Muse: Neutron Star Collision
"I can tell you now without a trace of fear That my love will be forever"
Note: More sexy times at the end of the chapter, so feel free to skip or skim if you prefer not to read.
SPNSPNSPNSPNSPNSPNSPNSPSNPSNSPNSPSNPNS+++++++++++++++++++++++"Isn't that a doozy?" Dean asked.
Castiel quirked his head to the side. It would help if Dean would give him a reference point when making this seemingly random observations. Dean held his phone up for Castiel to take. Putting down his pencil on the text that he was helping Sam to translate, he took the offered cell.
Sorry Man. On Duty for 4 of Jul. Fireworks = Fires. U got plans this wkend?
"Do you regret having to cut up the credit card now?" Castiel asked. Dean had maxed out his new card buying fireworks and something called an Inflatable Uncle Sam. The LARPing weekend was the one following Independence Day, and Charlie was coming early. Dean wanted to 'light up the sky' and it seemed he wanted an audience.
"No regrets man. Trust me, it is gonna be awesome. It just means less steaks on the grill and less coleslaw making for Sam." Dean grinned.
"What about this weekend? Do you want to meet Paul and Leslie?" Castiel wondered if Dean would want to after the last time. He suspected that inviting them to his fireworks display had been a way to meet up after the hashish incident but with other people present.
"Sam thinks he has a lead in the mysterious deaths in Ohio." Dean sighed. "We should go investigate. You can try out your new Fed suit."
"I don't understand what was wrong with my old suit." Castiel tapped the pencil on the notepad.
"Gotta look the part." Dean shrugged.
"Dean!" Sam called, "Garth's gone to Ohio. He said Kevin kicked him out of his own house, threatened to burn Mr. Fizzles if Garth used the puppet on him again."
"You brief him?" Dean asked.
"Yes Dean," Sam sighed, "Full low down complete with early suspects for coven members."
Sam picked up the notepad that Castiel had been working on. "That's real progress Cas."
"Thank you, Sam." Castiel gave a pleased smile, "It is a corrupted from of Enochian, as if the writer had only heard our language and was attempting to commit it to papyrus."
"How would that work?" Sam pulled a chair close to look at the cuneiform markings.
"If the writer was one who could hear an angel's true voice, perhaps."
"Like a prophet?"
"Yes, or a nephilim, some vessels, a fallen angel with memory loss, or a powerful psychic." Castiel pointed to the text. "I'm afraid when translated it does not amount to much. It is like part of an overheard revelation."
"To the west Hadoriel's garrison, fifty malakhim, two cherubs in training, to the weapons master for superior blades, on the third hidden…" Sam read. He looked to Castiel.
The former angel hummed, "It seems that something was stolen, and they were venturing to hell to get it returned, or it was a training exercise, or it was a secret mission authorized by the third sphere… all irrelevant."
"Not irrelevant, when we get paid." Sam grinned.
The papyrus had arrived by DHL the day before. It was the first actual artifact they were attempting to translate, but Sam had been doing a steady amount of online translation for other hunters and scholars. He had set up his own website and was taking freelance commissions. The fee was nominal for hunters, most often the promise of a beer if they ever met up, but Sam had researched going rates for dead and obscure language translations and realized this was a way he could contribute until he got his strength back. The bonus was that Castiel's brain was like a translation matrix and he was helping Sam with the more challenging scripts. The contribution Castiel was making had lifted his spirits. Dean had repeatedly told him he was not useless, but when Sam had shown him the payment for an ancient Phoenician letter translation hitting the account, Castiel had glowed with satisfied pride.
Things had been better over the last couple of weeks. Dean had forgiven him for his weakness and how once more he had brought unintentional pain to his life. Castiel knew of the future that Dean had visited. Zachariah had boasted of it. That was all in the past now, or rather it was a deleted timeline. Castiel preferred to think that they were in one of the myriad of strands without an apocalyptic ending.
