Oh, yeah, everything is unbeta'd. All my mistakes are my own. Also, didn't do quite as many re-reads and edits so there will probably be more mistakes than usual.
Disclaimer: Kripke owns all Supernatural characters. I'm only borrowing them.
Pairing: Dean/Castiel - very graphic. This is my first attempt at something like this because this muse wouldn't leave me alone. Please let me know what you think, constructively.
Overall Warnings: Rated M for swearing, graphic sexual content with S and M undertones, implied forced sexual torture and other adult subject matter.
Author's note: Sorry for the delay in posting. This chapter has been giving me all kinds of problems and I have no idea why. Apparently my muse is tired or something. Anyway, hopefully this is a one-time thing and the next chapter will be better.
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Chapter 24 – The Odd Couple
"The question is do you believe them, Castiel?" Joshua prodded sagely while he tended the oak tree in Castiel's favorite Heaven. "Do you believe and trust them?"
"No," Castiel answered honestly. "Absolutely not. I believe Michael and Lucifer are plotting to get even with not only me. They also want out to get even with the Winchester brothers. But, I do think that I might have a way of making them keep their word."
Joshua narrowed his eyes at Castiel and pointed out hesitantly, "We have heard your solution in your prayers. Do you really think that will work?"
"Yes," Castiel answered gravelly.
"What if they don't want what you think they do?" Joshua counseled gently.
Castiel narrowed his eyes and stated stubbornly, trying to keep the irritation out of his voice and remain neutral, "If it stops the fighting and needless suffering of millions, does it matter?"
"You tell me, Castiel," Joshua prodded harshly. "Would you want to be bound against your will?"
"There is an out, in that case. Besides, the demon didn't cause that part," Castiel corrected instantly.
Joshua sighed wearily at the obstinate angel then closed his eyes in prayer. He was silent for a long time as he communed. Finally, he opened his eyes and relayed formally, "You all will be released from the box on a probationary period. They are under your care and charge. It is up to you to make sure they don't . . . act inappropriately. Beware, though, Castiel. We all know you will be their prime target during this mission."
"And the demon?" Castiel wondered hesitantly.
Joshua stared at him hard for a long moment before he cocked his head to the side questioningly and countered vaguely, "What makes you think that we would know anything about that?"
Castiel studied him thoughtfully in return then apologized solemnly, "You are right, of course. Forgive me."
Joshua nodded in kind and cautioned encouragingly, "Take care, Castiel. Remember we are all cheering for you."
Castiel eyed him dubiously and clarified disbelievingly, "All?"
He was well aware of the damage he had done to most of his siblings during his 'power trip'. Even though he was atoning for what he could, he knew that his siblings did not trust or care for him much anymore and with good reason. Castiel could not find it within himself to fault them.
Joshua stared at him as though he read Castiel's every thought. Finally Joshua smiled comfortingly and corrected firmly, "Well, the important ones are, and that's all that really counts. Correct?"
Castiel nodded slowly, feeling a wave for love that he'd been missing for quite a while and inhaled as the peace washed over him then he blinked. When he opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Lucifer smiling widely. He swallowed a heavy groan of irritation.
"I'm free! I'm free!" Lucifer chanted gleefully as he pranced around like a five year old on a sugar high.
"Oh, joy," Michael snarked with the same irritation that Castiel tried to hide.
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Dean let out an involuntary groan as he fell hard to the ground. He grabbed his abs then curled in on himself. The vicious kick to his stomach took all the breath out of him while his mind went blank, even though a majority of the blow was deflected by his crossed arms. Everything seemed to stop for an unknown span of time. Later he'd realize that he'd actually lost consciousness for a brief moment.
"Dean," Sam called repeatedly with mild panic. "Dean. Come on, man. Don't do this to me. Dean!"
Dean reluctantly became aware as he felt Sam shake him and growled hoarsely, "Get off me! Quit pawing me, Sasquatch. I'm fine."
"Really?" Sam snarked derisively. "It was hard to tell since that was the second time you were thrown over ten feet and you didn't answer me for over five minutes. Can you stand?"
