline sent Edwin to mull the his sins elsewhere in the spirit plane.

They gathered their tools and met with Pastor Lacy at the churchyard gate. The Pastor shook their hands frantically and wanted to know if there was anything he could do to pay them for cleansing the church grounds. Castiel and Sam tried to refuse offering every excuse but the Pastor insisted that at least he could feed them dinner before they drove away.

"Please, Pastor," Sam replied. "Really, the best thing you could possibly do for us is allow us to leave, I promise you." Sam was imagining sitting at the Pastor's table with the man's wife, trying to explain why Castiel didn't know what green bean casserole was. He could also easily see Castiel trying to explain earnestly that Angels did not really need to eat.

Finally they managed to escape Pastor Lacy's overwhelming gratitude and get in the Impala. Sam was exhausted after a day on the road and an evening moving dirt in a tense situation. The first time he saw a sign for a motel on Route I-90 he pulled off and headed for the parking lot.

Cas went out to retrieve food and Sam hit the shower. The warm water dragged through his hair, creating runnels of soap bubbles down his body. Everywhere they ran his skin tingled. He turned and let the pounding ease the muscles of his back. He leaned and placed his hands on the cool tile wall and felt the water run down his legs. Gradually the dirt cleared and he soaped everywhere looking to create a blanket of warmth. He inched the water temperature up and the entire bathroom steamed. It felt wonderful. He was warm and relaxed. If it was possible to sleep under that shower he would have dozed off.

All too soon he heard the room door open and close and Castiel called out. "Sam, the food is here. This room is full of fog. Is that normal?"

Sam laughed and stepped out of his sanctuary, reaching for the towel rack. Wrapping one towel around his hips and another on top of his head he went out to eat what the Angel had provided. On the way to the table he grabbed a clean t-shirt and slid it on. He and Castiel sat at the table and discussed the hunt, Bobby Singer and Dean's school adventures. It was a friendly, relaxed conversation with someone who was fast becoming a very close friend.

Sam lay down finally and closed his eyes. The light in the room went out and he felt Castiel climb on to the bed a few minutes later. He turned his head to the side and Castiel ran his fingers lightly over Sam's face, outlining his lips, stroking his cheeks; then the Angel ran his fingers through Sam's hair, dragging it off the young man's face.

Sam rolled onto his side, threw his arm over Castiel and moved closer. He could feel the heat of the Angel's body. A moment later Castiel pulled the comforter up over both of them and pulled Sam into a lover's kiss. Compliant and shy Sam lay there waiting for whatever came next. He had never been in bed with a man before and felt awkward and unsure.

Castiel took charge and pushed Sam on his back. He then rolled on top of this Winchester. He started to apply what his other Winchester had taught him in a different world, in a different room. The Angel started by kissing the young man quickly and carefully, scattering his kisses from mouth , to eyelids to nibbles on Sam's earlobes, something that had always driven Cas's Dean wild. It had the same effect on Sam and Castiel smiled in the dark. He ran his hand down Sam's firm chest to the young man's cock and manipulated it, encouraging Sam's participation. It didn't take long for Sam to get with the program and Castiel fingers grew slippery with pre-cum. The Angel moved the comforter to the side anticipating what was to come.

Castiel slicked the way while Sam groaned and flexed under his hand. Cas had one hand on the back of Sam's head and the other wrapped firmly and in control on the young man's dick. Sam rolled and whimpered and dug his fingers into the sheets while Castiel drove him higher and higher. Cas stopped for a moment and rolled Sam's balls firmly feeling them draw up against the young man's body in preparation for an orgasm, getting an even deeper moan out of his partner. Satisfied, he went back to the leaking dick and stroked even harder. Finally the Angel felt the man pulsing under his fingers and he reclaimed Sam's lips. He breathed into the Hunter's mouth. "Come on Sam. It's ok. It's fine. You want to come, then come." The Angel increased his speed and Sam climaxed. His come shot up through Castiel's fingers onto Sam's own belly. The young man moaned again and relaxed.

Not once did Sam open his eyes during the entire encounter. Castiel smiled in the dark. The Angel could have cleaned them up with a wave of his hand but he wanted Sam to have no place to hide. He went to get a damp wash cloth and some towels. As he rose he flipped on the light and Sam threw his arm over his eyes. The angel knew exactly what he was doing. There would be no way that Sam could pretend this had never happened.