It was a great relief not to be able to perceive space-time. He had always found it dizzying and the fluidity of chaos theory would set his celestial self spinning if he pondered it too long. Contemplating the vagaries of time and understanding their equations was a job for trained Seraphs, Principalities and Archangels. The one time he had tried to influence space-time with his freewill, he had released Leviathan. It was infinitely better to be ignorant of the shifts between futures and probabilities.
They had gone to Salina to meet Inias for lunch and to buy Castiel his own set of FED suit, workman's overalls and some lighter summer clothes. This time they had not seen Leslie, but had eaten buckwheat pancake wraps in the shelter kitchen. Castiel had found Dean's efforts to eat the salad wraps quite adorable. Mickey D's on the way back had Dean spouting about rabbits vs. food for men.
They had received an e-mail from Charlie asking what costumes they wanted her to reserve for their LOTR weekend. Dean had pranked Sam by replying that his brother wanted to go as an Ent. Sam found the e-mail in Sent Items and got his own back by requesting hobbit feet for Dean. When Dean found the reply asking for his shoe size he informed Charlie that Sam had changed his mind and now wanted to be King of the Nazgul. Sam saw him hitting send, and refused to speak to Dean for several hours. In the end Charlie got them all on a Skype conference and prompted by her threat of banishment to Mordor, Dean was getting kitted out as a Warrior of Gondor, Sam as a Rider of Rohan, and Castiel was going to be an elf from Lothlórien. If he was an elf and Dean was a man from Gondor, Castiel could indulge in a little soul-bound-eternal-love fantasy, in the privacy of his own mind, without any 'click flick moment' comments from Dean. He had accessed Charlie's program of events for the weekend and one tent was going to be showing the movies on a loop. Castiel was sure he could get Dean in for his favorite scene.
After lunch Dean had gone to the weaponry room to take apart and oil their arsenal. Castiel was giving the garbled Enochian a final read through. He suspected that the professor was going to be disappointed with the information. It was basically a list angel troop movements. His own garrison had been sent north, for whatever reason, there just wasn't enough background data to know why. If their client had further sheets of the writing then Castiel might even have been able to hazard a guess about the mission in question. Sam explained that some academics don't care if you end up translating a grocery list for them, it is the thrill of getting the information revealed that is upmost for the historians. Castiel hoped it was so in this case.
"Cas, babe?" Dean asked. He was standing in the doorway wiping his hands with an oily rag.
"Hello Dean."
"Paul called me back. He has a cabin booked at Cedar Bluff Park from Friday evening to Sunday. He has invited us, Sammy, you too if you want."
"Count me out. I've had enough of stinky cabins." Sam mumbled from behind his laptop.
"I don't know Dean. What if I make a fool of myself again?" Castiel bit down on the inside of his cheek and gave his demin shirt a tug, "I seem to have a talent for putting my foot in it."
"I will not have you turning recluse on me to avoid saying the wrong thing." Dean dropped the rag on the table and leaned against the back of a chair. "Come on, man. Paul says his invite is by way of apology for Leslie's behavior. He wants to see if we can all meet up without there being major drama."
"What are we expected to do?"
Dean chuffed a laugh, "Have a freaking good time, that's what. Paul's picking Leslie up straight after he finished work in Salina, and they'll be at Cedar Bluff by 8. We meet up, have a meal. Next day, fishing? Hiking? Swimming?"
"There is water?"
"Yeah it's a big reservoir with campsites and cabins."
"I would like to go with you." Castiel thought a couple days away from the bunker might do Dean some good.
Friday saw Dean cooking a monster lasagna to bring with them. It travelled in the back seat of the Impala wrapped in layers of aluminum foil.
They arrived at the pretty log cabin only minutes after Paul and Leslie, who were getting their bags out of Paul's truck. There was a good bit of back slapping when they greeted each other. Leslie began to apologize but Dean wouldn't hear it. He threw an arm around the smaller man's shoulder and made him give the guided tour of the cabin. There was an upstairs queen for Paul and Leslie and one down stairs off the open plan living space for Dean and Castiel.