Dean blinked, barely understanding his brother, and demanded harshly, "Where is it?"
"I missed and it left," Sam explained quickly, grabbing Dean's arm to pull him up.
"Great. That's just great. Oh, yeah, and since when do they replicate? Or duplicate? Or . . . whatever . . . why the hell are there suddenly two? Or was that my concussion?" Dean commented caustically with vague confusion, not quite ready to get up. He was still severely dazed. He felt general pain all over his body but nothing too intense, according to his body's frazzled report.
"Reach out and touch faith." The song lyrics sounded at a muted volume in the dense, quiet forest. It was quickly followed by the catchy rhythm. Dean immediately reached for his phone with an unconscious smile on his face. "Your own. Personal. Jesus."
"Wow," Sam snarked teasingly while he reloaded his flare gun and scanned the area. "Dude, last time you looked like that, you got laid."
Dean glared angrily and ordered harshly as he opened his cell to talk, "Shut up, Sam." He placed the phone to his ear and greeted with more energy than he actually felt, "Hey, Cass. You out?" Sam grabbed for Dean again but Dean batted his oversized hands away and tried to stand by himself.
"Hello, Dean," Castiel returned easily. "Yes. I am out but . . ."
"So are they," Dean concluded with resignation. Sam grabbed for him again and Dean snapped irritably, "Back off, Sam. I told you. I'm fine. Now get your ginormous hands the hell away from me. I'm so not into incest." Dean rolled away and came up quickly then felt the world spin at the sudden change in altitude.
"Dean!"
He heard Sam and Castiel both call him at the same time. He fell back onto a nearby tree and sagged against it for support. Sam quickly pulled him upright and then he found the strength to stand up as his dizziness passed. He irritably shook Sam off again.
He heard Castiel growl over the phone and quickly ordered, "Calm down, Cass. I'm fine. Sam's just being his normal bitch self and overreacting again. As usual."
"Dean, where are you?" Castiel commanded in a voice that demanded a response.
"We're . . .," Dean trailed off as they heard the animalistic scream of the very ticked off wendigo they were hunting. "Oh, crap," Dean muttered with dread under his breath then prodded Sam abruptly as he quickly scanned for his gun. "Where the hell is it?"
"Well, one of them is to the left," Sam informed him tightly, aiming his gun in that direction. "It's the other one that has me worried."
"Dean!" Castiel snapped irately while Dean scrambled for his now located gun about five feet away in the clearing they had just been in.
"Oregon. Mount Hood National Forest. Three miles north of Trail B," Dean recited quickly as he dove for his gun hearing a growl way too close behind him. He dropped his phone and grabbed his gun while he rolled to his back and shot at the wendigo. The flare went wide and to the right, setting a tree on fire.
The wendigo dodged to the left and locked a hand around Dean's right ankle as it jumped up, intent on making a run with his catch in the tree tops. Dean felt his body rise up off the ground a few feet before he was slammed right back down on his back. He lost his breath again and curled over at the resounding pain in his back and abdomen. Another pained moan escaped him.
"Dean," Castiel called worriedly as he crouched down beside him.
"Look out!" Sam shouted in warning while he fired at the second wendigo which swiftly outran Sam's aim.
Castiel quickly stood and turned in a single, smooth motion. He faced the new wendigo and stretched out a single hand at the creature's charge. He stopped the creature cold when its chest ran into Castiel's hand. Castiel then incinerated it with a single thought. He glanced at Sam across the clearing and demanded harshly, "Are there more?"
"Not as far as we know," Sam answered quickly, hurrying over to his brother's side.
Castiel had already turned and squatted down beside Dean then cupped his left hand around Dean's right cheek. He let his healing grace flow into his mate. He felt Dean's soft moan of pleasure, which luckily Sam wasn't close enough to hear. Castiel closed his eyes briefly, fighting against his baser instincts at their reunion.
"Cass?" Dean verified softly, blinking to clear his eyes and mind.
"Hello, Dean," Castiel confirmed formally as he reluctantly pulled his hand back. He thought he felt a soft pull on his grace from an unknown source when he withdrew it. He frowned thoughtfully while his mate sat up.
"Nice timing, Cass," Dean commented gratefully. He glanced at his angel but quickly moved his eyes in Sam's direction. It had been a few weeks since he had last seen Castiel and he knew his body was already reacting to his mate. Geez, he was worse than one of those Pavlovian dogs.
Castiel frowned heavily at Dean's abrupt lack of attention but turned to face Sam anyway, sensing that this wasn't the time to question such things.
"Dean, you okay?" Sam queried breathlessly.
"Yeah, I'm good," Dean answered easily while he slowly stood up. Castiel had healed his concussions and other aches and pains but Dean knew by now to get up slowly whenever he could. It helped him to avoid having the world spin out of control.
"So where are Beavis and Butthead?" Dean wondered with cynical dread.
"Where are who and who?" Castiel questioned with complete confusion.
"You know, the WWF Raw Cage Extras," Dean clarified easily but Castiel was still lost.
Sam sighed heavily and explained briskly, "He means Michael and Lucifer."
Castiel glanced up at the sky to the left then stated firmly, "On their way." He quickly touched both men on the shoulders and flew them to Bobby's study. They landed in a whirl of papers that Bobby tried very hard to hold down.
"Watch it, Featherbrains!" Bobby snarled with an irate growl.
"Shit," Dean cursed harshly as he stumbled to the desk before he regained his balance. He braced his hands on the desk and let his head fall forward. He slowed his breathing as the intense discomfort receded.
"Dean?" Sam questioned with worry while Castiel frowned heavily.
Dean slowly straightened and turned to face the two. Dean growled low in his throat, feeling his stomach repositioned in his throat, "What the hell was that?"
"What was what?" Castiel wondered, feeling slightly perturbed, then countered with his own growl, "Why did you fight me?"
"What was . . . wait. What the hell do you mean, 'I fought you'? I didn't . . . wait, are we running from the dysfunctional Odd Couple?" Dean completely segued with a shake of his head then he made the mistake of staring into Castiel's eyes.
"Wait. What Odd Couple?" Sam queried curiously.
"Michael and Lucifer," Bobby finished with dread. "Right?"
Castiel intently stared back at Dean but somehow managed to finally answer. "You are correct. My brothers have sworn to a truce and have, therefore, been released from the cage for a probationary period of time."
"Oh, great," Sam muttered under his breath. "That's just great. Fantastic."
Dean continued to stare into those deep blue eyes that he could so easily drown in. In fact, he might have actually done that because he could not force himself to look away. Eye contact with his mate had his entire body humming with electricity. He was already half hard and all that had happened so far was their usual staring match.
He remembered when they had started this. It seemed so very long ago. Initially, it had been a challenge to show this angel of the Lord that he, Dean Winchester, wasn't afraid of the likes of him. Later, it was to show that he would not buckle under the pressures of Heaven. Finally, it was connection to a very close friend who sometimes knew him better than he knew himself.
Now, however, he could actually feel the angel's grace pulsing with pleasure not five feet in front of him. He felt Castiel look deep within him. He could feel Castiel's want and desire to be with him again. Thank God he wasn't a woman or he would have already wet his pants by now.
As it was, he would soon be sporting a hell of an erection soon if Castiel didn't release him from this staring match. Then he felt the ghostly feather touches and his eyes almost rolled up into the back of his head. It was only his extreme willpower and stubbornness that kept that from happening. He refused to look away first.
Suddenly, he heard Castiel talking to the others while at the same time he heard Castiel in his mind. "Dean?"
He almost shook his head then answered within his mind, "Uh, yeah? Dude, are you inside my head?"
"Yes," Castiel answered mentally, still staring intently. "Our bond allows this but only if we are close and there is eye contact. I need to warn you. They cannot know that you are my mate or they will use that against both of us."
"Yeah," Dean agreed readily with his mind. "How long can you dodge them?"
"Not long as I am supposed to be keeping an eye on them," Castiel elaborated determinedly. "I will have to leave soon but I will be back, Dean." Dean flushed slightly as he heard the sexual promise in his mate's tone.