Paul caught Castiel alone as he was unwrapping the lasagna and trying to figure out how this new brand of oven worked.
"Castiel, I don't know if you normally enjoy a joint, but we would appreciate it if you didn't around Leslie."
"That was my first experience." Castiel could see the strain on Paul's face, "and my last. Dean…" Castiel took a deep inhalation, "Dean… I hurt him. In the past. I won't do it again."
Then he got a lesson in personal space invasion as Paul's stood toe to toe with him. His eyes were level at the crew neck of Paul's grey t-shirt. "You hurt Dean. You deal with me. You understand."
Castiel swallowed and nodded. "I understand and I agree."
He didn't mention that he would have to find the pieces of Castiel that Sam would have chopped up, in order to follow through on that threat.
Dean's lasagna was a hit. There was no TV in the cabin, much to Castiel's horror, but Leslie had his work laptop and they downloaded Avengers Assemble. Castiel thought it was ridiculous and spent much of the movie counting Dean's freckles.
Later they curled up in the surprisingly comfortable wooden framed bed. It turned out Leslie was quite vocal during sex, and Dean muttered about ear plugs and speaking to Paul about shutting their door.
Next morning Leslie made croissants from a can and Paul brewed a rich dark coffee. Over breakfast on the wraparound Paul asked if they wanted to join them on a hike.
"Budgie, I think we should stay here and sunbathe." Leslie said with a coy smile as he rubbed sun lotion with insect repellant onto his arms and where his chest showed above the low cut blue stripe tank top.
"No. The air will clear your lungs. Come on lazy bones." Paul laughed and disappeared inside for their back packs and water bottles.
Dean cleared up after breakfast and then joined Castiel on the south facing side of the cabin. He stripped off his outer shirts, leaving just the blue plaid button down.
"You want to do anything, Cas?" he asked.
"Like what?"
"There are fishing rods inside?"
"I would like to go to the water but not to fish." Castiel raised his hand to visor his eyes and looked at the sparkling blue lake only yards from their position. He could later use the excuse that his own hand was blocking his field of vision, so he didn't see Dean approaching with a mischievous grin on his face. Castiel found himself lifted bodily over Dean's shoulder while the taller man ran for the lake. Castiel playfully beat his fists into Dean's back asking to be put down.
"You want water? You want to be put down?" Dean teased and threw Castiel into the lake.
Castiel rose spluttering. He caught a great volume of chilled lake water in his moving hands and splashed Dean's shirt and jeans. "What was that for?"
"I thought you were taking up residence in that rocking chair." Dean began shrugging off his wet shirt and jeans. He kicked off his shoes and socks and clad only in his boxer briefs joined Castiel in the water. Castiel made to look annoyed and waded to the edge but he was only going there to peel off his own khakis and Henley. When he turned around Dean was swimming like a fish back and forth in lengths. It was like army training and Castiel got a little peeved at the way Dean's upbringing seemed to interfere in moments that should be playful pleasure. He dived under the surface. Having to worry about breathing consistently meant he almost needed to break for air when he reached Dean's legs and pulled down. Castiel felt quite the victor when Dean surfaced doing his own spluttering.
"That's it man. This is on!" Dean crowed and chased Castiel in a mixture of swimming and wading, finally catching the ex-angel when he tired close to shore. Castiel found himself subject to a methodically search for his ticklish spots. Back of the knee ended up being the winner, but unfortunately also made Castiel's leg shoot up of his own volition and Dean got a shiner on his jaw. After that and the kisses to make up for it, they were both wrecked, chilled and ready to collapse. Castiel carried their clothes and Dean his shoes and Castiel's boots. They found the Ho Hos they had brought and Dean brewed up another pot of Paul's coffee.