"Dean!" Sam snapped loudly next to Dean.
"What?" Dean snapped back irately, extremely irritated that Sam made him break contact with Castiel just when the conversation was getting good. "What the hell is your problem, Samantha?"
Sam rolled his eyes and requested with solemn snarkiness, "Could you two save your eye-sexing marathon until we aren't around? Or, you know what, why don't you two just get a damn room and get over it?"
Dean flushed even more over the very accurate barb his brother threw at him. He immediately attacked back, "What the . . . you know, you had me sexing up an archangel about a month ago and now Cass, our best friend? And what the . . . eye sexing? Really, Sam? Have you . . . wait, wait, wait. Dude? Have you been reading fanfiction again? Sammy! Who knew you were such a girl? Oh, wait, that's right. Everyone."
"I . . .," Sam started to argue but everyone could read the truth in his face.
Dean smirked easily and taunted knowingly, complete with wiggling eyebrows, "You have way too much of an interest in my sex life, dude. Kinda creepy. Actually, extremely creepy. And disturbing. Look, why don't you do everyone a huge favor and get a sex life of your own? In fact, from what I understand, Gabriel's really into you."
Sam flushed hotly, but Dean couldn't tell if it was from anger or embarrassment. Sam growled defensively, "You are such a friggin' jerk. You obviously read that stuff, too. Besides, I thought you and . . ."
Sam was so focused on his brother that he missed Castiel's thundercloud expression, as did Dean, who grouched irately, "No freakin' way I'd ever do anything remotely like that with the freakin' douchebag. I swear I have no idea what the hell you are smoking but you really need to kick the habit, Spicoli."
"Dean," Castiel called urgently, redirecting Dean's eyes back toward him. Immediately, their gazes locked again in yet another staring match. It was automatic and caused the others around them to roll their eyes at them, even though neither one of them saw it.
Castiel mentally asked Dean, "How did you hide our bond before?"
Dean's eyes widened slightly at that erroneous assumption then admitted truthfully, "I have no idea. Didn't even know that I did. Are you sure I did that?"
Castiel frowned slightly then allowed reluctantly, "You are right. I do not know that. I am unsure what to do, in that case."
"What do you mean?" Dean actually voiced aloud.
Castiel replied aloud as well, "They have been tasked with helping us find the demon so they will have to work with both of you as well as me. Given that we four averted the apocalypse and consigned them back to the box, the chances of them betraying us are very high."
"Ya think?" Dean snarked sarcastically.
Castiel glanced at the roof then announced briskly, "I will return after I have assigned them a new task."
"Hey, what about my baby?" Dean demanded with concern.
Castiel smiled slightly and related easily, "She is safe but I need you to stay here for a while. I will let you know where she is after we speak again." Castiel left as soon as he finished speaking but Dean felt feathers caress his cheek softly and sighed slightly.
"Oh, you've got it really bad there, lover boy," Sam snarked sarcastically.
Dean glared slightly at his annoying baby brother then smiled wickedly while he recited his payback aloud, "Oh, Archangel Gabriel, with the light brown hair. On behalf of angellicker69, I pray that you accept this invitation from a lanky, well-built, red headed with secret admiration for you and who wishes to star in their very own Casa Erotica film with you. Willing to bottom for that certain fun-loving archangel . . ."
"Hey," Bobby bit out harshly, "still in the room here, and so not wanting to hear this."
At the same time, Sam growled hotly, "You freakin' dick." Sam charged Dean aiming to take Dean down with a head butt to the stomach.
Next thing anyone knew, Sam was across the room slamming into the wall while Dean stood stock still with a shocked expression on his face.
"What the . . ." Dean and Bobby started but were distracted as Gabriel showed up, rubbing his hands together eagerly.
"So where is she, Deano? I can always use another extra in my home movies, if you know what I mean," Gabriel related enthusiastically.
Dean smirked smugly and quickly pointed out, "Right over there, he almost passed out from the anticipation."
Gabriel glanced over to where Sam blushed furiously and shouted, "Dean, you freakin' dick. You're confusing reality with fanfic again."
"Hey, you put me with him first," Dean pointed out ostentatiously. "Besides, you started this so suck it up."
Gabriel posed thoughtfully then allowed appraisingly, "Could work. Especially the sucking part. After all, we already did our moonlit walk along the lake a few months back and he did offer to supply oil the next time." He was always willing to go along with a good joke.
Dean arched his eyebrows in surprise then gagged, "Oh, wow. TMI, Gabe, I think I just threw up in my throat a little. But then again, he always did have the hair for it. Was really into waves, conditioners and all that girly crap."
Meanwhile, Sam sputtered indignantly, "You . . . freakin' dicks. What the hell? Freakin' jerks."
"Enough!" Bobby growled as he stood up and slammed his hands down on his desk then focused intently on Dean. "What the hell was that earlier, Dean?"
"What was what?" Dean defended innocently. "I mean, apparently the fan girls were right there. Who knew? Doesn't sound like Sammy minds." Sam growled menacingly in warning but Bobby wouldn't be deterred.
Bobby elaborated stubbornly, "Sam charged at you then suddenly he was thrown back into that wall without you raising a finger in defense."
All eyes focused on Dean while he argued hotly, "What? No way. He just . . ."
"What? Stumbled backwards about ten feet out of the blue?" Bobby snarked dismissively. "Threw himself into a wall for kicks?"
"Well, there was that one time . . .," Dean started then shook his head. "Nah, no demon blood withdrawal lately, right, Sammy?" Sam growled irritably.
Dean pursed his lips thoughtfully, all the while trying very hard not to flip out. He shrugged nonchalantly then argued, "Well, he always was really clumsily. Oh, I know. Maybe he touched another rabbit's foot."
"Dean," Bobby warned firmly, only to be distracted by the new arrivals.
"Oh, look, it's Dumb and Dumber, alive and in person with the old coot," Lucifer taunted mockingly as he and Michael appeared in the already crowded study. "Maybe we should get their autographs before they get themselves killed."
"Oh, great, the goon squad," Dean mumbled sourly under his breath.
"They've already died several times," Michael argued drily. "I swear, you never pay attention!"
"Dumb and Dumber are a hell of a lot better than Grumpy Old Men," Gabriel countered easily. "How did you two 'Great Escape' this time anyway? Because Garner or McQueen, you two definitely aren't."
"We've been really, really good boys and promised to behave," Michael related with mocking sarcasm as he eyed Dean with obvious distaste, and hate.
"So angels can lie," Dean snarked casually. "Good to know."
"What do you mean, 'promised'?" Sam wondered uneasily.
"Hey, ya, Sammy," Lucifer greeted easily then commented with underlying menace. "Long time, no see. Miss me? Because I so missed you, bunk mate."
Gabriel moved in between the two and cautioned firmly, "They are off limits, Luci, and you know it." Lucifer sneered evilly while Michael inched closer to Dean. Dean backed up in response to Michael's movement forward, moving toward the front of the room.
"Worried, Dean?" Michael taunted smugly. "You should be. You and your stubbornness cost me . . ."
"Back away, Michael. He is protected," Castiel warned menacingly as he appeared in front of Dean, making sure that he was between Dean and Michael.
"What?" Michael asked innocently, carefully hiding his anger and irritation over his situation which he firmly blamed the two entities before him for. "I was only making conversation."
Castiel arched his eyebrow in disbelief then stared hard at his eldest brother. Michael threw up his hands in surrender as he backed away. Castiel only minimally relaxed his stance as he demanded, "What are you doing here?"
"You told us to find the demon and the trail leads here," Michael informed him easily.
"What?" Sam questioned in surprise.
Lucifer threw himself onto the couch to lounge back while he answered casually, "It's really so easy that any moron with a quarter of a brain could figure it out which is probably why this ill-equipped Scooby Doo troop didn't."
"At least," Dean allowed at the insult then he countered tauntingly, "We weren't repeatedly beat into cowering submission by little brother, 'nerd angel'."