"I'm cold Dean." Castiel's teeth were chattering where he was wrapped in a bath sheet. They had taken quick showers on their return.
Dean passed him his coffee and treat. "I could warm you up."
"Will you warm me with your skin?"
"Huh-uh." Dean sucked the end of his chocolate roll. Castiel's eyes followed Dean's mouth as he gave the Ho Ho a very provocative lick.
"Dean." Castiel pleaded.
"You want this. Some of this." Dean slowly inserted the rest of the cake in his mouth, "mmm creamy."
"I need."
"You want me to take care of you? Warm you up Cas?"
"Yes Dean."
Castiel let Dean lead him to their room. The white sheets were still in disarray from the morning. Dean pressed Castiel down onto the bed. He licked a stripe up his neck and along his jaw. Castiel pressed lightly on the darkening bruise on Dean's jaw. It was a silent apology for hurting him. Dean pulled Castiel's hand down and licked the inside of his parted lips. Castiel could taste the sweetness and the coffee as Dean's tongue skimmed his teeth and pushed in.
Pulling back Dean opened his towel and threw it on the ground, then unwrapped Castiel's one leaving it lying under their bodies. Castiel was already hard, pre-come leaking as he looked at Dean's chest muscles above him. He raised his hand to rub that chest, his thumb flicking against Dean's sensitive nipples.
"No fair, leave my perky nipples be." Dean smiled as he lowered Castiel's hand. "This, now, about you, Cas."
Somewhere stars were colliding. Dean's mouth over Castiel's cock sent shock waves along his spine. His mind whited out, the only thing he could feel was Dean's hot mouth, the insistent pushing of Dean's tongue, the sensation of being suck down deep. Castiel thrummed, and Dean hummed around him. Then Dean slid, oh so slowly, off him.
"You want me to ride you?" Dean asked "or you want me to do this?"
Dean's spit wet finger pressed on Castiel's rim. He arched up letting Dean apply pressure and the finger breached his body. Dean pushed in and out a few times, then curled around and pressed until he found Castiel's prostate. The finger withdrew due to Castiel arching so much and he releasing his load. Then Dean was back with two lubed fingers and he was working a very pliant and sated Castiel open.
"Feels good Dean. More."
Dean murmured something about versatility and turned Castiel on his side, sliding down the sheet next to him and adding a third finger.
"Want you in me, Dean. Want to feel you inside me. Want to…"
Dean lifted Castiel's leg helping him position himself. He leaned forward and muttered what a good fuck Castiel was going to be into the other man's ear. Then Dean was taking him. He burned at the fullness, stretched beyond the prep, and his body gave to let Dean in. Castiel's breath was short and rapid, his pulse the same. Dean was fully seated asking Cas if he was ok. He couldn't respond, couldn't form words. Water leaked from his eyes, but he wasn't crying. He nodded vigorously and Dean began to move. It was better than he had imagined. Pounding into Dean was a form of paradise, but his slow thrust, gentle smooth that Dean had going was its own form of bliss. His hands ran up and down Castiel's spine and back. Castiel tilted his hips and rocked into Dean's motions. He called Dean's name in a rhythmic dance. It seemed to last forever and yet not long enough.
"Cas, I…." Dean started. He made three stronger jerking moves and was coming inside Castiel. "God Cas, sorry Not-God, that was…"
"You're speechless." Castiel's wrecked voice led to a huffing sigh.
"Goddamn Cas. We are switching more often." Dean carefully pulled out and used the ends of the towel to clean them up.
"Can we just lie here?"
"Guess so? You have an appointment?"
"No Dean."
"Good then." Dean stretched facing him and rubbed his nose against Castiel's. "You gonna sleep."
Castiel hoped the grunt he gave in response was affirmative. His fingers' found Dean's callused hand, and he wrapped them together. Dean squeezed back and raised their upper arms so that their joined hand lay between their chests. He kissed the back of Castiel's fingers. "I love this hand." Castiel heard as he drifted off.