"Really?" Sam snickered behind his hand while Gabriel, on the other hand, laughed outright, causing Lucifer to growl threateningly at both of them.
Michael narrowed his eyes at the taunt and he wondered, "How did . . .?"
"The demon . . ." Castiel interrupted quickly to distract his older brothers from figuring out about their bond.
"Has only been seen by the three people in this room in the last few months," Lucifer finished drolly. His head leaned back at the couch and stared at the ceiling while he recited with obvious boredom, "Which means it targeted you so you are the best lead we have, unless you know someone else who has had contact with it."
Gabriel and Castiel quickly stared at each other while they both interjected, "Crowley."
"Crowley?" Lucifer confirmed with only slight interest. "Really? He sure gets around."
"Have either of you talked to him since?" Michael wondered curiously. Both angels shook their heads. "Why not? He's obviously the best lead," he demanded with confusion, "I mean, Castiel was definitely busy but you, Gabriel, had plenty of time."
"Yeah, right," Gabriel scoffed irritably. "Because I've had nothing better to do than clean up everyone else's messes while my worthless older brothers kept up this stupid extended pissing match, including Lucifer killing me, and other angels just desert."
"Ha!" Lucifer exclaimed with satisfaction as he bounded up, "I knew it. I knew I didn't miss! I knew I didn't miss." Everyone glowered threateningly at him.
"Shut up, Luce," Michael ordered harshly, causing Lucifer to glare at him. He ignored that and reminded him meaningfully, "Focus."
"So no one's questioned the obnoxious little toad," Dean clarified.
"No," Gabriel admitted reluctantly.
"Well, that's easily remedied," Bobby prodded as he entered his two cents. "I got all the stuff here to summon him. Just give me a moment to get it together."
"In the meantime, we can question the others," Lucifer announced with flair, standing up and fixing the sleeves on his raggedy old opened button down shirt in a totally failed attempt to appear professional.
"Like hell," Dean growled warningly.
"Dean," Castiel cautioned, glancing at him unintentionally. Instantly, their eyes met and Dean flushed with heat, instantly arousing Castiel. In turn, Castiel's gaze flared, flaming Dean's desire.
"They do that often?" Lucifer wondered curiously. "It's kinda disturbing to watch."
"You're telling me," Sam agreed despondently.
Gabriel rolled his eyes and snarked easily as he walked in between the two, breaking their staring match. "Dean does that with everyone. It's a thing with him. He has a real staring fetish and, believe me, that's the very least of his fetishes."
"Oh, yeah? How would you know, Gabby?" Dean snarked aggressively, unable to help himself. "Did you watch, too? What is it with you angels and your freakin' watching people do private things kinks?"
Gabriel started to retort but Castiel caught his eye with a thundercloud expression and Gabriel knew Castiel was remembering Balthazar watching Dean a few months back. He knew he needed to redirect the conversation and fast before his temperamental brother went Basic Instinct on all their butts. In fact, he probably should try to find a way to give Castiel some alone time with his mate. That should get him in a better mood, but in the meantime . . .
Gabriel continued firmly, "He doesn't have any information on the demon because it neutralized Deano here before Dean even knew what hit him. Actually, the only objective thing in that whole warehouse was Crowley."
"Why was he the only objective one?" Michael wondered curiously. "Weren't you two there as well?"
"Yeah, but I had just been resurrected and had a mission to complete while Cassie here had a major infection going on before the demon neutralized him as well," Gabriel explained vaguely.
"Castiel was ill?" Lucifer verified with disbelief. "Was that leftover from going mortalish? Because, you know, Gabby, we don't get sick."
"I knew he'd catch something slumming like he was," Michael commented caustically.
"You could say that," Gabriel growled vaguely, so not liking the new nickname.
"Well," Dean interjected the unsolicited comment after he felt something inside his gut move slightly under his skin. Putting it off to hunger, he announced vaguely to the room at large, "this all sounds real interesting and all but I'm hungry so later." He turned and left the study, headed for the kitchen, going the roundabout way.
"Dean," Sam countered condescendingly, taking the shortcut and turning to meet Dean in the kitchen, "You just ate like two hours ago. You can't possibly be hungry now."
"Says who?" Dean grumbled uncooperatively while he opened the refrigerator. "We just finished chasing down a couple of wendigos so I worked all that off already. Time to recharge."
"Yeah, right," Sam scoffed. "Your jean size says differently. Try again."
"Bite me, bitch," Dean snarled irritably as he grabbed a sandwich and tore into it. Bobby picked that time to enter the kitchen in the search for ingredients so Dean demanded irritably with a mouth full of food, "Bobby, am I fat?"
Bobby's head popped up from the drawer he was digging in and he gave Dean a 'deer-in-the-headlights' stare before he frowned then scoffed dismissively, "What the hell, boy? You growing female parts now? Don't we have bigger fish to fry right now?"
"Mmmm, fish, fried fish, mmmm," Dean immediately repeated with obviously, extremely pleasured thoughts. Sam and Bobby rolled their eyes in exasperation at Dean's food focused mind going off on yet another food tangent. "I so want that for supper tonight. With hush puppies and coleslaw and . . ."
"Dude," Sam exclaimed with disturbed disgust. "You sound like Homer Simpson."
"Better than sounding like Marge," Dean insulted back swiftly. "Smarge."
"Dean," Castiel called out as he entered the kitchen then stopped suddenly and frowned while Lucifer commented from where he's been standing in the other doorway observing.
"You know," he observed cynically. "He has gained a few pounds since I saw him last but then he is also a couple of years older. You know how easily humans let themselves go. They hit middle age then are withered old husks before you know it. Mikey, you might want to check into your next vessel. Looks like this one's hosed up," Lucifer snarked spitefully.
"Cram it with walnuts, assbutt," Dean growled irritably, unable to believe he'd actually just asked Bobby what he did and started all this crap. Maybe he was growing . . . aw, hell, what the hell? Was he actually still thinking . . .?
To distract everyone, including himself, he questioned eagerly, "Need us to help with anything, Bobby?"
Bobby rolled his eyes slightly at the obvious segue then grabbed the ingredients out of the drawer and he ordered, "Sam, get the box out of the upstairs closet. You know the one from the Witnesses." Sam nodded and left, brushing past Castiel in the doorway headed to the stairs, while Bobby brushed past Lucifer in the other doorway and continued into the study.
Lucifer smirked mockingly at Dean then turned to follow Bobby inside. Castiel stared at Dean who immediately made eye contact while he plopped the last bite of his sandwich into his mouth. Castiel used his grace to verify his brothers' locations then clarified with Dean through their bond, "Are you okay?"
Dean answered intently, "Yeah, just really wish . . ."
"That we were alone," Castiel finished with an intense heat that made Dean feel like he'd been stroked lovingly over his whole body. "The things I want to . . ."
Dean felt his eyes flutter involuntarily like they were about to close but he refused to drop the link with his angel. Castiel took advantage of that and sent images through their link, very graphic images of what Castiel would be doing to Dean if they were alone. Blood charged to Dean's erection and in seconds he was harder than he'd been in a while.
"You two going to join the group or wait for the DVD version?" Bobby snarked loudly from the other room, breaking their link.
Dean shivered slightly at the abrupt end of their mental connection. He fell back against the counter with a shudder while he tried to calm his raging arousal. He heard Castiel call out his name and he dismissed with soft hesitance, "I'm . . . good. Just . . . give me a second." Castiel nodded then left the room.
Dean wiped a hand over his face while he calmed himself but then he was distracted as he once again felt something move faintly within him. He froze instantly and waited, hoping he had just imagined that. He knew that he had wolfed down that sandwich very quickly so it was probably gas. Right?
He shifted to stand upright again and felt a sharp movement within him. Oh, crap, he mentally cursed, knowing that he definitely did not imagine that. What the freakin' hell?
He took another minute to run through all the possibilities but . . . another flutter took place as he placed his hand over his slightly rounded abs and he almost whimpered in distress, steadfastly denying the very real feel of something he had never imagined happening to him.
"Dean," Sam called out in warning, breaking him out of his panic.
Dean closed his eyes and pulled himself back together then slowly walked into the study, knowing he couldn't deal with this right now. He would take some time later, much later, when he was alone, very alone and . . . He entered the study slowly as he heard the demon speak, "Oh, wow. Was there an archangel convention that I didn't know about? What is up with my travel agent? I so need to fire him. Why couldn't he have been eaten instead of my tailor?"
He shook his head and refocused while he questioned curiously, "What's with the sudden reach around?"
"Crowley," Lucifer greeted easily with an almost purr but with barely disguised hidden menace. "Heard you got a promotion. What was it again? Something like, oh, yeah, 'King of Hell'?"
Crowley easily backtracked, "No, no, it was more like 'interim' King of Hell. Just keeping the chair warm for you and now that you're back, O Mighty One." Everyone rolled their eyes at the blatantly obvious groveling of the previously self-important, pathetic demon.
"Never mind that," Lucifer countered dismissively, fully planning on dealing with this upstart demon at a later date. "We want to know what you know about this demon that infected our brother."
Crowley turned wide eyes on him and evaded innocently, "Which brother would that be?"
"That one right there," Michael pointed out forcefully as Castiel entered the room from the front door side.
Crowley turned and greeted tauntingly, "Well, well, well, if it isn't the angel formerly known as god. How's it hanging, Cassie? Have fun with your boy toy? Or was he not all that? In fact, where is the snarky little smart ass?"
Dean slowly entered the study from the kitchen side, filled with an enormous amount of dread suddenly, and not having a clue as to why. He knew he really didn't want to be there in the study and the focus of his discomfort seemed to be centered in the vicinity of the demon, Crowley. He heard Castiel counter firmly, "That is not of import. We need to know about the demon that was there that night."
He knew if Castiel was in the same room as Crowley then he needed to be there as well. He also needed to know what Crowley knew about all this crap. He inched forward as much as he could, feeling like he was moving through quicksand.
"Actually, I could stand to hear some more," Lucifer purred smugly, leaning in conspiratorially. "What boy toy are you referring to? Sammy here, maybe? Father knows he has the hair and touchy-feely personality for it."
"Lucifer," Michael rebutted harshly.
"Oh, it was smashingly . . .," Crowley gossiped with relish only to stop abruptly as a tortured scream sounded out from behind Michael and Lucifer.
In the next instant, an invisible blast wave slammed through the room, knocking everyone off of their feet and disrupting books and papers throughout the room. The angels were the first ones to recover and where on their feet while Sam and Bobby were still shaking their heads to clear them. Crowley stood as well and searched the room, wondering aloud, "What the hell was that?"
The archangels shrugged while Castiel searched the study then extended his grace to search the kitchen. He couldn't find what he was looking for. He growled menacingly as he advanced on Crowley, "Where is he? What did you do?"
Crowley's eyes flew open at the undeserved accusation and quickly denied, "I never!"
"What? Who? Huh?" Michael demanded in confusion, feeling like he'd missed something very important.
"All that's left now is when, how and why?" Lucifer teased sarcastically.
"Crap," Gabriel commented with resignation, quickly catching on. "The SOB did it again. Damn it. You really need to talk to him about that when we get him back. Houdini, he ain't. Sammy, are you guys hunting right now?" Sam stared at him with a stunned expression. "Sammy! Focus."
Castiel turned away from Crowley and answered solemnly, "The wendigos were destroyed so they'd finished that hunt. Talk to him about what?" Gabriel stared at him a moment then shook his head slightly, signaling a later time.
"Hey, where's Dumber?" Lucifer exclaimed irritably then commented facetiously. "He's too fat to move that quickly. The Flash, he isn't."
Sam finally snapped out of it and quickly checked the room. Seeing the yellow powder by the kitchen doorway, he bent down and touched it before sniffing the dust. He sighed heavily, "It's sulfur. A demon took him."
I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please review and let me know what you think. I have no idea what's going to happen next. Let me know if you do.